Review of the Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench in Natural
As of this writing, there are 66 customer comments and 21 answered questions for the Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench in Natural. I have read the customer feedback and then condensed the results into this review. I hope that this review helps you when shopping for the best outdoor bench for your home.
Best Features
- Features solid, rubberwood top and solid wooden legs
- Holds up to 350 pounds
- Has a natural finish
- Designed for indoor use only
- Sturdy construction
Item Specifics
The Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench in Natural features a solid, rubberwood top and solid wooden legs. It has a sturdy construction, with a weight capacity of 350 pounds. Keep in mind that this bench is recommended for indoor use only.
Quality Control Issues
If you get a good bench, you should be all set and happy with The Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench. However, some people found that some of the pieces were flawed. A customer commented, “Very good quality reproduction with inconsistent quality control. The first bench we ordered was extremely well made but one edge of the legs was warped and splintering wood—probably should not have made it out of the factory. Wastefully, a whole new bench had to be sent to replace that leg, and the new bench had wood slats on the top bench part that were coming apart (luckily all the legs were fine). Seems like it’s overall very well made, but lacks quality control, so your item could have some minor or major flaw. For the price, we were very satisfied with the bench, and if you are willing to be patient and possibly reorder the piece, it is a very good deal.”
Can Be Used as a Coffee Table
The size of this bench makes it perfect for a coffee table. A customer said, “I am stunned by how exceptional this bench/table is! The photos do not come close to how beautiful, sleek, and well-made it is in real life. I am so happy with it, in fact, that I just ordered another one to take the place of our living room coffee table – it’s the perfect size, shape, and color for the space. Thank you very much to the talented and creative people who have designed such a lovely and multi-functional piece of furniture!”
Don’t Sit on the Ends of This Bench
If you look at the design of The Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench, you may be able to see how the bench would tip if you sit on the edges. This is a bit of a safety hazard if you have guests since you may not be able to control who sits on the edge when you aren’t looking. A person of significant weight who sat on the edge would create a teeter-totter effect and find him or herself on the ground very quickly. A customer explained, “Absolutely love this–so classy looking a sturdy. I bought it for my business and immediately ordered a second one, we loved it so much. There is some issue of the bench tipping if someone sits on the edge. Although no one ever fell on the ground or anything, there were a few close calls, so we ended up moving the legs further out to the edge and that fixed the problem.”
Two Colors to Choose From; Colors May Be Off
The Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench comes in natural or walnut finish. The colors may a be a little off according to some customers. One person said, “The first bench we ordered in ‘Walnut’ was definitely not walnut colored, and was way darker than the description. It was more like ‘espresso’ finish. The second bench in “Natural” looked to be in pretty good shape, but when we went to assemble it the screw holes in the bench did not line up with the holes in the legs. We tried every direction – it’s going back. And now back ordered until December? I don’t think it’s worth it.”
Easy Assembly
The Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench is very easy to assemble according to customers. A person shared, “This bench is great. It was delivered undamaged and in good condition. The assembly was a breeze…just 8 screws which come with a simple tightening device. A real sharp, clean design, that blends nicely with my modern living room furniture. It’s cool that you can see through the top. The four-foot width is the perfect size for my living room. I made/use the bench into a coffee table. It’s very sturdy if you want to sit on it.”
Clean Look
One of the beauties of this bench is that it has such a clean look. You could keep it uncovered or add pillows to decorate to any decor that you’d like. A customer commented, “Love it! Has a great modern, clean line look. Placed it in front of our king size bed. Just be careful, if you sit on the end, it tips over!”
Inexpensive Replica of Expensive Bench
A lot of people commented that they purchased this bench as a cheaper imitation of a very expensive Herman Miller bench. Of course, it’s not going to be the same quality as the original, but the comparatively low price is what drove a lot of people to give this a try. A customer said, ” Very nice! My wife worked for Herman Miller so we have a lot of originals & were hesitant to buy a “replica” for our basement. Happy we did, happy we didn’t spend 1K on an original, and happy with the product!”
Many Complaints of Benches Arriving Damaged
Unfortunately, there were quite a few complaints about benches arriving damaged. Here is one of the many complaints, “I wish I had listened to the other reviews, but I saw this bench on a special deal and thought, ‘Well, some people got it without any damage; it’s gotta be some bad shipping practices and they can’t be everywhere.’ I was quite wrong. The box/packaging seemed fine upon arrival, but two corners (on the same end of the bench) are damaged. On one, a piece of the bench chipped off when I removed it from the packaging. I’m keeping it because it’s too much of a hassle for me to return it. With some wood glue, it’ll do. I’m just disappointed in the quality/shipping. Yes, I realize I’d pay ten times this for a real Nelson bench. Still, I expect some semblance of quality when I spend more than $100 on something. It is an attractive bench (I plan on using it as a coffee table) and would be a great buy, if it had arrived intact.”
Sturdy
The Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench is a sturdy bench that should last a long time. A customer shared, “It comes in only three pieces: the top, and the two leg assemblies. Both leg assemblies are pre-assembled, including glue. The fact that they’re glued together makes a huge difference in how sturdy they are. Good glue is stronger than the wood fibers themselves, so a good glue joint is as strong as a solid piece of wood. No screw or bolt, no matter how beefy or tight, can ever make a wood joint quite that tight, and eventually, all fasteners loosen and need to be re-tightened. You know how after you put together your IKEA dresser it felt pretty good, but then after a year when you went to drag it across the floor the whole thing kinda leaned over and felt wobbly? That’s what this thing won’t do (probably). All of which is a long-winded way of saying this thing seems bulletproof and only took about 5 minutes to put together.”
Nice Low Sitting Bench
If you want a bench to set low this is it. A customer shared, “Nicely built. I use this as a bench near the window and my cats love it! I needed something that sits lower so this was perfect. Nice mid-century look.”
Great Price
For what you get, this is a bench at a great price. It is basically a replica of an expensive Herman Miller bench. A lot of customers who couldn’t afford a Herman Miller bench were excited to be able to afford and receive this replica. One person explained it this way, “Very nice! My wife worked for Herman Miller so we have a lot of originals & were hesitant to buy a “replica” for our basement. Happy we did, happy we didn’t spend 1K on an original, and happy with the product!”
Pros
- Great price
- Replica of a very popular and much more expensive bench
- Easy assembly
Cons
- Some people received a damaged bench
- Tips if you sit on the edges
- Color may be off
Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench in Natural Conclusion
The Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench features a solid, rubberwood top and solid wooden legs. It has a weight capacity of 350 pounds. This is an indoor use only bench. It will not weather well at all. It is very easy to assemble according to the majority of customers who left comments about putting it together. This is a very sturdy bench. The main complaint was that many people received benches that appeared used or were damaged. The price is great for what you get.
Common Questions
Here are some top questions that I found for people considering buying the Poly and Bark Slat 5′ Bench in Natural.
- How big are the gaps in the slats of this bench? The slats and the spaces between them are 3/4 inch.
- Does this have a natural finish on it or is it raw wood? This bench has a natural clear finish.
- What are the dimensions of this bench? The dimensions are 19 x 60 x 14.5 inches.
Related Article: The Best Outdoor Bench Options to Add in Your Yard
