Q. How should I maintain the beauty and lustre of my timber furniture?
A. Wipe gently with a damp cloth to remove surface dust. Wipe
gently with a soft dry cloth in the direction of the grain and never in a
circular motion. Always protect your furniture with heat resistant placemats.
Spills (especially alcohol) should be wiped off with a damp cloth immediately.
Damp items should not remain in contact with the furniture for extended periods
of time and moisture should not be allowed to remain on the the timber surface.
Do not use silicone based products to clean your furniture as it can damage the
finish by softening it and it also clogs up the timber's pores making repairs
difficult.
Use only polishes approved by Stephlea Furniture to polish your furniture to
remove smudges and particles.
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Q. Why does my table or other furniture show gaps at
certain times of the year?
A. Timber as a natural product is porous and is subject to the
relative humidity of the surrounding environment. It responds to extremely dry
air by losing moisture and shrinking slightly, this can be especially noticable
at the edges of an extension table or between tongue-and-grooved boards. This
will correct itself as the relative humidity rises and the timber absorbs
enough moisture to expand a little. These are natural changes and do not affect
the furniture's quality or sturdiness. Timber furniture responds better to
moisture changes if they occur gradually and the use of humidifiers can help
avoid sudden humidity changes. If you are at all concerned then please do not
hesitate to contact your place of purchase for advice on a solution.
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Q. Will I be able to add to my collection of furniture in
the future?
A. Yes you will be able to add to your collection but of
course this will not be forever. As part of our striving for excellence and our
desire to meet the ever changing needs of consumers we will continue to develop
new designs and eventually certain ranges will become unavailable. Our
Multi-Option range is designed to blend well with any of our standard lines and
this is an alternative option when a particular range is discontinued.
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Q. What warranty is available on my furniture?
A. Please go to the Warranties
page to view our service policies and guarantees.
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Q. Is solid timber furniture better than veneered timber?
A. Not necessarily. Both solid timber and veneers can be of an
excellent quality. Using veneered timbers allows us to take advantage of
dramatic grain patterns and exotic timbers, or to create certain design
elements such as curves.
Veneer panels also provide structural integrity and help alleviate the effect
of timber movement, preventing warping and cracking particularly on wide
surfaces.
Veneered furniture earned a negative reputation when it was mass produced
during the industrial era in the early 20th century. In those days veneers were
roughly cut and adhered with animal glues resulting in lifting and spliting
when the glue dried out. Today we use stable core materials and advanced glue
formulas to permanently bond veneers, enabling us to create furniture that is
both beautiful and durable.
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Q. Can I use my dining table for every day use?
A. As long as you follow the recommended care procedures your
dining table is very suitable for everyday use. Although our finishes are
designed to enhance the beauty of the timber and offer some degree of
protection your furniture is still made from a natural product and will require
certain precautions to ensure a prolonged beauty.
Protecting table tops with non-plastic mats or pads will protect the surface
from items which could stain or damage the surface, such as markers or crayons.
Ball point pens should be used with a protective mat and coasters used with hot
or cold drinks. Please go to our Furniture Care page for
more details.
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