Wood, being an organic material will always either take on or release moisture, depending on the environment that it is placed in. When purchasing furniture made from reclaimed wood, it is important to make sure that it has been built from kiln dried reclaimed wood (as opposed to air dried). Air dried wood will look and feel dry but its residual moisture content will cause problems further down the line. Modern homes, offices and studios are notoriously warm and dry.
As the moisture within the wood naturally tries to match the humidity content of its surroundings, this will typically cause the wood to lose moisture – as it does so it will shrink. If this shrinking happens after the furniture has been built, the furniture will develop splits along the weakest point. If the wood is not properly braced it will also warp and cup – none of which is ideal for a desk, table or cabinet.
Reclaimed wood is particularly susceptible to this. Kiln drying wood is something that many ‘budget’ furniture makers fail to take into account. Whilst furniture made from kiln dried reclaimed wood will be a slightly more expensive product, it will save you issues in the long run.
At Chunky Studio Furniture we kiln dry all our wooden boards prior to manufacturing any furniture, in order to eliminate any issues that may arise when your furniture is installed.
For non-studio furniture including dining tables, benches, garden furniture etc, visit Chunky Reclaimed Furniture