How to Care for Macrocarpa Furniture
Macrocarpa is a naturally durable timber with distinctive grain, knots and colour variations that make every piece different. With a little care, Macrocarpa furniture can handle everyday use indoors or outdoors and continue looking good for years.
The main things to remember are simple:
keep it clean, avoid leaving it damp for long periods and use a suitable timber oil or stain if you want to maintain and protect the timber's natural colour.
Caring for Macrocarpa furniture
Macrocarpa can be left natural or finished with a timber oil or stain. How you care for it will depend on the look you want and whether your furniture is kept indoors or outside.
Timber is a natural material, so it will continue to respond to changes in moisture, temperature and exposure to the weather over time.
Oiling or staining Macrocarpa
Applying a suitable timber oil or stain helps protect Macrocarpa from moisture and slows the drying process. It can also bring out the natural grain and colour of the timber.
As Macrocarpa dries, small cracks known as checking can develop. This is a normal characteristic of solid timber rather than a fault, but keeping the timber appropriately finished can help reduce excessive drying and movement.
If you want to retain more of the timber's original colour and appearance, regular maintenance with an appropriate exterior timber oil is a good option.
Benchmark Build also offers wood oil and stain options for our made-to-order Macrocarpa furniture.
What happens if you leave Macrocarpa untreated?
You don't have to oil Macrocarpa.
When left untreated outdoors, Macrocarpa will gradually weather from its natural warm timber tones to a soft silver-grey colour. The grain may become slightly more pronounced as the timber weathers.
Furniture kept in consistently shaded or damp conditions can also become discoloured over time, so positioning and basic cleaning are still important even if you prefer the natural weathered look.
One of the advantages of solid Macrocarpa is that weathered timber can generally be cleaned and refinished if you decide you want to restore more of its original appearance later.
How to clean Macrocarpa outdoor furniture
Outdoor furniture will naturally collect dirt, dust, bird droppings and other marks.
For general cleaning:
Wash the timber with water and a mild soapy detergent.
Gently scrub away dirt and marks.
Rinse as required.
Allow the furniture to dry fully.
Avoid covering the furniture while it is still wet. Trapped moisture can create damp conditions around the timber.
Protecting Macrocarpa furniture outdoors
Macrocarpa is well suited to outdoor furniture, but reducing prolonged exposure to harsh weather will help maintain its appearance.
Where practical, place your furniture under a covered patio or use a suitable outdoor furniture cover when it isn't being used for extended periods.
Always let the furniture dry before covering it.
Can Macrocarpa furniture be painted or stained?
Yes. Macrocarpa can be stained, oiled or painted.
Take care with very dark finishes on furniture that sits in strong direct sunlight. Dark surfaces can absorb more heat, which can cause the timber to heat and dry more quickly.
If you want to preserve the natural character and grain of the Macrocarpa, a timber oil or transparent stain is usually the better choice.
Is cracking in Macrocarpa normal?
Some cracking is normal in solid Macrocarpa.
You may hear the terms checking or shake used to describe natural cracks that develop as timber dries and moves. These variations are part of working with a natural solid timber product and contribute to the individual character of each piece.
No two Macrocarpa tables or benches will age in exactly the same way.
Benchmark Build makes solid Macrocarpa dining tables, bench seats and outdoor lounge furniture in Mangawhai, with delivery available throughout New Zealand.
Each piece is made to order using timber selected for its natural grain and character.