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What type of timber is Kwila?
KWILA (or Merbau) is a tropical hardwood which is found throughout Northern Australia, South East Asia, and the South Pacific region. GUMNUT FURNITURE [manufactured in Queensland Australia], has especially chosen this hardwood for its superior qualities and suitability for outdoor garden furniture. Kwila's stability and natural resistance to splitting provides furniture which can remain permanently in all types of harsh climates. The Australian Department of Primary Industries has given Kwila a Rating One, which is the highest standard of suitability for timber outdoor furniture.Can Garden Furniture made of Kwila be left outdoors permanently?
Yes. For many generations Kwila has been used for boat building, flooring, decking, marine jetties, mine timber and staircases. It has only been in more recent times that Kwila has been used for furniture because the very hardness of the wood made it difficult to manufacture without special sophisticated machinery. The abundant natural oil in Kwila is the feature of this timber which makes it so durable in comparison to other timbers commonly used for outdoor furniture. It has minimal shrinkage and can withstand extremes of climate, even saltwater. Add to this high quality construction methods and stainless steel or brass fastenings and you have a finished product suitably designed for permanent outdoor situations.
Does Kwila leach/bleed colour when wet?
All timbers contain oils and tannins. Kwila has a significant amount of these which help give it its' stable and durable characteristics. The excess however will leach from the timber when wet. This 'vegetable dye' though harmless can cause annoying stains on unsealed flooring and cloth. IT IS NOT however a permanently ongoing problem. Gumnut Timber Wash has been developed to accelerate this process. Go to the Care page for details.Do you use renewable timbers?
Yes. The Araucaria Pine used in our OutUnder™ Range is grown in our own state and has been managed for over 60 years. We have CHAIN OF CUSTODY certificates for this timber which indicates every ‘handler’ of the lumber from felling to our factory. This ensures that there can be no illegal felling or transactions of the logs.
Our supply source for Kwila is from Indonesia and Malaysia. In accordance with the Forestry Institute of Malaysia and the Indonesian National Policy of Forestry Management, all timber is supplied under the guidelines of the International Tropical Timber Organisation [ITTO]. Gumnut's suppliers in these countries comply with the Sustainable Management of Tropical Forests, as set down by the International Tropical Timber Council in Yokohama in December 1991. These strict guidelines for harvesting requires sound management of selected forests that balances the needs of a renewable source of timber, economy, environment and ecology. These suppliers are committed to utilise and conserve their extensive national wealth in perpetuity for the benefit of present and future generations. GUMNUT FURNITURE supports reconciling both production and protection of this beautiful timber known as Kwila or Merbau.
In addition our suppliers work with a number of organisations including Greenpeace to ensure that they meet with or exceed the standards and develop ways to check the origin of any logs felled.
I‘ve noticed some small cracks in the Kwila mostly at the ends of the boards, will this worsen and what should I do?
Kwila is a very slow drying timber, additionally it has a low natural moisture content which is the reason it is such a stable timber. The final drying out process tends to occur during the first couple of years after purchase. The ‘end grain’ of any timber is the most susceptible to drying out and so will do so a little faster than the rest of the board. This may result in fine cracking in this area. Typically with Kwila these cracks will actually close again as the rest of the board ‘catches up’ in drying out.
Should I oil the furniture more often to stop this cracking occurring?
This is not necessary. There is a natural drying out process which will occur regardless, this is impacted by the weather and how dry or humid the general conditions are. Regular oiling is recommended however some end grain cracking may still occur, simply allow up to 2 years for the timber to settle before reassessing the cracks.
Can I paint my furniture?
Yes it is possible to do this. We do suggest however that after purchase you wait several months for the oil that we applied in the factory to dry off the surface or the paint may not adhere. It is also important to remember that the most vulnerable areas of furniture in exposed conditions are the joins and joints. It is here that moisture can remain and over time cause rotting. This is unlikely to be an issue with the Kwila but should be considered with the Pine. Where possible seal the joins and joints and prepare, undercoat and paint ALL surfaces of the item. Remember that in time (the better the paint and quality of application the longer this will be) the paint will crack and peel and will require stripping and re-application to remain looking good. If thoroughly stripped of paint at that time you can choose to apply a suitable oil instead of repainting. [Please note that with the Aussie Squatters chair the swing out leg-rests naturally rub against the lower arm of the chair around the front legs. This will be a problematic area both to paint and to use once painted due to the friction.]
Is there anything else I have to do other than oil the timber?
It is worth occasionally (you can do this each time you re-oil as a matter of habit) checking the tightness of the fastenings with which you assembled the furniture. Whilst these fastenings have a good ‘bite’ if an item is heavily used they may become a little loose and this could lead to some wear which should be avoided. This is all you need to do to maintain this fabulous furniture.