Humidity and it’s Dangers

Posted on October 5th, 2019
READ MORE POSTS HERE:https://www.rusticelementsfurniture.com/blog/humidity-and-its-dangers/

October marks the time of year when we send out our yearly reminder to manage your humidity levels in order to help avoid potential cracking in solid wood furniture. For most, these next several months will be the dry ones. Maintaining proper humidity is critical!

If you read no further, at least remember this:
Humidity: Too much or too little is not good for anyone or anything in your home; 40-60% is a good range.

IMPORTANT HUMIDITY FACTS

Warmer months are usually not an issue as most folks run their A/C. This dries the climate and keeps humidity from getting too high. In colder months, the furnace actually causes cold air to expand, creating low moisture content and low humidity. It can be a tricky balancing act, so, here are a few quick tips on how to best maintain and monitor a healthier environment for all. If you’ve not heard the term hygroscopic, it essentially means that wood expands with moisture and contracts when losing moisture. To monitor and control humidity:

  • 50%-55% humidity is ideal. Some variations are to be expected, but the further away from the ideal, the higher the risk.
  • 40%-60% humidity levels seem to be the more attainable, tolerable range for solid wood furniture. Hygrometer, aka, humidity gauge.
  • Purchasing a humidity gauge (aka hygrometer) allows you to frequently check that levels are in the “safe range.”
  • A humidifier is HIGHLY recommended if the air is too dry, and a dehumidifier is recommended if humidity is too high.
  • Keep furniture away from all heat sources: radiators, heat runs, fireplaces, direct sunlight, etc. Doing so helps prevent drying, cracking, and bleaching.
  • If placed near an air duct, use a shield/guard to direct the draft away from the furniture.
  • The store table leaves as close to the table as possible, keeping them in the same stable environment.
  • AVOID rapid temperature and humidity changes.
  • In addition to protecting your wood furniture, balanced humidity lessens the risk of: Nest Thermostat allows you to set the desired humidity level.
    • Bacterial growth: Keeping humidity under 60% is a good defensive barrier against bacterial growth such as mold and fungus. Though adaptable to many conditions, the best breeding ground for bacteria is overly warm and moist areas. Warmth is just a level of comfort for bacteria, but if you take away moisture, bacteria will die off.
    • Viruses: At 45%-50%, humidity best curbs the spreading of germs. Too dry conditions actually prolong the life of germs like the flu and aggravate respiratory problems. If small hair-like fibers lining your nasal passage are not adequately moistened, they cannot properly function and prevent bacteria, germs, dust, and other foreign particles from entering your nasal passages.
    • High heating costs: As humid air retains heat better, it acts as an insulator, lowering overall energy usage. Consider a hot, humid summer day vs. a hot, low humidity summer day.
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Live Edge Slabs & Their Unique Style

Posted on June 29th, 2019
READ MORE POSTS HERE:
https://www.rusticelementsfurniture.com/blog/live-edge-slabs-and-their-unique-style/

Let’s talk slabs! If you browse our Current Inventory, Table Portfolio or have ever stopped by our showroom, you would see that our work tends to lean toward a more refined and evenly-shaped design. That is due to, simply put, the way we build. More specifically, the tables on the showroom floor were crafted in the traditional way of gluing the hardwood boards together to form a concise and straight top. However, take a peek inside Scott’s office and you will see his desk is an eye-catching walnut slab with a metal arched base for the bottom half. Slabs have quickly gained popularity in the furniture world and have kept their place at the top for peaked table interest for a multitude of reasons. To get more into these reasons and to get an overall sense of what a slab is, read further on.

The definition of what makes a slab a ‘slab’ is very broad, however, we know a couple of things when it comes to these one-of-a-kind pieces. For one, the way they are cut is slightly different than your average wood board. Sliced from bark to bark, to keep the definition of the tree, this unique process is desirable because, as mentioned, the retention of the tree’s natural growth is crucial to keeping it in line with the overall slab style. We also know that slabs are not exclusive to one species, although, for obvious reasons, walnut is very much sought after. In-house we tend to leave walnut in its natural state as much as possible, but working with it in slab form almost pulls straight from nature. A walnut slab truly shows off the history of the tree it came from. The life cycle is visible through the prominent rings and the profiled knots that once were branched are abundant.

Because we are dealing with nature, we have to abide by its given properties. Sourcing an extra-large single slab is not the most practical or ideal task for two reasons: you have to take into account a tree’s development as well as consider the pricing of such. This is where book matching comes in. Book-matching is when two slabs from the same tree, and adjoining cut, are formed in one piece that mirrors itself. A benefit of this technique is you can ultimately control the size and get wider with the furniture you are looking to build. When completed, it looks similar to an open book, hence the given name. Just as stunning if it was a solitary slab yet a find-and-build process that isn’t as lengthy.
When it comes to using slabs as furniture, you can completely furnish a space with different designs. There is the common dining table, but floating shelves, coffee tables, and countertops can all be achieved with a slab. The look of a slab in your space is exceptional as it has the ability to work with any style you are seeking yet is easily a conversational detail of the room. Each piece is one-of-a-kind as no two slabs are alike. Just like any of our custom tables, final details depend on you, no matter the style of furniture.

If owning a slab is something you have always desired, you are in luck! The step-by-step procedure is quite simple and identical to that of any other table we build in-house.  If you want a visual breakdown of what is needed for any of our tables, the Build Table Options section of our website has just that. We have even created a board specifically for live edge tables on our Pinterest account to help drum up some style and design ideas. As always, feel free to stop by our ever-changing showroom where we continuously keep updating our furniture. We look forward to working with you!

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