What to Factor In When Specifying Street Furniture

Street furniture is becoming an important feature of many outdoor spaces, from town squares and parks to car parks and retail facilities. When you're specifying new items, such as seating areas or a simple lamp post guard, you need to ensure that you consider the important elements. These relate to the cost and type of materials that are used, how the product will be installed and the durability and maintenance requirements.

Cost and Specification

Often the overriding factor in the decision about which products to choose is the initial cost. Many customers can't see past this and don't think about the other areas that will impact on the quality and durability of the product. It's more crucial to ensure that you get the material right, as otherwise you could end up having to replace the furniture, which will cost more in the end. The type of material that you choose will depend on the item that you're specifying. For instance, benches can be constructed from wood, metal or plastic to suit the particular requirements, whereas a lamp post guard is more effective if produced from steel.

Installation Methods

Choosing the most appropriate form of installation is also an essential part of the design process. This will help to minimise the costs and ensure that the item benefits from a long lifespan. Skimping on this area could result in additional maintenance costs in the future through repairs and replacements. The method of installation will vary depending on whether the furniture is being retro-fitted or installed into a new space. For instance, lamp post protectors are suitable for surface-mounting through the use of bolts that are inserted into a finished floor, or they can be concreted into a new-build.

Ongoing Maintenance

When you're specifying street furniture, you need to look at the impact that the ongoing maintenance requirements will have on the budget. If you've done your research properly, chosen the correct material and installed the product correctly, these costs should be kept as low as possible. For instance, galvanised or powder-coated steel post protectors will be protected from the harsh elements that they will face outdoors. This manufacturing process will ensure that they continue to look good and function correctly long into the future.

If you take all these elements into consideration when specifying street furniture, it will help you to make the right decisions, saving you time and money.