If you're asking whether you can get a wood sample for urban benches before ordering, the answer is yes—and I'd actually recommend it. A bench is a long-term investment for a street, plaza, campus, or park, and wood never looks exactly the same on a monitor as it does in real life. A sample lets you check color, grain, texture, and finish before you commit to a large order.
We work with a range of commercial bench materials, but wood remains the most requested option for urban benches because of its warmth, repairability, and long lifespan. We keep a standard set of urban bench wood samples available for commercial buyers. The blocks are typically machined to about 4 x 2 x 1 inches, with one face finished and the edges left unfinished so you can see both the final surface and the true raw color. If you're considering a specific option—ipe, thermally modified ash, teak, oak, or a high-density composite—just tell us the species or the bench model, and we'll match the sample to that product.
To request a wood sample, send your name, project or organization, shipping address, and the bench models or wood species you're comparing. For commercial clients in the U.S. and Canada, we usually ship standard samples free of charge. Outside those areas, we may ask you to cover the courier cost. Most sample sets ship within 2–4 business days, but custom finish samples can take a little longer.
One thing I always mention: wood is a natural material, so the sample is an accurate reference, not an exact guarantee for every board. Grain pattern and color will vary slightly from piece to piece. If your project needs a very consistent look across multiple urban benches, ask about batch-specific samples or current production photos before shipping.
Not sure which outdoor bench wood to choose? I'd start with three samples: a dense tropical hardwood for high-traffic areas, a thermally modified wood for low maintenance and stability, and a domestic hardwood for a balance of budget and durability. Put them outside in the actual site conditions for a week or two. That will tell you more than any brochure.
So yes—you can absolutely get a sample before ordering. Just use the sample request form on the product page or email our team with your shipping details, and we'll get it out to you.