As winter approaches, outdoor lounging areas, smoking areas, cycle parking, and seating all face more punishing conditions, driving rain, frost, wind, sleet and freezing temperatures. For workplaces that care about employee comfort, facility longevity and aesthetic appeal, installing robust, weatherproof outdoor fixtures is not just a necessity, it’s essential.
Here are five Tamstar’s best-selling products that every workplace should consider installing (or upgrading) before winter sets in, along with the design and maintenance strategies that will ensure they last season after season.
1) Polaris Smoking Shelter: a dependable rain haven
Smoking areas often sit close to building entry points, constantly exposed to splashes and wind. The Polaris smoking shelter offers a simple, stylish yet hard-wearing option at a price that suits most budgets:
- Strong frame (galvanised or powder coated), resistant to corrosion and salt spray
- Perspex or high-impact polycarbonate panelling to block wind-driven rain while preserving light
- Easy overhangs to keep drifting rain out
- Replaceable side glazing panels or backs, so damaged sections can be swapped rather than replacing the entire structure
Installing the Polaris shelter provides a dignified, dry waiting point for smokers and keeps your entrances cleaner (less mud/droplets inside). Before winter, check foundation anchoring and panel seals to make sure everything is tight and watertight.
2) Gamma Wall Canopy: compact protection for high traffic areas
Where footprint is limited (e.g. narrow sidewalks, building entrances, walkways), a Gamma wall canopy is a smart choice:
- Mounted to existing suitable walls, it provides overhead cover without the need for posts
- Good for covering doors, benches, bike stands or sheltered walk-throughs
- Uses robust fixings and strong glazing or roofing materials so it resists snow loads, wind uplift and deflection.
The Gamma canopy is ideal for protecting external doors, providing cover for drop-off points, or extending façades. Before winter, ensure flashing and connection points are sealed, and clear any overhanging branches or debris that might wipe or scratch the canopy.
3) Astro Bike Shelter: shield cycles all through the cold months
Cycle storage is a must for any modern workplace. But a poor shelter can turn into a drip trap. The Astro bike shelter offers a cost-effective, well-engineered protective solution:
- Sloped roof with drainage to prevent pooling or leaks
- Galvanised, durable frame and UV-stable high-impact glazing or polycarbonate for long-term resilience
- Open sides (or optional side panels) ensure ventilation to reduce condensation
- Option to combine with lockable compounds or additional covers
By installing the Astro shelter before winter, you help keep cycles dry, reduce corrosion on chains and gears, and encourage employees to continue cycling in all seasons. Check joints, roof seals, and bolt fixings in autumn to avoid surprises when the cold weather hits.
4) Larch 3 Person Recycled Plastic Seat: durable, low-maintenance seating
Employee rest areas, outdoor meeting zones, or sheltered school courtyards all benefit from seating. But wood and untreated materials degrade quickly in wet, freezing weather. Enter the Larch recycled plastic seat:
- Made from high-density recycled plastic: no splintering, warping or rotting
- Resistant to UV, frost, moisture and salt
- Low maintenance: just rinse or wipe clean, no repainting or sealing
- Strong internal structure to withstand seasons of use
- Delivered fully assembled to reduce time and labour costs
Comfortable seating helps encourage outdoor breaks even in chilly weather, contributing to staff wellbeing. Before winter, check ground fixings and seating stability, and clear surrounding leaves or branches that might trap moisture nearby.
5) Blackthorn Recycled Plastic Bench: multi-user seating that lasts
For larger communal outdoor zones, courtyards, lunch patios, etc. The Blackthorn recycled plastic bench is a robust, weatherproof solution at an affordable price:
- Designed for multiple users with a generous seating span
- Recycled plastic construction ensures no exposed wood components to degrade
- Reinforced legs/frame to resist bending or damage in freezing or high usage
- Easy to clean, winter grime (salt, debris, wet leaf mulch) can be hosed off
With comfortable, durable seating, these benches let people use exterior spaces even in colder months. Simple checks in autumn, ensuring anchoring is tight, surfaces are clean, and drainage nearby is clear, will help them last.
Integration, Layout & Standalone Design Advice
Putting five excellent products into place is one thing; making them function well together is another. Here are practical tips to integrate them across your site:
Positioning & user flows
- Locate the Polaris smoking shelter near a building entrance, but clear of heavy traffic so smoke doesn’t drift inside.
- Use the Gamma canopy over doorways or in walkways so staff can cross open spaces without getting soaked.
- Place the Astro bike shelter in a visible, convenient, but slightly sheltered zone (e.g. near bike lanes or staff entrances).
- Seat the Larch seats and Blackthorn benches near sheltered pathways or under partial cover, e.g. adjacent to canopies or inside open shelters, so people can benefit even in light rain.
- Leave clear, non-slip paved zones around installations to prevent puddling and create safe movement in icy conditions.
Material continuity & finishes
Choose finishes that match or complement, e.g. powder-coated frames in consistent colour palettes, glazing types that use the same polycarbonate or glass materials, and metalwork finishes aligned across the Polaris, Gamma and Astro installations. This helps the campus look cohesive and professional while ensuring all parts age similarly and can be maintained in the same cycle.
Foundations & anchoring
All five installations require solid anchoring. Foundations should be frost-resistant (below the frost line), with proper embedment or base plates. Ensure that heavier benches or shelters don’t uplift or shift under wind load, and that canopies are braced properly for lateral winds.
Seasonal maintenance plan
- Autumn inspection: Tighten bolts, check sealants, clean joints, clear gutters and drainage, and inspect for cracks or damage.
- Winter checks: Remove snow or ice, check that seating surfaces aren’t icy (anti-slip treatment), ensure cycle shelter drainage isn’t blocked, and brush off leaves and debris.
- Post-winter service: Replace any damaged panels or parts, re-coat surfaces where coating has worn, re-level or adjust as needed after freeze, thaw movement.
Why These Five Matter Before Winter
- Weather protection: The smoking shelter, canopy and bike shelter all work together to provide functional cover in harsh rain or wind.
- Longevity & resilience: The recycled plastic seating options (Larch and Blackthorn) resist the rot, splitting and paint flaking that plague traditional wooden benches.
- User experience: Comfortable, dry, sheltered areas encourage staff or users to make use of outdoor spaces year-round, improving morale and reducing indoor crowding.
- Maintenance efficiency: All five products are designed to minimise maintenance effort, letting you get through difficult seasons without constant repair cycles.
- Coordinated design: With consistent materials and finishes, these installations reinforce your brand’s commitment to quality and durability.