Below are some tips and knowledge regarding the characteristics and maintenance of solid wood furniture.
Live Edge Furniture Care and Maintenance Tips
At Willow Groove, we take pride in building strong relationships with our suppliers and only source quality material. All of our live edge furniture pieces are made for easy care and built to last a lifetime. Our products are constructed and designed from 100% organic solid slabs of wood that are carefully and professionally dried. Some of the material we have sourced has even been naturally dried, sitting for sometimes 50+ years. All pieces are tested for moisture content prior to any build and we ensure they are between 6-8%. This ensures there is little moisture in the wood before your design is complete and ready to use. Over time, you may notice your piece get cracks, twists and possibly have some colour differences. This is completely normal and is part of the character of wood and is not considered a defect in material. Solid wood adjusts different times of the year to the moisture content of the air and therefor will adjust to the moisture content of your home and its surroundings. You may notice your slab furniture piece move slightly or develop dips/curves, or the glue joins weaken. The epoxy or resin fills may also lift slightly. These movements are also NORMAL. Furniture made with organic slab wood will have movement during its life and this is just the nature and uniqueness of natural wood slab furniture. It is not like other solid wood furniture pieces. If your home is quite dry, it may cause the wood to move or crack more than a home with proper humidity levels. It is a good idea to check the humidity levels in your home each season to ensure they are ideal, between about 45%-55%. A sudden change in temperature or humidity is not good as it will cause tension inside the wood. If the piece is too dry or experiences too much heat, it can also crack or split. Keep in mind that wood does have a life of its own and even with proper measures taken in the environment and by our team in the design process, you may notice some movement. Most customers just leave it alone and let it move naturally. After all, it is a piece of nature!
We like to ensure the natural look of the furniture and always use a clear wood finish using a catalyzed lacquer that results in a premium quality finish. It ensures the surface is hard, durable and moisture resistance. The customer may choose which sheen they wish to have on their custom order.
To take care of your beautiful one of a kind piece of live edge furniture, it takes only a bit of love and attention.
~ To clean your table, wipe with a slightly damp cloth. You may use a bit of mild soap or detergent. Once cleaned, wipe with a dry cloth to ensure no moisture is left. If you spill, wipe it up immediately. That's it! Your furniture will not stain easily, however spills left for long periods can leave ring marks or stain the colour. Wipe spills immediately. We recommend using coasters and placemats for any table used for eating and drinking.
~We recommend your piece not sit directly in the sunlight as light is not good for organic materials and can cause changes in color and/or warping and cracking. Also, it should not be too close to a fireplace as it will dry it out.
~ No polishing, staining, or coating of any kind is ever required. In fact, to keep the natural look, and have your furniture for MANY years to come - just follow the simple cleaning instructions above. It's a piece of nature and doesn't need high maintenance. Just remember-most importantly to ensure you have proper humidity levels in the space.
If your live edge furniture piece purchased through us has a constructional issue and it is within 60 days of purchase, we will gladly repair any craftsmanship defects found free of charge. We have high standards and when creating our designs, our goal is to ensure we build these pieces to last a lifetime. Below are some images showing natural movement that may occur over the lifetime of organic slab furniture pieces. These are not craftsmanship defects of natural occurrence of organic wood, and are not warrantied.
Willow Groove does not offer refunds or exchanges on any purchases and all deposits are non refundable.