I get this question a lot, and honestly, I can feel the frustration behind it. You invest in a beautiful outdoor bench, picture it aging gracefully on your patio, and then a few months in – crack. A real, visible split running down one of the slats. So, do we offer a warranty on the wood slats for an outdoor bench if they start cracking within a year?
The short answer is yes, in most cases, that type of defect is absolutely covered. I wouldn't leave you hanging with something like that. When a bench leaves our workshop, it's built to withstand normal outdoor life, not to self-destruct within the first twelve months. If a slat develops a structural crack – meaning it's not just a tiny surface check but a split that affects strength or catches on clothing – that signals a flaw in that specific piece of timber, and it's on us to make it right.
Now, let me be a bit more specific because the "within a year" part is key. Our standard warranty covers manufacturing defects and material failures for a full year from the date of delivery. Wood is a natural material, so it will move. It will expand and contract with humidity, and it will develop small surface checks or hairline cracks, especially in drier climates. Those cosmetic checks are part of the character of real timber and aren't considered a defect. But a deep crack that appears suddenly, or one that widens into a split that could pinch skin or make the bench unsafe? That's different. That's a fault in the board that we should have caught, and we'll replace that slat or, if needed, the entire bench section.
If this happens to you, just take a couple of clear photos showing the crack, a wider shot of the bench, and a close-up of the specific area. Email those over with your order number, and we'll get a replacement arranged quickly. I usually advise not to panic if you see a tiny line after a week of dry, hot weather; try a bit of teak oil or a specialized wood sealer first, as that often reconditions the fibers and closes up superficial checks. But if we're talking about a real split, don't attempt a DIY repair with glue – you might void an option we'd otherwise handle. Reach out, and we'll diagnose it together.
Long story short: your bench should be a place to relax, not a source of stress. Within that first year, if the wood itself proves defective, you're covered. Just don't forget that wood needs a little seasonal care to perform its best – but a genuine cracking problem? That's what the warranty is for.