Autumn Maintenance: Preparing Wood Furniture for Cooler Weather
Most people think of wooden furniture as something inanimate and dead, and it’s understandable why. Wooden furniture doesn’t move or talk, but it does breathe. The wood from wooden furniture might not be attached to the tree it grew on originally, but it’s very much still alive.
Just like guitars need to be humidified properly or the wood can warp and bend, it helps to keep wooden furniture in the right conditions during the autumn. You’ll enjoy it for longer and it will stay in better shape over the years.
A little preventive maintenance now will help you a lot down the road.
Humidity Matters
As mentioned, when you buy a guitar, it’s a real, living piece of wood that doesn’t remain in a fixed position. The neck can move backwards and forwards, changing the string’s distance from the neck, and if the wood on the neck shrinks, the frets can protrude out.
Maintaining natural wood furniture means keeping the same considerations in mind because the underlying dynamics are no different. The wood is alive, and the level of humidity impacts its condition.
Even if you don’t play a dining room table or wooden bedroom furniture the way you do a guitar, the wood can warp, shrink, and expand if the room is too dry, which can be the case in autumn and winter. Keeping a humidifier in the same room as the furniture is an excellent way to ensure it stays in a healthy atmosphere.
Dryness makes the wood contract and shrinks on itself, which causes it to become frailer and, over the long term, can lead to cracks. A preventative measure focused on taking care of your furniture now keeps the wood balanced and stable. In winter, or if autumn gets cold enough and the heat makes the room dry, consider keeping the humidity at 40-45%.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
If wooden furniture has prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, it can get dry. Usually, a home is lucky to have that much constant sunlight poring through the windows! Having a bright, warm home is a beautiful thing.
It’s unlikely that your furniture will be positioned in such a way that the sun is beaming on it constantly, but it’s something to be mindful of. Using drapes or blinds during the way can also mitigate the sun’s heat.
Humidity Must Be Consistent
Some dining room tables come with leaves you can add to it, so the table expands when you have more guests than usual. Consider that the leaves you store should also be exposed to the same level of humidity as the table itself to keep consistent.
If you keep the table leaves in a damp basement, you may find that they don’t quite properly fit the table when it’s time to put them on. You can store the leaves in the same room as the table, or ensure the humidity level is equivalent.
Keep Away from Heat Sources
Just like you don’t want to place solid wood furniture in direct sunlight, you also want to keep it away from heat sources like a radiator. Keep it adjacent rather than right up alongside it.
If you have central air or a heat pump, this isn’t something you really need to worry about. Just be mindful that there’s always a connection between the wood’s health and the level of dryness and temperature in the room.
Inspect for Damage
Before the seasons really get cold, autumn is a great time to inspect for any damage beyond ordinary wear and tear on your solid wood furniture. You can considerably extend the lifespan of your furniture by preventing any cracks from widening or expanding.
If you do see any gouges, cracks, or splinters that you didn’t notice, you can do a couple of things. Take a DIY approach if you think you can manage the repair yourself. If the damage is considerable, or you’re not very confident or experienced in doing this type of work, it might be better to send in a specialist.
Before letting a technician do the repair, make sure you understand the specific instructions for that piece of furniture, as different types of wood have particular qualities you want to be aligned with. You should also be aware of the finish and ensure you don’t do anything that could disturb it.
The Good News
One of the reasons people love buying solid wood furniture is the way it stands up to daily wear and tear. A little maintenance may go a long way, but you don’t need to do too much more!
Our furniture is designed to give you peace of mind. We go the extra mile to ensure the furniture will last a long time. For example, our craftsmen always refinish the furniture by hand, rather than soaking pieces, a process which can degrade glue joints.
The steps we take to ensure our pieces last for decades may not be apparent at first glance, but that’s the Woodcraft difference, and it’s something we’re proud of.
Some people have wooden furniture at the cottage, as these pieces are a beautiful compliment to the surrounding woods, wooden docks, beams, and other forms of wood appearing naturally. Don’t think that our wooden furniture will need much preventative maintenance over the autumn and winter because you may not be up as regularly.
We can deliver the furniture to your cottage for you and even assemble it there, if you need. Then, you can sit back without worrying about its condition. Just keep the basic tips described above in mind and you’ll enjoy your furniture for years.
Wood is a beautiful material that, unlike, say, metal or plastic, is quite alive. It can bend and warp over time. People love wooden furniture for its character and durability. Woodcraft is proud to build each piece with durability in mind, as we do everything possible to send off everything we make with our signature attention to detail.