The wood never quite stops living

A piece of solid wood is not finished when it leaves the workshop. It is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs and releases moisture from the surrounding air throughout its life. That is why a drawer can become tight in winter and loose in summer in the same house, without anything being broken.

This is not a fault in the furniture. It is what solid wood does, and it is also why it can be repaired and sanded back again and again, long after a chipboard piece has been thrown away.

Humidity and temperature

A simple hygrometer, a small instrument that measures humidity, does not cost much and can tell you whether your home is within the range the wood thrives in.

How to look after the surface

If the surface is oiled, it should be re-treated two to four times a year, depending on how much the piece is used and how dry or humid the room is. The oil penetrates the wood and protects it from within, but it wears away over time and must be renewed, just as you moisturise hands that become dry.

Wipe the furniture with a slightly damp, soft cloth, never a completely dry one, which can leave scratches, and let it dry fully before placing anything back on the surface. Move objects that stand out on the surface now and then, so the sun does not bleach the wood unevenly beneath them.

Repair rather than replacement

If the furniture gets a scratch or a stain, the solution is rarely to replace it. Solid wood can be sanded down and re-treated so the surface looks fresh again, without changing the shape or strength of the piece. It is this quality that allows a solid wood piece to pass from one generation to the next, while veneer or chipboard furniture rarely survives the first move.