What type of picnic table is available today? Just about anything imaginable. You can find them in wood, metal, plastic, rubber, recycled materials and more. The choices are different from a few decades ago when most were made of pinewood painted red. The bench at grandma's picnic table sagged nearly to the ground, and the bench at the park picnic table doled out splinters equally to mom, dad and kids alike. Permanently attached benches highlighted both tables.

Most of today's picnic tables are made of weather-resistant materials. You can still get a traditional-style red wooden picnic table with attached benches, but now you can get them with unattached benches. They also come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and colors. Some are round, others rectangular, octagonal or hexagonal. Some encircle trees for a quick and easy shade supply.

1. A commercial-grade picnic table stands up to regular use.

2. Know what to look for in a metal picnic table.

3. Know what to look for in a wooden picnic table.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Fill a dining area with commercial-grade picnic table furnishings

If your business has a large outdoor dining area, you can fill it with picnic tables. Commercial-grade tables are tough enough to take the punishment of regular use. Picnic tables seat plenty of people, and can be relatively inexpensive when compared with other kinds of dining furniture. There is such a variety of outdoor products available, you may need a picnic table directory to choose exactly what you want.

I recommend: A great place to find commercial grade picnic tables is at Picnic Table Outlet. Picnic Table Outlet is in Montgomery, Alabama, and is a division of Online Commerce Group. Get children's picnic table information at Little Tikes. Find a commercial picnic table directory at ET&T Distributors.

Choose aluminum when you buy a metal picnic table for outdoor use

Some metal picnic tables may not fare well outdoors. Steel tables may rust easily, and are so heavy they are difficult to move from one place to another. Aluminum is naturally rust resistant. It is strong and durable, but weighs less than steel so it is easier to move. If you decide on a steel picnic table for outdoor use, it needs a coating that resists rusting.

I recommend: You can find a variety of metal tables at Picnic Table Source. See a picnic table list of aluminum products at All Picnic Tables.

Look for cedar when searching for a wood picnic table provider

Buy wooden picnic tables made of cedar wood. Red cedar is the most durable wood for outdoor furniture, although white cedar is a close second. Cedar resists sagging, and the wood is comfortable to the touch even in the direct sunlight. Your customers and employees can sit on a cedar bench at noon in mid-July in yellow polka dot bikinis and not turn their backsides to bacon grease. Cedar also weighs less than metal so cedar tables are easy to cart around if necessary.

I recommend: If you are interested in a rustic white cedar log picnic table you can find them at 1 Cabin Furniture. You can buy various types cedar picnic tables at the Cedar Store.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Avoid buying any picnic table made of chemically treated pine. Pine warps and splinters easily when exposed to extreme weather conditions. To prevent weathering, manufacturers use treated pine. The process may involve various chemicals including arsenic, which could be dangerous. Children are the most likely to suffer possible ill effects. They may touch the tables then put their hands in their mouths.