TIMBER – KWILA
 KWILA (or Merbau) is a tropical hardwood which is found throughout Northern Australia, South East Asia, and the South Pacific region. GUMNUT FURNITURE has especially chosen this hardwood for its superior qualities and suitability for outdoor furniture. Kwila’s stability and natural resistance to splitting provides furniture which can remain in all types of harsh climates. The Australian Department of Primary Industries has given Kwila a durability above ground Rating of Class One.
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. 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. Add to this the high quality construction methods and stainless steel 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 ‘tanin’ though harmless can cause annoying stains on unsealed flooring and cloth. IT IS NOT however a permanently ongoing problem.
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.
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.
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TIMBER – ARAUCARIA
 Araucaria Pine (also know as Queensland Hoop Pine) is a softwood native to Australia and grown under managed conditions for nearly 100 years. The Araucaria Pine used in our OutUnder™ Range is grown in our own state. 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. This pine was the timber used to make the very first Squatters Chairs designed in Queensland for the use of the landed gentry.
 Our Outunder™ Range of furniture is suitable for outdoor undercover use. It cannot be left out in full weather conditions. The Araucaria Squatters Chairs have a more modern look when teamed with one of our bright coloured canvas slings. There is a variety of table and chair settings, and dry bars in our Outunder™ Range.
One of the major advantages of the Araucaria is that the furniture is much lighter in weight than Kwila and may be more practical if your setting is to be moved around.
Araucaria can be painted with a good quality exterior paint. Where possible seal the joins and joints and prepare (undercoat) and paint ALL surfaces of the item. The better the paint and quality of application, the longer this will be. Remember that in time 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 or clear lacquer instead of repainting. |
