Oak furniture is an investment that will last for generations to come. The sturdiness and strength of the furniture makes it ideal for home and outdoor use and is very resistant to dents and scratches. However, this hard wood requires dedicated care with the correct materials to keep its appearance and to prevent unsightly cracks and crazing.
The experts agree on one thing regarding care for oak furniture: Commercial aerosol based polishes should not be used under any circumstances. Nor should any other oils than linseed, Danish or lemon oil be used. Always use a lint free cloth to wipe the furniture clean and make sure to clean spills immediately.
Having said that, there are a few important guidelines and tips that you should follow in order to properly care for your precious oak furniture:
When you’ve bought an unfinished oak set or piece of furniture, it is imperative that you treat it immediately. The furniture may have spent some time in a shipping crate and the wood may be drying out. To remedy this, use any one of the recommended oils (linseed, Danish or lemon) and a soft, clean cloth. Apply the oil carefully on the wood and then massage it in following the grain of the wood. This should be done at least every three months. Bear in mind that if your furniture is made of Green Oak (this is the predominant oak used for furniture today), it could take up to four years to properly treat it.
Even if your piece of furniture is finished, treat it immediately upon arrival at your home. This is because it too could have spent some months in s shipping crate waiting for delivery.
All hard woods are sensitive to environmental changes and it is not advisable to put your oak furniture in direct sunlight. The heat of the sun may cause the furniture to expand too much, while the UV rays will damage the wood.
To dust and clean your oak furniture, simply use a clean, dry, soft cloth or a duster. There is no need for constant polishing or waxing. Wax will only build up and obscure the look of the furniture. If you need to use a soap to clean off sticky spots, use a soap that is oil based and not prone to build up on your furniture.
Because oak is moisture resistant, it will be able to handle minor spills and moderate heat – as long as the spill is cleaned up immediately. If it’s not cleaned up immediately, you may have to deal with a watermark or a burn mark. As with dents and scratches, these are fairly easily repairable. All you need to do is ask the advice of an expert on the precise and correct way of administering these remedies.
Your oak is a precious piece of furniture that will persevere long after you are longer its owner. It is important to preserve it so that it retains its looks for many years to come.
Engineering a Solid Floor
When considering solid wood flooring, it is important to know that there are alternatives that are equally beautiful, but may prove to be more economical and maintainable in the long run.
One alternative to solid wood flooring is what is known as engineered flooring. This is where the planks consist of two layers of wood. The top layer is the conventional solid strip of wood. This is then attached to what is known as the core and this is responsible for the stability of the plank.
The top part of the plank is known as the lamella and is the part that is visible when the floor has been laid. The next part of the plank is known as the core and comes in different plies:
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The first is the wood ply construction; also known as the sandwich core. This is made up from a multitude of thin layers of wood, each laying perpendicular to the layer below it. The reason that this type of ply is more stable is that the wood used is wood that has the least reaction to temperature and humidity changes. Furthermore, the fact that the layers are perpendicular to one another also adds to the stability of the plank.
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Then there is the finger core construction which uses little pieces of milled timber running perpendicular to one another to give stability. Here there are two-ply and three-ply options. With a three-ply option, the third ply is usually made of plywood and this runs parallel to the lamella.
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Finally there is Fibreboard. Fibreboard’s core is made of medium to high density fibreboard which gives the plank a lot of stability due to its resistance to contraction and expansion. However, this ply is not water-friendly and will expand so much that it will lose its shape when exposed to water. It is also not VOC free which means that it is not environmentally friendly.
In order to install the floor, the most recommended system for engineered floors are the ‘Click’ system or the Floor connection system. The ‘Click’ system uses a variety of ‘clicks’ to install the floor. This means that it is similar to the tongue-and-groove method used for solid wood flooring, but the ‘clicks’ are at angles to stabilize the installation more. No nails or glue is used with this method and it is also ideal for the DIY floor installer.
The Floor connection system involves grooves cut into the side of the plank and then another piece of wood (which fits into those grooves) is used to connect one plank to another. It is slightly more complicated than the ‘Click’ system, but can be just as effective.
Knowing what you’re buying is the first step to a beautiful floor. Knowing how to take care of it is the next. If you know which floor is going to last in your house, you will be able to make the decision to invest either in solid wood flooring, or its cousin, engineered wood flooring.
