About Wood Furniture 

The solid wood used in production of your furniture have been selected by our craftsmen for their natural beauty and characteristics. The depth and shade of colours and wood grain will vary with every piece. All timber changes in appearance over time due to exposure to direct sunlight and household conditions. Therefore, new furniture will initially vary in shade from items you have previously purchased.
 

Please look after your new furniture with care. Tree fellers and craftsmen alike have toiled to bring this beautiful piece to your home.

For centuries, oak has been a popular material from which to construct tables, chairs, and other pieces of furniture thanks to its strength, durability and beauty. However, oak does have the tendency to stain easily and can become dry and cracked if not properly maintained.

Maintaining oak furniture involves protecting it from extreme temperature swings, moisture and heat, as well as preserving its structural soundness by only moving it with care.

Most furniture is built to look a certain way, and mass production guarantees no unit looks different from the rest. On the other hand, one piece of wooden furniture can look different every time it’s stripped and refinished. Furthermore, many wood pieces are handmade, and since no two trees come with the same tones and markings, no two pieces of furniture will look exactly the same. Every item of furniture we sell is unique. Why, because we only manufacture our furniture from solid wood. Every tree has differing characteristics and so will our furniture. 

Humidity and Wood Furniture  

Please note wood is an organic material that expands and contracts in response its environment (due to the change in humidity) and as such cannot be 100% guaranteed not to move. 

Your furniture responds to changes in temperature and humidity by expanding and contracting slightly. Wood  does best in moderate temperatures of around 70 – 80 degrees fahrenheit and about 50 – 55% humidity, so this is what we recommend keeping your home set 365 days a year in order to keep your wood furniture in top condition. inexpensive humidity gauges can be purchased at your local hardware store.

To prevent your wood furniture from cracking, warping, or drying out, keep the following tips in mind: 

•    Watch your humidity in your home and make sure your humidifier is working properly to prevent any and all issues, especially during the winter months.

•    Avoid frequent and sudden changes in humidity, as they can be damaging to furniture.

•    Avoid excess heat or dryness, as this can cause wood to split and crack.

•    Be sure to keep your furniture away from heat sources such as fireplaces or radiators.

•    In damp rooms or during wet, rainy seasons, use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air.

•    Keep furniture out of direct sunlight.

•    Keep table leaves as close to your table as possible to ensure they are exposed to the same humidity conditions.

•    Always use padding for hot or cold items on your solid furniture. 

How do I care for my oak furniture?  

Almost half the weight of freshly sawn wood is water so it's important to ensure that you buy oak furniture which has been meticulously kiln-dried to reduce this moisture content to the perfect level.

Once your new furniture has been delivered, it's wise to help it acclimatize to your home by treating it with oil or wax polish (beeswax gives the best finish), and to continue treating it at three-month intervals. This will lovingly nourish the timbers, creating a long-lasting protective seal to maintain the correct levels of moisture within the timbers.

Waxing also protects the grain, helps the wood resist cracking and crazing (fine cracks on the surface), and keeps any finishes on your oak furniture in the best possible condition.

To apply the wax, move in the same direction as the grain, leave for 5 minutes, then remove the wax by buffing, again following the direction of the grain. This allows for optimum protection while minimizing streaking and air pockets.

When applying new wax finishes to your oak furniture we suggest you try the wax on the underneath of the table or somewhere not in plain sight so you can decide whether the finish is to your taste. 

Where should I place my furniture?  

  •    When considering positioning, it is best to leave a gap of approximately 25mm between the wall and the back of your furniture; this will allow air flow and keep the oak at a more stable temperature, helping to prolong its life.

•    Avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading to the finish. It's also important not to position in front of a radiator, as the constant change in heat will dry out your furniture and could result in joints of the furniture opening up. This also applies to rooms with air conditioning units. Likewise, avoid placing oak furniture in conservatories, where extreme temperatures are common. And it's certainly not wise to put oak furniture outside, unless specifically designed for outdoor use. 

•    As with any natural product, your furniture will be affected by a certain amount of structural movement; this is fine, but excessive movement will most likely mean your furniture is not placed in the best position.

•    When placing your furniture on a solid wood floor, we suggest to place protective felt under the feet; this will not only protect your floor but also the base of the foot of your piece of furniture. 

•    Oak furniture will get more beautiful with age, naturally darkening during its lifetime, and daylight will alter the colour, so be sure to periodically rearrange any lamps or ornaments to give an even colour.           

Daily Maintence & Product Care   

In order to ensure you many years of satisfaction with your new wooden furniture, it is necessary with the appropriate care and maintenance. Kindly follow the below specifications: 

(A) Clean the surface with the clean, wrung out cloth. (no detergent)

(B) Leave any drawers or doors open in new furniture.This allows the smell of furniture oil to dissipate. New  furniture has most likely been recently oiled before packed and shipped to your home. You need to air the wood out to minimize the odor of wood oil.   

(C) Move all oak furniture carefully. No matter how strong and sturdy a piece looks, always move it with care by lifting it instead of dragging, and carefully setting it down. This will preserve the integrity of the joints.

(D) Avoid placing wooden furniture next to a source of heat or in direct sunlight. This can cause dryness, cracking and fading of the color. As the sunlight damages the wood's finish. If avoidance is not possible, cover your wood furniture with a cloth sheet to protect it from ultraviolet rays.

(E)  Maintain wooden furniture by treating it periodically with special furniture oil. Once a month is sufficient to prevent cracking and to create a moisture resistant layer with regular use, but if a piece of furniture is exposed to wear and tear daily, such as a table, chair or desk, oil it once a week. If you buy a new or used piece of oak furniture and it appears dry, oil it before use to restore the wood's sheen and protect it.

(F) Avoid putting hot items such as dishes or pans directly on the wood. Instead, use place mats or table mats with felt backs.

(G) Be careful not to expose solid wooden furniture to strong cleaning agents, coffee, wine, water or other liquids.

(H) Wipe up any spills on the wooden furniture’s wood immediately to avoid staining. Use a clean cloth or paper towel.  

Daily Care  

(1) To prevent stains use coasters and place mats.

(2) To clean, just use a sponge with a solution of water 

Ring Marks  

Use coasters and place mats to reduce the occurrence of ring marks. Hot substances or liquids placed directly on the wooden surface can cause these. 

They can be removed using a Ring Remover available from any DIY store. If the stain is deep the area can be sanded and then restained or colored and waxed to restore it. 

How often should the item be treated with waxed oil? 

(1)  First time immediately before use or

(2)  One month after purchase or

(3)  Hereafter treatment according to the need. We recommend every month 

How do you treat the wooden item? 

(1)  Clean the surface with the clean, wrung out cloth.

(2)  Wait for 10 – 15 minutes. The wood may become dry over time or in different conditions for example air-conditioning or central heating.

(3)  Polishing with wax oil with the clean sponge along the gains of the wood.

(4)  Wait for 10 minutes and polish the remaining oil off with a new, clean cloth.

(5)  Do not use the item until the oil is completely absorbed.  

Daily Maintenance: 

(1)  Clean the surface with the clean, wrung out cloth. (no detergent)

(2)  Small spots can polished off with sand paper no.220 or 18.

**Remember: No steel wool – and always along the grains of the wood. 

Move All Furniture Carefully 

No matter how strong and sturdy oak furniture looks, always move it with care. To do so, lift it or gently push it with sliders and rollers. Carefully set it down to preserve the integrity of the joints. If a joint does come undone, it can usually be fixed with glue and a clamp. Never drag furniture by it's legs or pull it across a room. 

Repair any dents or marks 

(1) You may be able to repair slight damages to oak furniture. You can use furniture markers and putties (available in a variety of colors) to fix small chips.

(2) To repair a mark or dent in unfinished furniture, try swelling the ding back out. Put a damp cotton cloth over the spot and place the tip of a warm iron onto the cloth so the wood rises up. Once the blemish is dry, sand it down with a fine-grain sandpaper, then oil it.

(3) Furniture oil tends to darken light dings in overall hard finishes. Use the "natural" yellowish kind for a medium brown color. If you need nearly-black, try dark furniture oil. Don't soak too much oil into a waxy-type finish since it can really stain.

(4) Some putties harden while others stay soft and removable. For penetrating fixes start with lighter tones. 

Can You Color Match My Home Furnture For Me?

Due to timber being a natural living product, the grain and structure of each unit is unique. It is unfortunately not possible to achieve a perfect uniformity of colour between units. To colour match an old unit with a new unit is quite difficult and not recommended as timber ages over time and will develop deeper colour at different stages.Your furniture may differ slightly with the product you saw in store due to the grain of the timber, this is what makes your piece unique and special.

Remove New Wood Smell When You Receive Your New Wooden Furniture

New wooded furniture brings with it a "new wood smell." Initially, the smell of new wood furniture is appealing, but it soon gets old and intrusive. Since it takes time for the new wood scent to clear, you'll need to use the right household supplies and techniques to hasten the neutralization process without ruining your new furniture.

Step 1

Ventilate the room affected by the smell. Keep fresh air circulating by opening windows on both sides of the room to promote a cross breeze for a few hours every day. The new wood smell will eventually dissipate.

Step 2

Sprinkle baking soda into the drawers, cabinets and surfaces of your new wood furniture to absorb the smell. Allow the baking soda to sit overnight, and vacuum the powder the following day.

Step 3

Wash the surfaces, drawers and cabinets of your new wood furniture with a cup of white vinegar combined with a gallon of hot water. Dip your clean cloth into the bucket of solution to squeeze out the excess liquid before starting so you don't saturate the wood. The vinegar deodorizes and neutralizes odors while leaving a clean scent behind. The white vinegar smell will weaken after a few hours.

Step 4

Place charcoal briquettes in the drawers and cabinets until the smell from your new wood furniture fades. In addition, place small charcoal-filled bowls throughout the room to further eliminate odors.

Step 5

Spray a household odor neutralizer throughout the room where the new wood furniture is, as well as in cabinets and drawers of the furniture. Spray the neutralizer onto floors, walls and window treatments as well if they are affected by the smell.

You may also use an air purifier:

Consider investing in an air purifier that has an activated carbon filter and particulate filter.

• Activated carbon removes chemicals from the air
• Particulate filters are made to minimize household dust floating in the home, which contains flame retardants and other chemicals from furniture and typical household use
• HEPA filters are known for trapping the smallest particles

Stockroom.com.hk Team