Frequently Asked Questions
Wood Furniture
Solid urban wood furniture will reveal its character with use over time and will age with integrity when cared for properly. Avoid exposure to extreme climate changes and avoid outdoor placement unless the piece has been designated specifically for outdoor use. Do not place your wood furniture near heating sources. Our furniture has been given a durable, protective finish, but it can still be susceptible to stains. Remove spills immediately. Shield your furniture from direct sunlight (UV) to prevent fading or local color variances. Use placemats and coasters to prevent markings or stains from hot or cold beverages, food and candles. Most finishes reach their maximum hardness after 60 days, handle your furniture with extra care during the first couple of months. Be mindful with hard objects, such as earthenware, laptops or abrasive surface materials. A damp soft cloth with water, possibly a mild dish soap, is always recommended. Do not over soak cleaning cloths. Never use abrasives, ammonia, or other chemical-based cleaning products. It is always best to test any cleaning technique or product on a location that is not normally visible.
Solid Volume Wood
Large volumes of wood like the beam benches, hyos and sputniks are likely to crack due to the nature of the thick wood material. We air dry and kiln dry multiple times. Regardless, this wood is going to continue to move over time. If there is a treatment like shou sugi ban or a stain, cracks may reveal raw wood underneath. This will not degrade the stability of the piece. We can provide a stain pen to touch up if you like. We expect this wood movement to occur about 25% of the time and do not consider it a flaw, but rather an expression of character and rustic aesthetics and a living finish.
The shou sugi ban or natural color is sealed with a 2PK urethane finish. When inside, the finish should be cared for the same as other wood furniture. Outside, whether indirect or direct exposure, wood and the finish will degrade faster. The life of the wood and its finish can be extended by applying additional coats of sealer over the urethane finish, after scuff sanding, as yearly maintenance, or more, if needed.
Corten Steel
Corten Steel is designed to rust quickly. Corten can be coated with a local, professionally-recommended sealer to encapsulate rust. You can request a polished mild steel for indoor and dry applications. Mild steel will also rust if exposed to moisture.
Cutting Boards
Our cutting boards come unfinished, because we want you to know how to take care of it from the start. All cutting boards need to be treated with food-safe mineral oil (also called cutting board oil) before first use and every 2-6 months on-going. HOW TO OIL A CUTTING BOARD 1. Make sure your board is clean and dry before you begin. 2. Using a clean, soft cloth or towel, wipe the entire board evenly with oil. 3. Let it sit for a couple of hours. 4. Wipe the board clean of excess oil with a dry towel and you will keep it in great condition. 5. Wash with warm, soapy water after use. Do not soak your board in water. Do not put it in the dishwasher. Otherwise, it will crack and warp.
Yes. We open our shop to the public for wood sales in the wood barn. For updates and hours, sign up for our wood sale newsletter or follow us on the Wood Barn's (special) Instagram. If you are looking to purchase over 100 board feet, fill out our contact form and we can set up an appointment.
Sure. It's not a showroom. It's a working wood shop, but give us a shout and we can show you around! Contact Us
No. Well, sometimes. we do when they are of a specific species and size, and we know we can use it for a project. We pride ourselves on using what the state of Alabama and the Southeast region provides for us. 95% of our wood comes from the area.
We are not a tree service and do not cut down trees. We work with tree services to have timber delivered to our mill. If you need a tree service, visit our list of recommended tree services in Birmingham.
We may be able to use trees that are at least 20 inches in diameter. Longer lengths (8'-12') are better. Talk to your tree service to see what is feasible. You can contact office@alasaw.com about potential projects or dropping off your logs at our mill in Bessemer. Ideally, we would reuse every tree that comes down, but we need to focus our efforts on trees that have a project associated with it, like our tree concierge services or logs that make the most sense for our investment of resources.
We can use a wide range of hardwoods that meet the 20" standard and especially, if there is a project that you have in mind. For our own inventory, we look for Walnut, White and Red Oaks, Hackberry, Cherry, Hickory, Pecan, Sweet Gum, and Magnolia.
Our small products are shipped UPS or USPS or DHL. For furniture, we prefer “Blanket-wrap” shipping for the best care and quality of service. This also ensures that nearly all packaging is reused indefinitely. When crates and freight shipping are required, we will adjust accordingly. Please see Shipping.
Anything customized, ie. lumber cut to specific dimensions or furniture built to order, cannot be returned or cancelled. Purchases directly from our inventory of home accessories have a 14 day period for return. Please see Shipping.