15th

May

Why wood has to be treated

Although the purpose of this site is to simplify buying unfinished furniture, it would however be highly impractical to leave it in its raw state.

Wood is a very natural product that that if left untreated will expand and contract due to the changes in humidity. This is the amount of water that is present in the air, and this changes on a daily basis, from season to season. Different parts of the world experience different variations of humidity. All wood retains a relative amount of moisture, and humidity will change the moisture causing the wood to expand and contract. This would not be a good idea for any wood product, least of all furniture.

Furniture being left to age on its own accord will experience those changes mentioned. It will contract, expand, crack, twist and eventually start to look unsightly. An example would be: Lets say we have a cupboard/dresser. If we were to leave this untreated over a period of time, several things are going to happen. If it is being used on a regular basis, day to day handling will leave the wood looking dirty. This is a reaction from the oils in your skin, but this is only the beginning. Humidity changes will cause it to warp, and contract. The smooth surface that was once the top will start to split and twist, causing the grain to open, thus allowing even more movement. Those drawers that used to slide back and forth along the runners are now binding. They will either fail to open, or they will never close, and the problem will only worsen over time.

Now lets imagine our cupboard/dresser has received adequate protection from a good finish, and received the correct amount of layers recommended from the manufacturers. You will no longer be able to discolor the grain with the oils in your skin. It would also have a certain protection to withstand a certain amount of direct heat by way of a hot drink. The finishes applied will trap the moisture content helping it remain stable. The top portion of the furniture will remain smooth and flat, and the grain will look as good as when you first purchased it. The drawers will slide back and forth along the runners, just as they did when they left the factory.

In order to maintain the beauty of your furniture, care must be taken to ensure adequate protection is given to it.

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Advice, Information | Bob, May 15, 2009 12:49 am

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