FAQs

Is your furniture all handmade?

Yes, every piece of furniture is handmade from scratch by us. We use pine and oak sleepers and cut, join, engrave, and finish every table and bench by hand. All our furniture is our own original design and has stood the test of time. Our first bench is still standing in Lincoln over 10 years later.  

How long does your furniture take to make?

We can have a waiting list during busier months, our lead time is approximately 4 to 8 weeks at various times of the year. When you order we will advise the week furniture will be made and ready to deliver.

Is engraving included?

Yes, engraved wording on all benches is included in the price you see on our price list. Images start from £20 and painted wording and images start from £15.
Table sets include a small amount of engraving, please contact us to double check if we can include your engraving in your table set price.
All bench backs and table edges can be engraved.
We are able to paint in an image outline to make it more pronounced on your bench, or fully paint it in colour.
Please check out our memorial and celebration bench page to find out more. 

How many engraved words can I fit on my bench?

We can fit approx. 20-25 characters per line on a 4ft bench and approx. 30-35 on a 5ft bench. We can fit up to 5 lines across the bench (3 lines on the top piece, 1 line on the middle piece and 1 line across the front of the seat). The best thing to do is message us with what you would like and we can assess to see if it will fit.

Can I have a photo on my bench?

Yes, we can include a 6 inch ceramic square photo tile on your bench, this is inset into the wood either on the left or right hand side of your engraved wording on the top piece of your bench. 

Our photo tiles are UV resistant but we recommend that your bench is placed in a shaded part of your garden as full, direct sunlight over a period of time can cause the image to fade/discolour. 

How do I order/pay for my order?

Pop us a message or email and we will take your order and confirm your quote including any delivery price. We require a 50% deposit for memorial benches and garden furniture, this can be paid via PayPal, bank transfer. We can also email you across a digital invoice where you can use a debit or credit card for payment.

Once you have placed a deposit you will be given a date for your bench to be made and your furniture will generally be delivered the following week. A delivery date will be confirmed at least a week before delivery.

Full payment via bank transfer, debit/credit card or PayPal is needed prior to your bench being collected by our courier. Payment can be made by cash if Magnus Furniture are delivering your furniture or if you are collecting from our workshop. We will send across a photo of your bench before payment on request.

What wood is it made from and how long will it last?

Our most popular furniture is made from Nordic pine landscaping sleepers which are 8 inches wide by 4 inches high. The timber we use is thick, solid and heavy. Its pressure treated at the timber yard before arriving with us and we also treat it prior to delivering to you.

We do also offer a hardwood oak version of our benches and picnic tables, the thickness of the wood on these is slightly thinner at 2 inches thick, instead of 4. Due to the weight of 4 inch thick oak sleepers we have opted for these so we can move them easily.

With a regular twice a year oil treatment our pine benches will last approximately 10 to 15 years, our oak version much longer.

We use green timber on our furniture, mainly pine landscaping sleepers but we do also use oak if requested. Green timber means the timber is not kiln dried and suitable for garden use, the timber may still hold some moisture on delivery. We recommend keeping your furniture in a sunny spot (although out of all direct sunlight in the summer months), uncovered to allow it to fully dry. A regular treatment of oil once dry will help keep any future moisture out. The oil we currently use and advise to use going forward is the brand Timbashield in the Golden Brown colour (unless otherwise stated) manufactured  by a company called A Chem, they can be found online via their own website, or Amazon and Ebay. 

The timber we use is not completely blemish free, it will show some marks and knots in the wood. We do sand the wood back to leave a smooth finish but it is not possible to completely remove every blemish. Our furniture is considered rustic and the various marks and blemishes adds to the character.

Do you deliver your furniture nationwide?

We do yes, our benches are delivered all over mainland UK via our dedicated courier service and our table sets are delivered by ourselves.
The delivery timeframe is usually 7 to 14 days from the day your bench is collected by our courier, your table set is usually delivered the week it is made by us.

The delivery cost varies from between £70 to £150 depending on item(s) ordered and location in the country.

Currently we do not deliver to Northern Ireland.

Do I need to assemble my bench or table set?

No, all our benches and table sets are delivered assembled and ready to use. Table sets may need to be assembled on site, but we will do this free of charge.

Will I need to be home for the delivery?

No, our courier can leave your furniture in your chosen safe location, you are able to arrange this with them directly when they advise you of a delivery date.

Do I have to maintain my furniture?

Our benches require a small amount of maintenance during its lifetime. As your bench settles in, and ongoing throughout its life. We recommend a twice a year treatment with a decking oil, but if you choose not to treat your bench, it will not affect its use or structural soundness. 

We use timber that has a moisture content of under 20%, this is suitable for garden furniture and its moisture content will change during its life outside in your garden. Timber is a natural product and will adapt to its environment, this adaptation includes drying and moving which will mean cracks may appear in the wood. This is nothing to worry about and is purely the wood adapting to its environment and reacting to the weather around it, some cracks may seem very deep but it very rarely penetrates the whole depth of the sleeper and will not affect the wood’s structural soundness. This is a common occurrence with any wooden furniture or structure designed for outdoor use. During the summer months your bench may arrive with your with cracks already present, this is just the sleepers reaction to the weather whilst in our workshop or with our courier. 

If you concerned that any cracks appear sharp you can smooth any edges with sandpaper and retreat that area with an oil. Once your bench has had its first summer with you, an autumnal treatment of oil it’s unlikely you will see any further cracks form. Direct sunlight during the warmer months may have more of an impact on your furniture, if possible, place your bench in a spot in your garden which gets a mixture of sun and shade at various times of the day to help minimise the wood drying out rapidly which can contribute to cracking. Due to the thickness and wood type of our oak benches, the cracks may be more obvious than on our pine benches and may require additional sanding down to smooth any rough edges. If you are concerned about this we recommend our pine benches, we are happy to swap your order prior to delivery if you require (we need at least two weeks notice to adjust your order’s wood type). 

Sap pockets may appear in your wood and ooze sap during the warmer weather, a natural substance all wood has within its grain. We seal any sap pockets we see during the making process, although hidden or deeper pockets can appear after delivery. If this occurs use a cloth with a small amount of WD40 or suitable anti degreaser and wipe gently to remove the excess. We advise checking your bench before sitting to check for appearing sap pockets during the warmer months.  

In the winter keep your bench in a dry area in your garden which gets some sun, allow it to breathe and dry after wet weather so avoid covering it. A treatment of oil in the autumn months will help deter any mould growth, any mould that does grow should not penetrate the wood and can be removed the following spring with a pressure washer or sander.   We are also able to advise of other aftercare information once your bench has been delivered.

Please only purchase one of our benches if you are happy with the above maintenance and considerations. Once your bench has been delivered we are unable to provide a refund for natural cracks in the wood