One of the reasons we love working with reclaimed wood at Frank & Pig is that it continues to live and breathe even when it’s in your home. This means it will continue to respond to its environment, just as it would in nature as well as giving it a new lease of life to help us live more sustainably.
Our handmade furniture is made from local, genuine reclaimed timber. Each rustic plank is full of history and character. Cracks, scuffs, open grain, old nail holes, saw marks, hammer indents and some rust marks are a common characteristic. These natural imperfections make your reclaimed furniture unique to you and your home. We believe that these features are all part of the joy of owning a one-off handmade piece.
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We embrace these characteristics as they are an integral part of the wood. We occasionally blend small amounts of filler and use splints into certain types of cracks or cuts to help sure up the surface.
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Unevenness and small shallows in the wood are to be expected. The top of your table may not be perfectly flat as reclaimed wood is not an engineered or manufactured surface. Timbers are arranged to showcase each, bump, dip, knot and crack as these features give our pieces their individuality and charm. ​As such, unstable items, such as wine glasses or vases may not sit flat in certain areas.
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As your reclaimed furniture adjusts over time to the conditions in your home, there may be slight movements in the wood such as shrinkage between planks, as well as small cracks opening and closing depending on the environment. This may mean your table develops a small wobble, which can easily be fixed by placing a felt pad under the feet.
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If you are looking for a perfectly flat surface and flat edges, reclaimed wood would not be recommended.
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Our reclaimed wood furniture is designed to emphasise the beauty of original reclaimed timbers, which by nature is rustic and imperfect.
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Solid woods may expand and shrink with differences in temperature and humidity. Therefore, it’s normal for small cracks and gaps to appear in the wood over time. Take care not to place your furniture next to radiators or log burners/open fires or anywhere subject to excessive changes in temperature or moisture content.
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To add moisture, nourishment and protection to your reclaimed furniture, we supply a small sample pot of Parr’s Clear Beeswax Polish to get you going. It will be necessary to apply more beeswax polish every 4 weeks and in very hot conditions, even more regularly to prevent your furniture from drying out.
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Cleaning Reclaimed Wood Furniture
To clean, wipe with a damp cloth before buffing with a dry cloth.
In the event of more stubborn marks, a solution of diluted soap should be used on the cloth. Silicone based polishes should not be used on the wood as they will build up and leave a sticky residue on the surface. Also avoid using sanitisers and bleach/abrasive cleaners as they break down the wax causing it to soften.
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Never place hot items directly onto the table without using a heat-resistant mat or trivet as direct heat will draw out the moisture in the wood leaving a ring mark.
Removing Stains from Wood
As a rule of thumb, clean any spills or stains as quickly as possible. Don’t rub the spill, instead, dab it gently with a paper towel or an absorbing cloth. Take care to clean the whole item rather than small areas each time, as this will prevent patches of discolouration.
The best way to remove a stain is with water and if necessary, a mild natural soap, do not use any abrasive cleaning products.
The Golden Rules For Living with
Reclaimed Furniture
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Apply a high quality clear, natural beeswax polish (we recommend Parr’s) to your tabletop every month to keep the natural wood nourished and to prevent drying.
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Always use placemats and coasters under plates, cups and glasses whether hot or cold.
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Avoid placing pots of house plants on the top surfaces as it will allow moisture to ingress into the wood.
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Do not place your furniture near direct heat sources such as radiators, air conditioning units or log burners/ open fires.
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Consider where you position your furniture. Sunlight can cause fading, so if it’s in a hot, sunny spot, regularly rotate to ensure an even fade or wax regularly and use a tablecloth to protect from very hot weather.
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We would not recommend placing your table in a conservatory under lots of direct sunlight as this will fade and dry out the wood over time.
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Please note that Frank & Pig cannot be held responsible for any issues arising from reclaimed wood furniture not being cared for appropriately, and we cannot be held responsible for remedying an issue caused by not looking after your furniture.
Cancellation/Refunds
Any custom sized, bespoke piece of furniture must be cancelled within 7 days of your order. You will not be able to cancel or amend once the 7 days has passed.
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We cannot accept returns on amended items, custom / bespoke products, special orders, bespoke designs or personalised items. We are unable to accept returns due to a change of heart.
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Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item.
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It is important to say that understandably Frank & Pig cannot be held responsible for any issues arising from reclaimed furniture not being cared for appropriately, and we cannot be held responsible remedying an issue caused by not giving it the love it deserves.
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Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items.
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Delivery
Please note that for all large items which are delivered by our two-man courier service, you will receive a call or email/text in advance to book in a convenient delivery day and time window with you. If this is confirmed by the customer or recipient and the subsequent delivery is unable to take place due to issues at the delivery location (such as the item not fitting through your doorway or no one available to take accept delivery) and the item has to be returned to us, then the cost of the return will be charged to you.
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Our furniture is large and costly to transport so please make sure you are available within the agreed time slot and have suitable access into your property.
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​​We would also ask that in the event of there being an issue with your reclaimed furniture, that you contact us as soon as possible so that we can take any appropriate action. To make a damage claim against our couriers we require photographs of the product in any packaging with the delivery label clearly visible.
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If you receive a faulty or damaged item we will send out a repair or replacement to you as soon as possible. In most cases we will need the item to be returned to us and will arrange for any damaged or faulty items to be collected where necessary. We will also require photographic evidence of the products and packaging. Please do not dispose of damaged or faulty items or their packaging unless advised to do so by us.