Below are the questions our customers ask most often. The answers are short and concrete; where it helps, we point to the fuller explanation in the guide to wood species or on the page Before you buy solid wood furniture.
Wood and choice
Is softer wood worse wood?
No. It depends above all on what we are using it for. With a table the hardness of the surface matters a great deal, since a table is exposed to daily wear. With a bed, the construction and correctly dimensioned parts matter more. That is why lime can be an excellent choice for a bed even though it is softer than oak.
Which wood is the best?
There is no such answer. For a bed, lime or alder can be an excellent choice. For a dining table, which is more heavily used every day, we often recommend oak. Walnut is chosen above all by customers who want its distinctive colour and pronounced structure. What matters is choosing the wood according to the piece, the way it will be used and the look you like.
Why solid wood and not chipboard?
Solid wood and chipboard are two different materials. In solid wood furniture the parts are made of real wood through the full thickness. Chipboard is made of wood particles bonded with adhesives and pressed into a panel, with the surface covered in foil or paper. One of the great advantages of solid wood is that it can be renewed after years of use: the surface can be sanded back and protected again. With chipboard this is not possible.
Is lime strong enough for a bed?
Yes. Lime is softer than oak, but a bed is not exposed to surface wear in the way a table is. The load is static and evenly distributed, so what decides is the cross section of the load bearing parts and the quality of the joints. Our beds in lime are made of solid wood, not chipboard or other panel materials.
What is the difference between a solid board and a glued panel?
In both, the entire thickness is real wood. A solid board is a single piece; a glued panel consists of several lamellas of the same species glued along length and width. On wide surfaces the glued panel is the better structural solution, because internal stresses between the lamellas cancel out and the panel stays flat. Both can be sanded and renewed.
Is veneered furniture solid wood?
No. A veneered panel is chipboard or MDF covered with a thin layer of real wood, usually less than one millimetre. The appearance resembles solid wood, but renewal by sanding is practically impossible.
Appearance, colour and structure
Are knots in the wood a defect?
No. Knots are a normal part of the wood and the remains of branches the tree grew around. Some customers want the cleanest and most even wood possible, others prefer pronounced knots and a more rustic look. For some pieces we therefore use a calmer grade of timber, while in others knots and variations in structure are deliberately visible.
Why is the piece not exactly the same colour as in the photograph?
Because it is made of real wood. Every tree is different: colour, growth rings, knots and structure all vary. The photograph on the website therefore shows an example of the piece. Your table or bed may have a slightly different tone or structure. This is not a defect but a characteristic of solid wood. Colour is also affected by the light in the room and by the settings of the screen you are viewing on.
Does wood change colour over time?
Yes. Natural wood can change somewhat with time and under the influence of light. Walnut generally lightens a little, while paler species such as lime and alder take on a warmer tone. This is a normal process and does not mean anything is wrong with the wood.
Can I have a wood and finish sample?
Yes. On request we send samples so that you can see colour and structure in your own room and your own light. We recommend this to anyone for whom matching existing furniture matters.
Movement, cracks and humidity
Does solid wood move?
Yes. You will often hear that wood works. Wood responds above all to changes of humidity in the room: it can expand or shrink slightly. Solid wood furniture must therefore be made so that these natural properties are allowed for during production, for example by fixing table tops so that they can slide.
How much can the width of a table top change?
In oak the width changes by roughly 0.3 to 0.4 % for every one percent change in moisture content. On a 900 mm wide top, and with the usual difference between a dry winter and a humid summer, that means roughly 5 to 10 mm. This is why a top is never fixed rigidly.
Can cracks appear in solid wood?
Small changes and fine cracks can appear, particularly with large changes of humidity and temperature in the room. They most often occur at the end grain of boards. Wood is a natural material and continuously adjusts to its surroundings. We therefore recommend that furniture is not placed directly beside a strong heat source and that the room maintains a suitable humidity.
What humidity is suitable?
We recommend a relative humidity of 40 to 60 % at 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. This is also the range regarded as comfortable for people. We recommend buying a simple hygrometer; in winter, humidity in heated homes often falls below 30 %, which is too dry for solid wood furniture.
Is solid wood furniture suitable over underfloor heating?
Yes, with a little attention. With underfloor heating the temperature at floor level is consistently higher, so the lower parts of a piece dry out more. We recommend steady heating without large temperature swings and monitoring the humidity.
Use, care and renewal
Can a solid wood table be scratched?
Of course. An oak table can be scratched too. Oak is a hard wood, but not indestructible. The advantage of solid wood is that much damage can be repaired later: the surface can be sanded back and protected again. This is exactly why well made solid wood furniture can be used for a very long time.
What should I clean solid wood furniture with?
A slightly damp soft cloth, then dry off. Do not use aggressive cleaners, alcohol, acetone, abrasive pads or steam cleaners. Wipe up spilt liquids, especially red wine, oil and fruit juice, immediately.
How often does oiled wood need re-oiling?
On oiled surfaces we recommend the first refresh after about six months, then generally once a year. More often for heavily used table tops. The rule of thumb is simple: once the surface starts to absorb a drop of water rather than hold it, it is time to oil.
Can a bed creak?
Creaking usually comes not from the wood itself but from joints that have loosened slightly over time, or from contact between the slatted base and the frame. We therefore recommend retightening all screws and cam fittings once after a few months of use.
Beds and mattresses
At what height does the mattress rest?
In our DOLLY and LOMA beds the mattress rests at 295 mm above the floor and the top edge of the side rail is at 400 mm. The mattress recess is therefore 105 mm deep. With a 20 cm mattress the sleeping height is approximately 495 mm. All dimensions are given in the DOLLY instructions and the LOMA instructions.
How thick should the mattress be?
We recommend a mattress between 18 and 22 cm thick. At 20 cm the top of the mattress sits about 95 mm above the side rail, which is regarded as a comfortable height for sitting and getting up.
What bed sizes do you make?
As standard we make widths of 80, 90, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200 and 220 cm and lengths of 190, 200, 210 and 220 cm. Non standard sizes are made to order.
Ordering, production and delivery
How long does production take?
Our pieces are made in our own workshop, so as a rule we do not hold them in stock. We give an approximate production date when confirming the order, since it depends on the piece, the chosen species and the current workload of the workshop.
Do you make to measure?
Yes. A large part of our work is bespoke. Send us your dimensions and the species you would like and we will prepare a quotation.
Can I receive a proforma invoice?
Yes. There is a button in the cart to request a proforma invoice; you receive it by email together with a QR code for payment.
What about warranty and complaints?
Statutory consumer rights and the provisions of our general terms and conditions apply to our products. Defects arising from our workmanship are put right. Natural properties of solid wood, described on the page Before you buy solid wood furniture, are not defects.
Your question is not on the list?
Write to us at info@kupi-les.si or call. We will gladly add the answer to this page as well.
Mizarstvo Bioles, predelava lesa, d.o.o. · Made in our own workshop, out of love for wood.