Oak Chairs

Oaks are hardwoods, and it is used often in furniture. Cork comes from a species of oak called Quercus suber, or "cork oak" that grows in the vicinity of the Mediterranean Sea. Oaks are native to the northern hemisphere. The genus grows in the northern hemisphere with various species ranging from tropical areas of Asia to more northerly latitudes. In addition to furniture, some species of European and American oaks are used to make the barrels that wines and certain liquors are aged. Sometimes these barrels are charred before they are used to influence the taste.

In North America, red oak is the most favored type of oak that is used for lumber. White oak is another North American species that is often used for the barrels used to age wine and liquors. The bark of the oak is rich in a substance called tannin, and it's used to tan leather. Wood from oaks is generally pale brown and is used for many applications: veneer, sawn timber, poles, fencing, and hardwood pulp.

Since oak furniture is mostly used indoors, most people don't know what a good insect repellent oak is. It is affordable, and sturdy, and is used for chairs and other types of furniture. To protect oak against the elements, oak requires proper staining and finishing.

There are different grain patterns in oak. A vertical, or flat grain is commonly used in oak chairs. You can look at the rings on the chair to know what kind of grain it is. Rings that make up less than 45 degrees of a circle are classified as flat grain, while rings that make up more than 45 degrees are known as vertical grain. Knots in oak chairs can turn into holes over time. When you look at an oak chair, look and feel for knots and blemishes, and be aware of knots that penetrate all the way through the wood. Oak does not have to be chemically treated to be sturdy. Oak is usually finished to prevent discoloration and deterioration. Oak chairs with light oil finishes should be treated with natural oil once a year to protect and beautify the wood.

Solid oak furniture is very beautiful, and when cared for properly, it can last for generations and become cherished family heirlooms. Caring for oak furniture is important whether you're a more casual furniture owner, or whether you intend for a piece to be handed down to future generations. There are different types of oak, and some require more care than others. If you have green oak, from which a lot of outdoor oak furniture is made, then it takes up to four years to fully treat, so it is an investment in time as well as money.

Unfinished oak furniture tends to leak tannin from within and can stain areas surrounding the furniture. This is most common with outdoor oak furniture. If you buy untreated oak furniture, you should periodically wipe it down with a cloth that has been dampened with teak oil or Danish oil. Because oak is what is called a "live" wood, you can almost always clean up recent spills easily - the sooner the better. Unfortunately, stains that are left for a while will leave a mark that will be harder to remove.

Every two or three months you should thoroughly wax your wood furniture, particularly if it is new. Waxing it helps the grain remain together and helps prevent cracking of the wood. To wax, use a clean cloth with wax, and rub in the same direction as the grain. Then remove the wax by buffing in the direction of the grain to minimize streaking. Old-fashioned cloth diapers make great waxing cloths.

To remove moisture from condensation from a drinking glass, some oak furniture owners say that you can use butter, massaged into the marks on overnight. In the morning, you use a soft cloth to wipe it clean, and then polish it with regular furniture polish. Some people who have had stains that defy the "butter treatment" say that a paste made from olive oil mixed with cigarette ashes works wonders. You leave the paste on until the area dulls, then wipe it off and polish with standard furniture polish thoroughly afterwards. This remedy is said to work on heat marks as well.

High quality chairs from oak hold their value well, and antique ones can be expensive. If you are looking to buy an oak chair, look at new as well as used chairs. Quality and prices for both new and used chairs vary widely.

For new chairs, prices range from $60 for simple mission style chairs, to $150 for an oak desk chair. In between, you can find arts and crafts style chairs for around $80 apiece, arrowback chairs for $88, contemporary chairs for $90, side chairs from $92, and double pressback chairs for around $93 each.

With used chairs, the prices vary even more, accounting for both the easily found oak chairs (like the ones that used to be used in schools), and the rare antique chairs made from oak that command high prices. An oak swivel bar stool can be had for around $22 used, and a child-size oak chair (most likely from a school originally) costs around $25. An unfinished oak rocking chair can be bought for around $50, and a retro Danish style easy chair goes for around $78. At the other end of the scale, some oak ladder-back chairs fetch $200 at auction, while an antique high chair or a bowback Windsor chair in oak can sell for $250 or more.

Because of the wide variety of styles available in oak chairs, it is worthwhile to look at both new and used ones before making a final decision.

A country style kitchen looks good with a table and oak chairs. Oak is a natural wood that can blend in well with a lot of different decorative items. It is a popular choice of wood for use in homes that are styled with a country look. The chairs can be finished in the natural color or a different wood grain color. They can be painted to match other items that might be in the kitchen as well. You can enhance the visual appeal by choosing seat cushions to compliment the design that’s in the curtains.

There are oak chairs that come as high back formal types that work well in a formal dining room. You can purchase an oak chair that will fit nicely with a desk unit for a den or home office room. The type of cushion you choose for the seat should coordinate with the other items in the room to enhance the overall look. The chair is made of a sturdy wood and easily cleans up with a damp cloth. To help protect the finish you can use a wood polish from time to time, but you don’t want to create a waxy build up.