If you have your own maintenance crew, assembling typical park benches is generally a straightforward, manageable task. The difficulty level is low to moderate, depending primarily on the bench design and your team's existing skill set.
Most commercial and municipal park benches are designed for practical installation. They often arrive with comprehensive, step-by-step instruction manuals and all necessary hardware. For a crew familiar with basic hand tools like wrenches, screwdrivers, and rubber mallets, the process is usually uncomplicated. Common tasks involve attaching pre-assembled backrests and seat slats to the main frame or connecting side arms to central supports.
The primary factors influencing difficulty are the bench's material and size. Heavy cast iron or concrete benches require proper lifting equipment and more personnel for safe handling. Larger, multi-unit picnic tables or curved benches may need more precise alignment. However, standard steel or wooden benches with bolt-together components are typically simple projects.
Your crew's main advantages are coordination and tool availability. With multiple people, one can hold parts steady while another fastens bolts, significantly speeding up the process. A well-equipped shop with power tools like cordless impact drivers can turn assembly into a quick job, often taking 30-60 minutes per bench after the first one is completed as a reference.
The key recommendation is to review the manufacturer's instructions in advance. Ensure you have the specified tools and allocate time for the initial bench, allowing your team to familiarize themselves with the process. With careful planning, your maintenance crew should find park bench assembly to be a highly achievable task that saves on installation costs and can be efficiently scheduled.