Care and maintenance

Sound traditions and experience have been inherited and our long history has given us know-how about furniture and its maintenance, which we would like to share with you.

The wood that we apply for manufacturing furniture is primarily harvested in well run plantations in Europe and North America with focus on sustainability. In these areas they only harvest the quantity of wood equal to that which is planted every year and this ensures the proper respect for nature and future generations.

The expression of nature

The colour and structure of the wood varies because of the difference in growth conditions. The soil, the temperature and the quantity of rain have a direct influence on the appearance of the tree. A tree used for furniture has often grown for more than 100 years, i.e. for more than four generations. During this time it has been exposed to many things to affect its appearance and enhance its unique diversity.

A log is turned into planks…

After cutting down the tree, the log is cut into planks that are divided into boards. The appearance of the boards depends on where in the log they are cut from.

An individual expression

Wood has knots. This is not a flaw but simply the natural marking of where the branch was attached to the trunk. Each piece of furniture is therefore unique as the graining, structure and color are created – designed – by nature.

This is precisely what makes wood so fascinating and well suited for furniture. Minor variations in color and structure can therefore not be considered a flaw but indicate that each single part comes from different cuttings in the log or from different trees.

Wood - A living material

Wood is a living material - continuing after the tree has been felled - and is affected by the humidity in air and temperature. Wood used for furniture production has been dried to be in balance with the average indoor climate - i.e. a room temperature of approx. 20 deg. C and an air humidity of approx. 50%. In Denmark the air humidity varies from the driest winter period to the most humid in summer between approx. 40 and 65%, which causes the humidity of the wood to  change from 8 to 13% - i.e. a difference of 5%. Wood has the ability to absorb and emit moisture depending on its surroundings. As a result wood will expand in moist periods and contract in dry ones. In other places of the world there may be even larger fluctuations in temperature and air humidity.

This applies for both veneered and solid furniture, but especially solid furniture is sensitive to such fluctuations.

Some wood sorts change colour after unpacking. Sunlight triggers this process. The more sunlight, the more change in colour. If you want to delay the process, do not expose your furniture to direct sunlight. In order to avoid markings from dishes, vases etc. make sure to move them regularly. When supplementing your Skovby furniture, please be aware that there will be a colour difference between new and previously purchased items.

Where to use your furniture?

If you want the extension leaves to change in colour concurrently with the tabletop, you must keep your table extended with all the leaves.

If the table is exposed to an uneven influence of light, it is a good idea once in a while to turn it 180 degrees, so that both ends get equal amount of light. Sun and heat dry out wood and may cause cracking.

Never use indoor furniture outside. Major deviations from normal indoor climate may damage the furniture. We therefore recommend that you get a hygrometer to control the air humidity.