Thank you for your excellent question! It's a very important consideration for anyone investing in outdoor furniture. The simple answer is yes, most outdoor benches do have some ongoing maintenance costs, but they are typically minimal and far outweigh the cost of premature replacement. Think of it as preventative care for your investment.
The primary "costs" are more often in time and effort rather than significant annual expenses. For wooden benches, like teak or cedar, you might choose to apply a specialized cleaner and sealant every 12-24 months to maintain color and protect against moisture. A bottle of quality sealant is a modest one-time purchase that lasts for years. For metal benches, especially iron, checking for and touching up paint or a protective coating on any chips or scratches prevents rust, requiring only a small amount of paint. Powder-coated aluminum benches are very low-maintenance, usually needing just regular cleaning.
The most common ongoing tasks are essentially free: regular cleaning with mild soap and water to remove dirt and organic matter, and visual inspections for loose bolts or screws that may need tightening. Over many years, you might incur a cost for replacing cushions or, in the case of some materials, sanding and refinishing. However, proactive, simple maintenance dramatically extends the life of your bench, making its long-term value exceptional. We recommend factoring in about 1-2 hours of care per season and a small budget for protective products every few years to keep your benches looking beautiful and structurally sound for a decade or more.