Product Information
PRODUCT INFORMATION & CARE
RESISTANCE AGAINST WEATHER
Much care is taken during manufacture and finishing to ensure that every product offers years of pleasure. However, as with everything, it is necessary to provide a little care and maintenance to ensure lasting satisfaction. We strongly recommend that all garden furniture is stored away at the end of the Summer. All furniture (not just ours) will give years more pleasure if protected from the worst ravages of the weather. Our Mosaic, Stone and Marble tables and chairs are weather resistantand designed for outdoor and indoor use. They must however be first dried and then stored away in the winter, as we do not guarantee them as being frost-proof. Garden furniture covers are not always the solution as condensation can form under them,and they offer insufficient protection against severe frost.
RESISTANCE TO STAINING
Natural Stone, including our Travertine Marbles, are porous, and will absorb liquids. Any spillages should be removed without delay to avoid possibility of staining. Some liquids (lemon juice, tonic water, cola, red wine to name but a few,) will all leave stains or blemishes which can be difficult to remove. Our web-site gives further information on protective sealants and cleaners
which are available.
TRAVERTINE MARBLE RANGE
Our Travertine Marble tables are made from natural stone; colours will vary, and no two tables will be alike. Natural stone does have slight pits and blemishes and sometimes fissures which look like cracks. These are part and parcel of natural stone and are usually filled during manufacture; such blemishes and colour variations are unavoidable and do not constitute a fault. The Travertine Marble is adhered to an aluminium honeycomb sandwich (where stated) and although very strong, care must be exercised in handling. Take care not to 'cross the threads' of the bolts when fixing the legs, and do not overtighten the bolts.
NATURAL STONE & MOSAIC RANGES
Many of our tables have tops of natural riven stone. Therefore, please expect the surface to be "riven!" This adds to the natural beauty of the table, but if you are seeking a perfectly smooth and even surface then please opt for one of our other styles. Similarly, some of our tables have embossed features (as described) and it follows that these will not be perfectly flat! Natural stone varies in shade, and we cannot guarantee to colour match back panels of chairs to table tops.
"DURA-WOOD" RANGE
"Dura-Wood" is a resin-based material with wood-grain effect, used for the table tops and chair slats. The frames are made from extruded aluminium. "Dura-Wood" cannot rot like actual wood, and is easy to maintain. The colour will fade after some time, but it can be polished.
HARDWOOD PRODUCTS
Timber used on the Hardwood Range is kiln dried Acacia. The cast iron Benches have slats of Oak or Ash. However, timber is a natural resource, and without ongoing maintenance, will deteriorate on exposure to the elements. Our recommendation is that although the timber has already been treated, it should be given a further application of teak oil or hardwood protector on assembly, and then periodically. Even with careful maintenance, small cracks or splits can appear, and the grain can lift at any time, causing slight roughness. Although this should not affect the strength of the wood, we suggest that the timber is allowed to dry thoroughly and is then lightly sanded with glass-paper before receiving an application of teak oil. Before placing hardwood products (including cast iron benches) on the patio, we suggest they are stood on the lawn and 'hosed off' to remove any excess oil, which could stain light coloured surfaces.
"DURA-WEATHER WICKER"
Many of our ranges use "Dura-Wicker." This is a tough, resin-based weather-resistant woven material and, in some cases, it has variegated shading which serves only to heighten the effect of being "the real thing!" The Wicker is easy to clean, using warm soapy water, rinsed off with plain water. Avoid damage by sharp objects. If the "tail" of the wicker should at any time come free it can be secured with adhesive.
METAL COMPONENTS
Many of our ranges are partially constructed of metal, be it aluminium, steel or cast iron. Those living in coastal regions will be aware that sea spray and salt air play havoc with most metals and although our furniture is weather and rust resistant, we offer no guarantee against corrosion by sea air. If you live near the sea, you would be better advised to consider one of our aluminium sets.
(although these will not rust, they may still 'weather.') Cast iron and steel will rust if the protective surface is damaged in any way. Our cast iron and steel products undergo many rust inhibiting processes so that the product will look good for some time before repainting becomes necessary. It is however possible that minor damage to the powder-coat finish can occur during assembly or, despite our superior packaging, it is even conceivable that
slight chips can be caused during transit. These tiny chip marks will show signs of rust on exposure to moisture, but a small dab of touch-up paint will cure them and further 'touching-up' will not be necessary unless the finish becomes accidentally damaged again. These minor blemishes are often unavoidable and we do not consider products showing minor rust
spots to be faulty. Our Consumer Services department will be happy to provide a small pot of touch-up paint.
Furniture should be stored away during the winter months (as described above in RESISTANCE AGAINST WEATHER) but arches and arbours are of course normally left out all-year-round and these will need to be repainted, unless you prefer the 'rustic' look.
HOME-ASSEMBLY
Many of our self-assembly furniture ranges use aluminium components and / or fixings. However, aluminium is a relatively 'soft' metal and it is easy to strip threads or snap bolts if over tightened. We recommend the use of a hand spanner for assembly, as opposed to a socket set.
Our Furniture Ranges are designed for domestic use and we give no Warranty for Commercial or Catering use. In the event of a problem, our policy is to supply a replacement component not the entire product or suite.