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Q: Doesn't green oak shrink and crack?
A: The simple answer to this question is yes - the oak will shrink.
Most shrinkage arises when wood is subject to fast drying. When fresh timber meets hot sun the outer surface dries first and therefore shrinks faster than the inside. The fibres separate causing cracks.
Wood can be kiln dried, which controls this process and helps prevent cracks caused by uneven drying. Wood can be air dried but it takes much longer -a year for every inch of thickness. Oak sections larger than 3-4" in thickness cannot be fully dried (down to ~ 12% moisture) by any conventional kiln methods. In addition the process of kiln drying is very space and energy intensive and so greatly increases the cost of the oak to the consumer.
Dry oak is therefore only usually used in the manufacture of joinery products such as windows, doors and tables.
This means that ANY building made of green or semi-seasoned oak will dry out during its first few years in a central heated environment. This drying period will see the moisture content of oak change from around 60% to around 16%. This is a huge change, and so it's not surprising that the oak shrinks a little and that cracks occur. However, it is generally agreed that it is these very cracks and splits which add to the character and charm of the finished product.
Oak is likely to shrink by approximately 2.5% across its grain, however there is virtually no shrinkage at all along the grain.
Solid oak furniture can be one of the most beautiful pieces in a home. With the proper care, oak can last a lifetime, be passed on to generations, become centre pieces of homes, and of course, becomes an investment of quality no matter how many times you redecorate around it. To some people, furniture is just furniture. You bring it home, set it up, put things on it, and you like it. To others, furniture can become a passion. Seeking out the perfect piece and then labouring with love over it for the next ten or twenty years is more than a hobby. For most of us, furniture lies somewhere in the middle. It is a way of expressing ourselves throughout our home, creating an environment which is comfortable and attractive and gives us our flag of self expression in an otherwise empty room. Caring for oak furniture is part of owning it, regardless of where you fit on the scale of furniture passion.
There are different types of oak furniture, and naturally some types may require special consideration. Green oak, for example, takes about 4 years to fully treat. Most outdoor oak furniture is created from green oak.
Unfinished oak furniture can be beautiful when kept up with and an eyesore when it has been left to its own devices. Since oak tends to leak its own natural source of tannin from within the wood, staining of areas surrounding the furniture can happen. In almost every case, this tannin staining occurs with outdoor oak furniture. But every now and then indoor oak furniture ends up with a particularly high natural occurrence rate of tannin.
Caring for oak furniture that is purchased untreated, whether outdoor or indoor pieces, is about as simple as wiping it down with a damp cloth. The cloth however, should never be dampened with water, but a basic teak oil instead. If teak oil is unavailable Danish oil makes a great substitute.
Oak furniture is “live wood.” Thus, it has the ability to withstand certain elements without sustaining unreasonable damage while significant elements can cause significant damage. This basically translates into that small spill your child caused at the annual holiday party is not likely to cause significant damage (provided that it wasn’t a carbonated beverage) while that spill he caused last week but didn’t tell you about left a large mark where the liquid sat for 12 hours until you noticed it.
Every couple of months your oak furniture is going to need a thorough waxing, especially in its first few years in your home. Waxing helps the grain remain adhered, helps the wood resist cracking and crazing, and of course keeps any finishes on your oak furniture in tip top shape. Waxing doesn’t work well if you make little circles or broad back and forth strokes. You want to apply the wax with a clean cloth in the same direction as the grain and then remove the wax by buffing with the grain. This allows for optimum protection within the grain while minimizing streaking and air pockets.
Cheap furniture care products are cheap for a reason. Usually the reason is because they don’t work very well. The ingredients that go into a can of furniture polish in the cheap can are less expensive for the company to attain because they are not as potent. While there will always be a few companies who will also package for the store brand, these are few and far between. Thus, as a general rule, the cheap cans of furniture care products should ultimately be avoided.
When moisture from a drinking glass or other mild source leaves its mark, nearly all oak furniture enthusiasts swear by a little overnight butter massage for their treasured pieces. You can use either butter or margarine, massage it into the marks, and then leave it to work its magic in the overnight hours. In the morning when you wipe it clean, you should follow it up with a polish. Those who have had stains and water marks that are just too insistent for this treatment follow the same protocol using a concoction of cigarette ashes and olive oil. This creates a paste (and a conversation piece when you call your smoking friend and ask them to save their ashes for you) that will ultimately dull the furniture. Polishing the area thoroughly after use can bring back the shine. These home remedies also work for marks left by heat.
One of the most frustrating aspects of caring for oak furniture will forever be the scratches and dents the inevitably threaten to ruin an otherwise beautiful piece. There is a remedy for this, however, proceed with complete caution as the repair process can also ruin the furniture if you are not careful.
Start the repair process by allowing a few droplets of water to soak completely into the dent or scratch. When the wood is moist, cover the area with a clean cloth and gently iron the area with a warm iron. The combination of the heat and moisture can literally erase the dent with a few magic words. Or for the more scientific types, the heat causes the wood to expand and as the water dries it creates permanency for your repair. If you burn the table trying this, toothpaste left on a burn overnight and polished after clean up in the morning can alleviate any ugly minor scorches.
Caring for oak furniture properly allow the finer pieces to become family heirlooms, adds incredible unique beauty to any home, and of course, can be a passionate endeavor for those who find these pieces intricately beautiful.
Oak fire surrounds
What could be nicer on a bleak winter's
evening then to cosy up in front of a roaring fire? I suppose the
only way this setting could be improved would be if the fire
benefited from having an
Oak Fire Surrounds that is supplied from a company that deals with
only the very best kinds of rustic oak products.
Our beautiful ranges of Oak Fire Surrounds are hand crafted inside our own small workshop so every customer ends up with a bespoke item.
The quality of the Oak Fire Surrounds is without question and customers can choose from natural, medium or dark oak finishes.
Unlike other types of mass produced fire surrounds, our Oak Fire Surrounds are substantial products.
Just imagine the wood that's used to make these rustic surrounds. Each section of timber is taken from well managed PEFC certified forests so the trees are being replaced at a remarkable rate.
The most noticeable thing about the Oak Fire Surrounds is they will begin to change with the advent of time. Natural cracks may appear in the wood itself and this will add to the character of the item. Winter nights can be highly enjoyable moments in time when you snuggle in front of a roaring fire that has one of our Oak Fire Surrounds fitted to it.
Oak beam coffee tables
Instead of shopping at your local catalogue retail outfit for your coffee table wouldn't you like to purchase something a little more substantial from a bespoke furniture supplier instead.
Chipboard coffee tables will only chip away in time and leave you with ring marks instead of a grained appearance.
Solid Simply Rustic Oak Beam Coffee Tables will be far sturdier and they will actually improve their looks with age.
Natural beauty is in abundance when you look at the Beam Coffee Tables and because the wood is natural it will develop cracks over a period of time. This actually helps to give the Oak Beam Coffee Table a rustic look and improves the character of the furniture in general.
Customers can order one of the Oak Beam Coffee Tables in standard sizes or they can specify their own size and a bespoke table will be made.
The finish of the wood can be left natural or choices of medium and dark finishes are also available.
Full of charm and with a remarkable rural appeal, these Oak Beam Coffee Tables will look stunning in any setting.
Forget buying mass produced tables from catalogue stores, why not treat yourself to one of our Oak Beam Coffee Tables.
Rustic oak furniture
There's a charming range of Rustic Oak Furniture available at the moment that just keeps on getting better with age. You can watch the Rustic Oak Furniture change its appearance as it gets older . Just like us, the Rustic Oak Furniture improves with age and begins to develop natural cracks. This helps the Rustic Oak Furniture to gain a weathered look that looks wonderful inside the home.
Made inside a small workshop this type of furniture is sure to have mass appeal. Items like fire surrounds will be snapped up in an instance and console tables will make beautiful additions to the home.
Modern media equipment can be given a pleasant place to perch on because items like oak beam TV Stands are within the Rustic Oak Furniture range.
The wood used to make the Rustic Oak Furniture is sustainable and the forests it comes from are effectively managed.
Every item of furniture made is available in a choice of fine finishes and natural, medium or dark oak. The Charming collection of Rustic Oak Furniture can breathe new life into a boring old room.
Rustic Oak Garden furniture
There's a charming range of Garden Furniture available at the moment that just keeps on getting better with age. You can watch the Garden Furniture as it get older and it will begin to change its appearance. Just like us, the Garden Furniture improves with age and begins to develop natural cracks. This helps the Garden Furniture to gain a weathered look that looks wonderful in the garden. Made inside a small workshop this type of furniture is sure to have mass appeal. Items like Garden bench with back rest fire surrounds will be snapped up in an instance and mushroom tables will make beautiful additions to the garden. The wood used to make the Garden Furniture is sustainable and the forests it comes from are effectively managed. Every item of furniture is made from oak and oiled.
Our beautiful ranges of Oak Fire Surrounds are hand crafted inside our own small workshop so every customer ends up with a bespoke item.
The quality of the Oak Fire Surrounds is without question and customers can choose from natural, medium or dark oak finishes.
Unlike other types of mass produced fire surrounds, our Oak Fire Surrounds are substantial products.
Just imagine the wood that's used to make these rustic surrounds. Each section of timber is taken from well managed PEFC certified forests so the trees are being replaced at a remarkable rate.
The most noticeable thing about the Oak Fire Surrounds is they will begin to change with the advent of time. Natural cracks may appear in the wood itself and this will add to the character of the item. Winter nights can be highly enjoyable moments in time when you snuggle in front of a roaring fire that has one of our Oak Fire Surrounds fitted to it.
Oak beam coffee tables
Instead of shopping at your local catalogue retail outfit for your coffee table wouldn't you like to purchase something a little more substantial from a bespoke furniture supplier instead.
Chipboard coffee tables will only chip away in time and leave you with ring marks instead of a grained appearance.
Solid Simply Rustic Oak Beam Coffee Tables will be far sturdier and they will actually improve their looks with age.
Natural beauty is in abundance when you look at the Beam Coffee Tables and because the wood is natural it will develop cracks over a period of time. This actually helps to give the Oak Beam Coffee Table a rustic look and improves the character of the furniture in general.
Customers can order one of the Oak Beam Coffee Tables in standard sizes or they can specify their own size and a bespoke table will be made.
The finish of the wood can be left natural or choices of medium and dark finishes are also available.
Full of charm and with a remarkable rural appeal, these Oak Beam Coffee Tables will look stunning in any setting.
Forget buying mass produced tables from catalogue stores, why not treat yourself to one of our Oak Beam Coffee Tables.
Rustic oak furniture
There's a charming range of Rustic Oak Furniture available at the moment that just keeps on getting better with age. You can watch the Rustic Oak Furniture change its appearance as it gets older . Just like us, the Rustic Oak Furniture improves with age and begins to develop natural cracks. This helps the Rustic Oak Furniture to gain a weathered look that looks wonderful inside the home.
Made inside a small workshop this type of furniture is sure to have mass appeal. Items like fire surrounds will be snapped up in an instance and console tables will make beautiful additions to the home.
Modern media equipment can be given a pleasant place to perch on because items like oak beam TV Stands are within the Rustic Oak Furniture range.
The wood used to make the Rustic Oak Furniture is sustainable and the forests it comes from are effectively managed.
Every item of furniture made is available in a choice of fine finishes and natural, medium or dark oak. The Charming collection of Rustic Oak Furniture can breathe new life into a boring old room.
Rustic Oak Garden furniture
There's a charming range of Garden Furniture available at the moment that just keeps on getting better with age. You can watch the Garden Furniture as it get older and it will begin to change its appearance. Just like us, the Garden Furniture improves with age and begins to develop natural cracks. This helps the Garden Furniture to gain a weathered look that looks wonderful in the garden. Made inside a small workshop this type of furniture is sure to have mass appeal. Items like Garden bench with back rest fire surrounds will be snapped up in an instance and mushroom tables will make beautiful additions to the garden. The wood used to make the Garden Furniture is sustainable and the forests it comes from are effectively managed. Every item of furniture is made from oak and oiled.
Solid oak furniture
There's a charming range of Solid oak furniture available at the moment that just keeps on getting better with age. You can watch the Solid oak furniture as it get older and it will begin to change its appearance. Just like us, the Solid oak furniture improves with age and begins to develop natural cracks. This helps the Solid oak furniture to gain a weathered look that looks wonderful inside the home. Made inside a small workshop this type of furniture is sure to have mass appeal. Items like fire surrounds and coffee tables will be snapped up in an instance and bedside tables will make beautiful additions to the home. Modern contemporary media equipment can be given a pleasant place to perch on because items like oak beam TV Stands are within the Solid oak furniture range. The wood used to make the Solid oak furniture is sustainable and the forests it comes from are effectively managed. Every item of furniture made from the wood is available in a choice of fine finishes and natural, medium or dark oak products could soon be placed within a welcoming home. The Charming collection of Solid oak furniture can breathe new life into a boring old room.
Contemporary oak furniture
Our bespoke range of Contemporary oak furniture available at the moment that just keeps on getting better with age. You can watch the Contemporary oak furniture as it get older and it will begin to change its appearance. Just like us, the Contemporary oak furniture improves with age and begins to develop natural cracks. This helps the Contemporary oak furniture to gain a weathered look that looks Stylish inside the home. Made inside a small workshop this type of furniture is sure to have mass appeal. Items like fire surrounds, coffee tables and bookcases will be snapped up in an instance and bedside tables will make beautiful additions to the home. Modern contemporary media equipment can be given a pleasant place to perch on because items like large oak TV Stands are within the Contemporary oak furniture range. The wood used to make the Contemporary oak furniture is sustainable and the forests it comes from are effectively managed. Every item of furniture made from the wood is available in a choice of fine finishes and natural, medium or dark oak products could soon be placed within a welcoming home. The Charming collection of Contemporary oak furniture can breathe new life into a boring old room.
Rustic Oak Furniture History
A look at current trends in furniture.
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