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Frequently
Asked Questions
Q. What are the differences between your indoor and outdoor
furniture?
 A. Both lines are made of northern white cedar. The difference
is in the style of the furniture and in the product used to finish
the furniture. For example, and exterior chair has slats for the back
and seat and can be finished with an exterior stain. The interior chair
is constructed completely of logs, has a high quality cushion, and
will be completed with an interior stain and polyurethane.
Q. I'm having
some trouble assembling a table I purchased. It seems like the
parts don't fit quite right. Is it possible my kit was shipped
with the wrong pieces?
A. Probably not. Note that because of the natural round log
construction and varying diameters, it may be necessary to gently force
pieces together using a wooden mallet or a block of wood and hammer
during assembly. Never strike the furniture directly with a hammer,
always use some sort of protective buffer.
Q. My loveseat
has some cracks and splits -- is it defective?
A. Certainly not! Cracks and splits are characteristic of northern
white cedar and are not manufacturing defects.
Q. Tell me
more about these "cracks".
A. Although cracks are characteristic
of white cedar, any wood in log form will crack. It's part of the
natural drying process. The more sunlight or heat the piece receives,
the more it will crack. The cracks will not extend deeper than the "core" of
the log and won't fall apart. As the air becomes more humid or when
it is a rainy season, the cracks will close up some. Then will open
again when it gets hotter weather.
Q. What finish should I put on my swing to protect it?
A. Your exterior furniture does
not need to be finished for protection. White cedar is naturally
rot-resistant and insect-resistant. The only reason you would want
to finish it is because you don't like the silver-grey color it will
acquire in time. In this case, any EXTERIOR stain of your choice
can be used. The furniture needs to "breathe" so don't "seal" it.
This is very important.
Q. What is the most important thing I need to know to make sure
that my furniture lasts?
A. Keep it off the dirt and don't seal the wood. We recommend that if
your furniture is going in the yard, put something poreous under the
legs; such as, gravel or a patio stone or brick. If it is going on your
porch or deck, it'll be fine.
Q. What do
you mean by don't "seal" the
furniture?
A. White cedar
log furntiure needs to be able to breathe. This means, if it takes
on moisture, it needs to be able to dry out. As the weather changes
from rain to sunshine, the logs will absorb water and dry out again.
You will be able to see the cracks open and close during this process.
This is normal and needs to occur. If the furniture has been "sealed" it will, quite simply, rot. For example, if you were
to put three coats of polyurethane on your swing and set it in the yard,
it would be the most gorgeous piece of yard furniture anywhere. But when
the sun heats up the polyurethane, it expands and cracks. Then the rain
(or high humidity) comes and your logs absorb the moisture like a sponge
through those cracks. Then "here comes the sun" and heats up
the logs. The logs have absorbed so much moisture that it all can't get
out. It comes to the surface of the log but is trapped under the
polyurethane. It starts to rot and becomes black. Soon your swing will
be shedding it's nice blanket of polyurethane in strips. (This process
can take time if it isn't in constant sunlight but it will happen.)
Instead of being the pride of your yard, it becomes something you don't
want to look at let alone sit on and enjoy. The only cure for
polyurethanitis is sanding it all down and redoing the swing. Those
slats will be fun to do! (Between you and me, it is a lot easier and
cheaper to burn the swing and buy a new one.)
Q. Give me
some examples of what would "seal" the logs.
A. In our experience, products
that will "seal" the logs
are ANYTHING THAT IS NOT AN EXTERIOR STAIN. These would include
polyurethanes, paints, interior stains, varnishes including marine
varnishes, etc. If is isn't an exterior stain, don't use in on the
exterior furniture.
exterior
deck & patio |
exterior lawn furniture |
exterior garden
accessories
interior furniture |
porch & deck railing
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