Frequently Asked Questions

We have tried to address some of your common questions below.

You are also very welcome to call us on 01483 489002 and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.

What kind of wood is Iroko?
Will my furniture be delivered flat pack?
Can I visit your workshop?
What do I need to treat my new chair with?
How do I clean my chairs?
Which finishing oil should I use?
Do you supply cushions?
Do you supply covers?
Can I specify a time and date for delivery?
If I cannot see my question here what can I do?

What kind of wood is Iroko?

Iroko is a hardwearing, naturally durable hardwood that has a long tradition of use for garden furniture and gives many years of life with a minimum of maintenance. Iroko, like most timber, weathers naturally to silver grey over the first 12-18 months of its life.

The timber we use is supplied by major UK importers who are required by law to show that all timber that they imported has been legally harvested in its country of origin. I personally believe that by making a product with a good lifespan and purchasing from responsible suppliers the environmental impact of Iroko is acceptable.
You can read my suppliers statement on EU Timber Regulation here - https://www.brookstimber.com/environment-eutr.php

If you intend to paint your chairs then Iroko is suitable for painting with water based outdoor paints.

Will my furniture be delivered flat pack?

Standard courier delivery requires a small amount of onsite assembly. Basically a chair arrives as a seat, back and 2 arms. Final assembly usually takes about 10-15 minutes and requires screwdrivers and a 10mm spanner or pliers. To give you an idea of what is involved the instructions can be viewed here

Can I visit your workshop?

I am afraid that the workshop is not suitable for public visitors. Sorry.

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What do I need to treat my new chair with?

You do not need to treat it with anything. Anything you choose to do to your furniture after it arrives is purely decorative. The woods we use are naturally durable and do not need any extra treatment. If you decide to put a decorative finish you should make sure that you follow the manufacturers instructions. Try a small sample first to make sure that you will like the end result. If you decide to apply an oil finish I would recommend the products sold as "Garden Furniture Oils" rather than traditional Teak oil. They seem to last better and are easier to apply. Any finish that you do apply will need to be maintained, usually at least once a year.

How do I clean my chairs?

It is generally worth cleaning outdoor furniture approximately annually although in a nice sunny spot you may well get away with less frequently. You can use proprietary garden furniture cleaners but I personally just use a couple of buckets of warm soapy water and a nylon bristle brush - nothing too stiff but just enough to dislodge the surface dirt. Make sure you rinse well with water after cleaning

Do not use a pressure washer. The water jet from a pressure washer is too strong and will almost certainly leave a rough feeling on the timber where it abrades away the surface.

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Which finishing oil should I use?

If you decide to oil your furniture, which is a purely decorative choice, I recommend the use of a good quality "Garden Furniture Oil". All of the main manufacturers supply them and they are generally readily available at good DIY stores or garden centres.

Do you supply cushions?

I'm afraid not. Most of our customers find the chairs to be comfortable without cushions and I have to say that I always find cushions on outdoor furniture to be a bit of a faff! At home I will sometimes grab a cushion off the settee in the living room to go behind my head but even without that I never have a problem falling asleep in mine on a warm afternoon!

Do you supply covers?

I don't. In my experience covers are as likely to cause problems as solve them. They trap moisture in a relatively warm environment that encourages mould growth on the surface of the timber. Although this does not cause any damage to the timber it is unsightly.

If you do choose to use covers it is important to make sure that furniture is completely dry before it is covered. You should remove the covers on dry days when possible. This allows some ventilation of the timber surface which reduces the risk of mould growth.

Covers can be useful if you have oiled or painted your furniture, as a protection to the finish rather than the timber. It is still very important to ventilate the furniture regularly by removing the covers on a dry day.

Can I specify a time and date for delivery?

Our standard UK delivery uses a scheduled courier service. This means that we are unable to give a time of delivery but we can ship your order so that it should arrive on a nominated weekday. This is very reliable most of the time but it cannot be taken as a guarantee. We will send you the tracking details so that you can monitor the progress of the shipment online. We are also able to offer a fully assembled delivery to many destinations but this will be at extra cost which is dependent on distance and the content of the delivery. If you are interested in a quote for fully assembled delivery call us on 01483 489002