Ways To Extend the Lifespan of Your Wood Dining Table
Genuine wood dining tables stand out as timeless centerpieces, combining unmatched durability with natural beauty. Their rich craftsmanship and unique grain patterns add character to any dining space, seamlessly complementing various decor styles. These tables are more than just furniture—they’re long-term investments that grow in value and sentiment over time. Read on to discover the most effective ways to extend your wood dining table’s lifespan.
The Value of Genuine Wood Dining Tables
Genuine wood dining tables are more than just functional pieces—they’re a reflection of enduring quality and timeless beauty. These tables consist of solid, natural materials that craftsmen use to ensure each piece withstands the test of time, resisting wear and tear far better than their synthetic counterparts. The table’s rich textures, unique grain patterns, and warm tones add unparalleled character to a dining space, effortlessly enhancing any decor style, whether traditional or modern.
Genuine wood dining tables can evolve with your home, as you can refinish or restore them when desired, allowing them to grow in value and sentiment over the years. These pieces often become cherished family heirlooms, passed down for generations, holding memories of countless meals and celebrations. A genuine wood dining table isn’t just furniture; it’s an investment in beauty, durability, and tradition.
Start by Choosing the Best Wood for Your Table
When choosing a solid wood table, make sure that you are receiving solid hardwood. Pine and other soft wood will quickly dent and scratch, even if they are solid. Our Amish furniture makers in Ohio offer a variety of solid North American-grown hardwoods. Wood options include Red Oak, White Oak, Maple, Cherry, Hickory, Elm, and Walnut.
Each wood type is strong and durable, with unique characteristics and grain textures. The Janka wood hardness scale rates them from soft to hard, starting with Elm at 850 and Hickory being the hardest option at 1820. All wood species offer a range of stain or paint colors.
Maple and Cherry wood feature a smooth, subtle grain texture often displayed in formal dining rooms. Dark stains on Maple or Cherry wood may show scratches quickly; the smooth grain texture does not disguise scratches well. Many home and business owners opt for hand-scraped, distressed tables to better hide inevitable wear and tear.
Oak and Hickory have a prominent grain texture that is perfect for farmhouses and country-style homes. The color variation and wood grain hides imperfections that may occur over time. Traditional Amish dining tables often consist of Red Oak wood. Many mid-century modern tables showcase White Oak wood. Mission dining tables are perfect for quarter-sawn White Oak wood. Our knowledgeable team will help you determine which solid hardwood table is best for your home.
The Finish on Amish Dining Tables
The protective finish on our solid wood dining tables is a catalyzed conversion varnish. The catalyst in this finish is a hardening substance that is currently the most durable finish available for solid wood furniture.
Solid wood will expand in the summertime when the humidity levels in the home are higher and contract in the wintertime when the air is drier. This expansion and contraction is so subtle in most furniture items that you won’t even notice it. Finishes for solid wood furniture must have enough elasticity to allow expansion and contraction of the wood through seasonal changes in humidity in your home. Without this crucial elasticity, you would notice small cracks in the finish when the wood expands.
The catalyzed conversion varnish is waterproof; no more worrying about a coaster. Dutch Craft Furniture will replace any table we build with water ring damage from your glasses. This finish is also UV, fading, and heat resistant to 220 degrees.
Standard Maintenance Practices
Regular maintenance is essential to keep your real wood dining table in pristine condition for years. Start by dusting it weekly with a soft microfiber cloth to remove debris that could cause scratches.
Cleaning Up Accidents
You can relax and know that Dutch Craft Furniture built your Amish dining table for you to use daily for family dinners and gatherings. Simply wipe down the table with your dish rag to clean up occasional spills and messes easily and quickly.
Some cleaners we recommend for solid wood dining tables include Murphy’s Oil Soap, and Dawn dish soap, diluted in warm water. You can also use a bit of Windex to remove oils from fingerprints along the edges of the table; just make sure to wipe the spot dry with a paper towel. We may recommend refinishing your tabletop if you are unable to clean up a stain with these simple methods.
Protecting Against Environmental Factors
Environmental factors can significantly impact your wood dining table’s longevity, making protection a key part of its care. The catalyzed finish will protect the table from structural damage from UV exposure. However, it is important to recognize that various wood types change color due to direct sunlight exposure. For example, Cherry wood will quickly deepen in color with enhanced reddish tones from sun exposure. Oak and Hickory wood have natural blond wood tones that deepen in sunlight over time. The change in color over time varies greatly depending on the stain color you choose for the table. Natural, clear finishes will show more change than medium to dark stain colors.
Maintenance Mistakes To Avoid
Caring for a wood dining table requires diligence, and avoiding common mistakes is key to preserving its beauty. One frequent error is using harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive tools, as these can strip the table’s protective finish and leave the wood exposed to potential damage. Instead, stick to natural or specially formulated wood cleaning products that are gentle yet effective.
Another oversight is neglecting to clean the table regularly. Dust and debris can create tiny scratches that dull the surface over time if left unaddressed. Simple acts, such as weekly dusting with a soft cloth, can prevent these issues.
One of the biggest culprits for scratches in tabletops seems to come from setting cardboard boxes and shipping packages onto the table. These boxes often pick up grit and grime in warehouses and delivery trucks. Pushing a cardboard box across the table may quickly leave light scratches in the finish.
Repair and Restoration Options
Over time, even the most well-cared-for real wood dining tables can show signs of wear, such as scratches, dents, or faded finishes. Fortunately, you can bring your table back to life using numerous repair and restoration solutions. Touch-up kits or wood markers in matching tones are quick and effective DIY solutions for minor scratches or scuffs.
We offer our wood stains in pen form for quick and easy touch-ups—which is perfect for knicks and dents along the sides and base of your table. We do not recommend touching up the tabletop with these pens. Light shines directly from overhead on a tabletop, making touch ups almost always noticeable.
Damaged tabletops and faded or heavily worn finishes may require professional refinishing. Refinishing a solid wood tabletop is not as extensive as you might imagine. Our craftsmen lightly sand the tabletop to remove the finish and any scratches or stains. Then, they refinish the tabletop to ensure it looks as good as new. Contact us to discuss the options for refinishing your solid wood tabletop.
Find Quality Dining Room Furniture at Dutch Craft Furniture Today!
Maintaining, protecting, and restoring your real wood dining table is key to preserving its elegance, durability, and value for years to come. You can keep your table looking its best by adopting regular maintenance practices, such as gentle cleaning, protecting against environmental factors, and avoiding common mistakes. Repair and restoration options ensure you can address any imperfections and bring your table back to life when accidents or wear inevitably occur.
Consider integrating these ways to extend the lifespan of your wood dining table into your home maintenance routine to honor the table’s natural beauty and the memories created around it. Explore our Amish dining room tables at Dutch Craft Furniture if you’re ready to invest in timeless, high-quality furniture. We craft every piece with unmatched precision, using traditional techniques and the finest materials to produce furniture that lasts a lifetime.
Amish dining tables exude warmth, character, and style, making them the perfect centerpiece for any home gathering. Dutch Craft Furniture offers a stunning collection of designs to fit various tastes and needs while upholding the legacy of skilled craftsmanship.
