Now more than ever, people are enjoying the luxury of placing a wonderful oak table in their brand new conservatories.

Although of course conservatories offer us wonderful ways of getting closer to nature without actually having to go outside, they do bring our furniture a little too close to the elements.

One of the largest problems that you may face, is the fact that when certain types of wood are exposed to prolonged sunlight, it can over time, discolour and bleach the material.

This can be especially annoying if for example, only part of the wood is exposed to sunlight, as the discolouration will not occur throughout the entirety of the surface.

When it comes to direct sunlight, it is important to keep all types of indoor oak furniture covered, as not only will it discolour the wood, but in extreme cases, can even cause cracking.

This is due to the fact that energy radiated from the sun travels through the air in a variety of different wavelengths, including ultraviolet light; the primary cause for bleaching.

Discussing the historical issue of the sunlight damage to wood, the U.S Department of the Interior National Park Service says that since the 19th Century:

  • Curtains, Venetian blinds, and interior and exterior shutters were often used not only to keep rooms cool but to lessen color fading on the interiors of many buildings.

"With the advent of mechanical air-conditioning, the reliance on these traditional heat and light reducing devices has lessened, exposing historic interiors to increased risks of damage."

It is important therefore, to remember that even if a room is particularly cool (as it might be in the winter), that your furniture can still have damage inflicted on it from the sun.

With that in mind, it is just as important to keep any oak furniture out of the way of radiators and other heating devices.

Protection

Throughout its lifetime, you can care for a piece of oak furniture in a variety of ways, whether with wax or oil; you can protect it from both stains and infestations.

To ensure that your oak is cared for, you should think about oiling or waxing your oak furniture at least once every couple of months to protect it through its early years. To get the best results, beeswax is the preferred wax for oak wood.

Once that you have owned the furniture for around two years, you can begin waxing it less often; roughly around twice a year.

For more information on how to protect your oak furniture, check out our care page.