Fig. 14 shows a garden bench. The bench is made from two different categories of natural timber. The product has been designed to be both functional and aes...

(a) A suitable hardwood for the seat slats of an outdoor garden bench is teak. [1]

Two reasons for this choice:

1. Teak contains natural oils that make it highly resistant to water absorption and rot. [1] These oils repel moisture and prevent fungal decay, so the timber can be left outdoors in all weather conditions without deteriorating.
2. Teak is durable and resistant to insect attack, meaning the bench will last for many years outdoors without the need for regular chemical treatment or preservative application. [1]

(Oak is also an acceptable answer, valued for its strength, hard-wearing nature, and durability when treated for outdoor use.)

(b) The difference between a hardwood and a softwood:

• Hardwoods come from broad-leaved, deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in autumn). [1] Examples include oak, teak, mahogany, and beech.
• Softwoods come from coniferous (cone-bearing), needle-leaved, evergreen trees. [1] Examples include pine, spruce, cedar, and larch.

The terms "hardwood" and "softwood" refer to the botanical classification of the tree, not necessarily the physical hardness of the timber. Some softwoods (such as yew) are harder than some hardwoods (such as balsa).

(c) One reason why a softwood such as pine would not be the best choice for an outdoor garden bench without treatment:

Pine is not naturally resistant to moisture, rot, or insect attack. [1] Without protective treatment (such as preservative, varnish, or paint), pine would absorb water, swell, and begin to decay relatively quickly when exposed to rain, ground moisture, and damp outdoor conditions. It would deteriorate far faster than naturally durable hardwoods like teak.