A dining bench earns its keep for the weeks you eat outside and then takes up space in a shed for the rest of the year. That is a lot of furniture for a short season in most of Canada.

The manufacturer shows this one as a shoe bench by a door and as a plant stand. It is 48 in of slatted acacia on a metal base with no back, so it reads as hallway furniture rather than patio furniture once it comes in.

Four chairs and a bench

A 63 in by 32 in slatted top on black U shaped legs, with four armchairs and a 48 in bench. The bench takes one long side, which is how six people fit around a table this length.

What a chair gives you

Four details from the maker: a breathable slat back, a backrest tilted rather than upright, a soft sponge cushion and a washable zipped cover. The cushion detaches entirely rather than being fixed to the seat.

The hole in the top

One point nine seven inches, drilled through the middle of the slats. That sits inside the band most standard patio umbrellas use. The umbrella in this photograph is not part of the order and a base is still needed.

The bench, off duty

The maker shows the same bench in three places: at the table, by a front door with shoes under it, and in a garden. Forty eight inches of slatted acacia on a plain metal base is not obviously outdoor furniture.

A 2 in thickened acacia seat board is what the maker points to for the published bench capacity.

Drilled through the slatted top for most standard patio umbrellas. Umbrella and base are not included.

Sponge padded cushions that lift off, with zipped covers that come away for washing.

On the table and the bench, so each end bears on a bar rather than on two separate points.

Reinforcing the underside of the tabletop, which is what stops a 63 in top flexing in the middle.

So the set can be levelled on paving that has settled rather than shimmed with something folded.

Ships from our United States warehouse. Delivery to Canada usually takes 8 to 14 business days, with no customs charges or duties to pay on arrival. Free shipping on orders over $150, a flat $18.90 below that, and tracking by email as soon as it leaves.

Return within 14 days of purchase, unused, in original condition and packaging.

Covered directly by the manufacturer under their warranty terms for material and manufacturing defects.

Found it cheaper at a Canadian retailer? Send us the link and we will match that price. It has to be the same item, in stock, sold and shipped inside Canada, and compared like for like on what comes in the box.

Four armchairs with arms and cushions plus a bench that takes two adults or three children.

A bench that becomes a hallway seat in October is furniture that works for more than eight weeks a year.

U shaped legs spread the load and adjustable pads take out whatever wobble is left.

What we stand behind

• Table dimensions, the 1.97 in umbrella hole, the 800 lb bench capacity and the 2 in bench board all come from the manufacturer's own description and panels.
• No chair or table weight capacity and no chair dimensions are published on this record, so none is quoted.
• The umbrella in one photograph is not included, and a weighted base is still needed.
• Their care notes are printed rather than buried: oil the wood regularly and avoid leaving it outdoors in the rain.
• Ships from our United States warehouse, free shipping over $150, and 14 day returns unused in the original packaging.

What are the chair dimensions?

They are not published on this record, and there is no dimension drawing among the photographs, so no chair measurements are quoted here. The table is 63 in by 32 in at 30 in high and the bench is rated to 800 lb.

How many people does it seat?

Up to six, according to the manufacturer. Four armchairs plus a bench along one long side is how that works on a 63 in table, with the bench taking two adults at everyday dining spacing.

Will a standard umbrella fit?

The hole is 1.97 in, inside the 1.75 in to 2 in band most patio dining tables are drilled at. A weighted base is still needed and neither it nor the umbrella is included.

What upkeep does the acacia need?

The manufacturer recommends applying wood oil regularly, and asks you to avoid leaving the set outdoors in the rain. Bare acacia weathers to a silver grey over a few seasons without losing strength.