SHOULD I FINISH MY LOG FURNITURE?

Furniture > Should I Finish My Log Furniture?

Should I Finish My Log Furniture?

by: Mike Messer

The natural look of log furniture is one of the reasons it is becoming a more popular home d?cor not only for the log home market, but other home styles as well. We are frequently asked this question. I want to keep my log furniture looking as natural as possible, should I have it finished? The answer to this is in our opinion is yes. Finishing can change the appearance somewhat depending on the type of wood or finish, but the rewards are well worth it in the long run.

The oils in our hands are easily absorbed by unfinished wood. Of course our hands are never perfectly clean and the dirt is also absorbed right into the wood with the oil leaving soiled areas where your hands frequently touch the furniture. On a bed this is usually either the headboard or the footboard. On dressers, of course the drawer pulls and the edge around the top gets the most handling. If an item is finished, washing is easy. It's another story on bare wood. Some folks have taken the furniture out to the shop to sand it down again, but most people don't have the proper tools or just don?t want to mess with it. It's easier to just have it finished to begin with. Finished log furniture will pass the test of time in keeping your furniture looking good for many years.

To keep log furniture looking as natural as possible, most manufactures use a clear finish. There are many types of finishes available on the market. Many retail stores use the term "poly" to describe their finish when in reality it might not be polyurethane at all. Polyurethane in its purest state is a very hard durable finish but doesn't adhere well to products. For this reason most "Poly" finishes are usually a combination of Polyurethane and Acrylic. Other types of finishes consist of Varnishes, Lacquers, etc. Some finishes are hazardous to your health not to mention bad for the environment. This is the reason we use a non-toxic water base Acrylic on our furniture. It is very durable, will not yellow with time, and even fingernail polish remover doesn't touch it!

Some types of wood used in log furniture construction such as Pine or Aspen will darken only slightly with the application of a finish. The exception to this is White Cedar. The finish on White Cedar will actually change this wood from a very light uniform color, to a very beautiful distinctive color variation between the sapwood and the heartwood. The heartwood will become somewhat darker giving it a very unique character.

Red Cedar is a different kind of animal. An oil base finish will darken the wood to a deep red or purple color, however a water base acrylic finish will leave it more of a pinkish color. You often have the option when ordering to purchase it unfinished and finish yourself or have the company finish it for you.

So, should you finish your log furniture? We strongly recommend it. We think you will be happier in the end.

About The Author

Mike Messer and business partner Dave Kondek have a successful business designing, building, and selling log furniture in the Continental US, Alaska, and Canada. Permission is granted to reprint this article, either online or in written publications, as long as a link address to the Great Lakes Rustics LLC website is contained therein. http://www.glrustics.com.

Choosing The Right Furniture

Choosing The Right Furniture

by: Jeff Lakie

The furniture in a person's home says a lot about personal style and taste. In effect, most of us spend endless hours searching for the perfect piece of furniture before we actually make a purchase. With the availability of furniture from so many different time periods and schools of design, the choice can sometimes be daunting.

Furniture can reflect many personality characteristics, from fun and flirty to classy and sophisticated to modern and edgy. How do you choose the right piece?

Showrooms generally sort furniture by room, and within these rooms the pieces are further distinguished by style. If you are looking for a Chippendale sofa, for example, you will certainly find it with living room furniture, but it probably won't be placed next to the black suede chaise. Sometimes it can take a lot of patience to browse through furniture showrooms. Because your furniture will brand you, though,...

Choosing The Right Furniture

Furniture > Choosing The Right Furniture

Trends in Furniture

Trends in Furniture

by: Bob Benson

Remember when everyone was buying contemporary furniture or early American furniture? Or French provincial? These days there really isn?t a furniture trend. Instead, it?s all about buying the furniture YOU like that most suitably fits your lifestyle.

Today?s trend about furniture color is a simple one. If you like it, buy it. If you don?t, don?t buy it. The color scheme for furniture encompasses all tastes. You can find the softest pastels, the brightest blues, the most vibrant reds, and any other color you like in just about all kinds of furniture.

So, how do you make your home feel ?trendy? in a day and age where there is no trend? It is simple: be yourself. If you have a brown leather sofa that you?ve had for a while but it?s still in good shape, buy a new orange corduroy recliner to throw into the mix. The color will give your old furniture a breath of fresh air.

Maybe you can dress up your...

Trends in Furniture

Furniture > Trends in Furniture

Hardwood Floors For Interior Design And For Home Decorating

Hardwood Floors For Interior Design And For Home Decorating

by: Matthew Anderson

Using hardwood floors for interior design and for home decorating, based on furniture of the eighteenth century may be discussed from different points of view. However, what most people realize is the distinguish details of tables made from that century. Dinner and wine tables were some of those pieces of furniture that could add a different touch of class to your interior decorating. Learn from the history of furniture book, by Frederick Litchfield ideas on how 18th century furniture, from the earliest to the present time.

To the latter part of the eighteenth century the English furniture of which time has been discussed on the site belong the quaint little "urn stands" which were made to hold the urn with boiling water, while the tea pot was placed on the little slide which is drawn out from underneath the table top. In those days tea was an expensive luxury,...

Hardwood Floors For Interior Design And For Home Decorating

Furniture > Hardwood Floors For Interior Design And For Home Decorating

Two Secrets for Handling Your New Best Friend

Two Secrets for Handling Your New Best Friend

by: Dr. Gary L. Ailes

Forty-four million United States households have a least one dog.
And we all start out on a good foot with a set of rules for the new member of the family, one being ?the dog is not allowed to get on the furniture.?
Then, a few weeks later, you notice that your new best friend is so comfortable in his new surroundings that he is napping on your favorite club chair.
But before you can pull him off, he is off and running towards the front door barking his head off at the UPS delivery guy.

What happened?

OK, just how do you train dogs not to bark at every person that comes to your door and to stay off the furniture?

Your dog is guarding his turf, so it is your job to teach your pooch the ?Quiet? command.
And it helps to have your pooch spayed or neutered to decrease territorial behavior.

When your dog begins...

Two Secrets for Handling Your New Best Friend

Furniture > Two Secrets for Handling Your New Best Friend

Furniture to Dress Up Your Office

Furniture to Dress Up Your Office

by: Bob Benson

Sitting in an office all day long can get monotonous. Break through the daily rut by dressing up your office with some cool office furniture. Unless you operate your own office, you may not have total control over your office furniture. Most employers, however, won?t mind if you bring in a piece or two of your own furniture to make the space more comfortable and personable.

If you are bored with your current office look, bring in a new piece of furniture.

Maybe your office could benefit with a piece of furniture as simple as a new bookcase. If it?s a simple bookcase, dress it up with some fun accessories. Or bring in a small dresser that can help hold files, personal belongings or simply serve as a top to display your favorite photos from home.

You don?t have to buy a new bookcase or dresser for your office. Take an old piece of furniture from your home or hit the yard sales over...

Furniture to Dress Up Your Office

Furniture > Furniture to Dress Up Your Office

Should I Finish My Log Furniture? Furniture ringtones

Should I Finish My Log Furniture?

How to Study - Power Learning: Getting By With Online College Degree Studies

by: Peter J. Loughlin, J.D., LL. M

Ever wonder why some online college degree students know how to study seem to quickly learn, recall and excel in school while others (perhaps your child or you) never seem to quite get it. You?re probably just as smart in all other respects, right? Well what?s the problem? (And what is power learning?)

Most of us are born with good minds, but...

online degree Should I Finish My Log Furniture? How to Study - Power Learning: Getting By With Online College Degree Studies

Furniture > How to Study - Power Learning: Getting By With Online College Degree Studies

Should I Finish My Log Furniture? Furniture ringtones

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Photovoltaic Systems - Clean Electricity From the Sun

by: Hans Dekker

Photovoltaic System

As people search for alternatives to fossil fuel energy, solar energy emerges as one of the cleanest and most practical sources of electricity. Solar panels can be installed on rooftops or any area that receives a lot of sunshine. The solar panels consist of a photovoltaic system that converts the energy of the sun into electricity. The word Photovoltaic is a conjuction...

watches Should I Finish My Log Furniture? Furniture Photovoltaic Systems - Clean Electricity From the Sun

Furniture > Photovoltaic Systems - Clean Electricity From the Sun

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