Evaluating Your Options
By: Philip D. Mickey

A table is not always just a table.

Whether it's for setting up a special dinner for the entire congregation, putting together a project for the local scout troop or just making room for the growing number of attendees to the Easter breakfast, everyone needs an extra set of tables to expand their seating capacities. This is a must for any congregation – no matter how large or small.

For years, the best and most reliable solution for extra seating was an old standby – heavy, wooden folding tables. These tables certainly provided a stable foundation for dinners, projects and meetings, but they were very heavy and not very portable. Plus, you certainly couldn't use them outdoors because of the fear of rust and the wood tops becoming corroded. They also didn't wear very well through the years, chipping and cracking on the corners and getting scratches and scrapes on the tabletop itself. It was truly time for something different.

In 1998, a new take on an old workhorse hit the market. The folding table took on a newer, more modern form, one that made them stronger and more durable than wood, but also cut the weight in half. This re-invented table was the perfect solution for homes, offices and – of course – churches. The blow-molded polyethylene and steel folding table hit stores and completely changed the marketplace.

This new, modern table is constructed of high-density polyethylene, which is a form of high-grade plastic that will not crack, chip or peel. Polyethylene is also completely stain-resistant. The special, blow-molded design improves the overall strength of the tabletop while utilizing less material, making them much more affordable than an old wooden table. The double-wall construction of a blow-molded table improves rigidity and makes a plastic table, although lighter, stronger than a wooden table

The steel frame on this new table is powder-coated, which is a coating process that makes steel parts more resistant to chips, scratches and regular wear-and-tear. It also makes the frame resistant to corrosion and protects it from damage brought on by exposure to the sun, making it a great all-weather finish.

When you combine the strength of the blow-molded top with the improved, weather-resistant steel frame, you have a handsome piece of portable furniture that gives you the confidence you want in a table that will serve people of all ages for many years to come. Seemingly built just for the church market, these tables are built for the rigors of demanding commercial use, which makes them perfect for the most active congregations. And unlike its wooden ancestor, this table is perfect for outdoor use.

On top of all this, they are easy to move and easy to store. The majority of them are affordably priced, so it won't break your budget. These tables are available at most retail stores across America, but most congregations have turned to membership warehouses for their supply of tables. The price is usually better, and you are able to buy several at a time.

When buying these tables, here are a few points to consider.

Shape
There are two standard shapes of tables that are used in the largest congregations – round and rectangular. Round tables are perfect for dinners, break-out group discussions and kid's activities. You can seat a lot of people around them, and they are perfect for a beautiful centerpiece or a "family-style" meal.

Rectangular tables are the most commonly used tables, often referred to as "banquet-style" tables. They can be arranged in "picnic-style" arrangement for large dinners or used in a "horseshoe" layout for large group meetings. They are also perfect to set up the evening buffet or to set out in front of your building for the annual fundraiser or garage sale.

Size
The most commonly used size for a banquet-style tables is a six-foot table. These usually measure 72 inches by 30 inches and are certainly the biggest seller at membership warehouses. Each table fits six adults comfortably, three on each side, and some groups even sneak one more on each end, extending the seating capacity to eight people.

Another popular size is the eight-foot table. These measure 96 inches by 30 inches and seat up to 10 adults.

There are also four-foot sizes available, but they are used mostly for smaller projects and "greeters" tables.

For round tables, the five-foot round table is the most commonly used, although four-foot and even six-foot polyethylene tables have hit the market.

Versatility
A newer trend in the polyethylene folding table market has been the introduction of adjustable-height and fold-in-half tables. An adjustable-height table is extremely versatile, giving you the option of three or more height settings. This allows the table to be used at a standard table height, or a shorter children's height and a higher counter-top height. These tables are available in six-foot, five-foot and four-foot rectangular sizes.

The fold-in-half table gives you the ultimate in portability. Most are center-folding and feature a carry handle built right in, allowing anyone to easily carry the table from storage to event. Most fold-in-half tables are rectangular, but a round fold-in-half table has been introduced and is currently available.

Storage
Aside from strength and durability, storability may be the greatest feature of the polyethylene folding table. The lightweight construction of these tables make them incredibly easy to move, making clean-up time much shorter and allowing more people to participate in the "putting away of the tables" activity that everyone enjoys. The high-impact polyethylene tabletop also gives you the confidence that the surface and corners of the tables won't get destroyed over time just from simple set-up and take-down. Steel carts are also available, and most new tables fit on older carts that were originally built for heavier wooden tables.

Seating
If you have tables, then it makes sense to have chairs to go along with them. In the days of the old, banged-up wood table, most groups had a stock of heavy steel chairs. After the polyethylene folding table was introduced, a chair made of the same materials soon followed. These folding chairs mimic their table counterparts in strength, durability and portability. They are also molded with the same polyethylene plastic and feature the same weather-resistant steel frame, so they match the tables. No more dark brown table with lighter brown chairs – now your tables and chairs look exactly the same. And, the design is more ergonomic, so the chair is contoured for your comfort, which is even more valuable when you are seated for an extended congregation meeting or Christmas program. These matching chairs are usually available at the same point of purchase as the tables.

As congregations grow and the need for space becomes a bigger issue, it's wise to do your homework and learn what the best solution is for your group. With the advent of the strong, durable and lightweight polyethylene table, it's easy for any congregation to make room for growth. Just remember – a table is not always just a table.

Philip D. Mickey is communications manager for Lifetime Products, www.lifetime.com.

Product Roundup

Biofit's Build Your Own Chair Configurator
BioFit Engineered Products introduces the "Build Your Own Chair Configurator" for designing ergonomic chairs to meet your specifications. Visitors to the BioFit Web site can use the "Build Your Own Chair Configurator" to:

• See how different chair components and component options would look and perform
• Assemble chairs that meet their specific needs
• Configure a chair, then e-mail BioFit for a price quote

Modular construction provides the ability to interchange parts, add options and customize basic models to fit specific needs.
www.biofit.com

Church Chair
Church Chair is a family owned and operated company that has been manufacturing quality chairs since 1985.  The company's chairs stack, allowing for multiple uses, including:

• Sanctuary seating
• Meeting room seating
• Seating for celebrations and other activities

Church Chair has won five Adex (Award for Design Excellence) awards for the design of five different chairs.  
www.churchchair.com

Pacer Tables by SICO
SICO mobile folding Pacer Tables are the perfect catering tables for churches. The tables feature:

• 60% faster set-up than conventional folding leg tables
• Tops that never touch the floor whether in the use or stored position
• Innovative lock bar to allow for a gentler opening
• Variety of shapes

Pacers are either standing on their legs or on their wheels.  
www.sicoinc.com

Lightweight Blow-Molded Plastic Tables by TablesNChairs
The sturdy yet lightweight blow-molded plastic folding table is the perfect solution for a church's banquet area or cafeteria. They may be used for any application that calls for an affordable, lightweight, weather resistant and highly durable folding table. The seminar/conference room folding tables feature:

• Indoor/outdoor construction
• Lightweight, 18-inch design
• Cantilevered style comfort legs
• Five-year factory warranty

Comfort-style legs help prevent bumping into the table legs and are extremely comfortable.
www.tablesnchairs.com

Lifetime Tables and Chairs
With Lifetime tables, churches always are prepared. Tables and chairs are:

• Lightweight
• Durable
• Easy-to-clean
• Priced to fit any budget

Lifetime's 5-Foot Round table is great for seating a lot of people at the annual Christmas dinner, or for setting up an after-school project. Six adults can sit comfortably around the table, and with six strong and comfortable Lifetime folding chairs, churches won't have to worry about meetings running long.
www.lifetime.com

Savannah Collection by Bertolini
The new Savannah collection by Bertolini Sanctuary Seating redefines elegance through:

• Its unmatched contoured seating
• Award-winning Ergo-V lumbar support
• Comfort of individualized seating

The Model 5003 features Bertolini's exclusive 2lb. Blue contoured foam while its sibling Model 5010 features our 3lb. dual density contoured seat, making for a firm yet plush sit.
www.sanctuaryseating.com

Mity-Lite's Deluxe Host
With Mity-Lite's Deluxe Host stacking chairs, your congregation will love the plush comfort seat on the contoured smile-bend frame. Features include:

• Style, comfort and durability
• Extensive fabric selection and frame colors
• Durable construction that supports 1,000 pounds

Visit Mity-Lite's Web site to use the "Build your own Deluxe Host" tool.
www.mitylite.com

Commercialite by McCourt Manufacturing
Commercialite is a strong, light and affordable indoor/outdoor folding table. The Blow Mold technology allows McCourt to produce polyethylene plastic tops to resist:

• Heat
• Stains
• Chemicals
• Physical damage

The U.S. Steel frame with wishbone folding leg system bolts through the table top, allowing the Commercialite to support more than 3,500 pounds.
www.mccourtmfg.com