Adirondack Chair FAQ

Prior to February 2024, our chairs were made from Larch wood. Since then we have made our chairs from Douglas Fir wood which provides the best qualities of the Larch wood and even better aesthetically pleasing looks. Douglas Fir has natural weather-resistant properties. It is pale honey/golden coloured often with a hint of red, and will weather to a rustic silvery-grey over time. In some cases, the wood may turn slightly black in places that may look a bit like mould, but it is not mould. This is caused by the tanins in the wood changing colour, and is simply part of the natural weathering process, and will disappear as the wood turns grey. The wood durablity is excellent, but we do recommend treating all wooden furniture to improve its resistance to wet weather and mould. This will maximise its lifespan. Douglas Fir is harder than much cheaper woods available. It is much more durable than pressure-treated pine or redwood that other chairs are made of.

Of course, though it may take a little longer to get the chairs to you as we have to source the wood that you are after. Our main supply is Douglas Fir, but if you desire a different wood please contact us to discuss your requirements. Please bear in mind that not all wood is suitable for outdoors or may require periodic treatment for it to survive outdoors.

Douglas Fir can vary in color based upon age and location of where the tree grew. Usually it has a light brown color with a hint of red and/or yellow, with darker growth rings.

If you want the chair to match another aspect of your garden or patio, we suggest you buy an unstained chair and stain it the desired colour. We don't currently do custom work. Douglas Fir can be painted, stained or oiled. The chairs look great oiled and we recommend you use a product such as Textrol: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/textrol/ , which is also available in different colours.

We can still make Adirondack chairs in Larch wood, though we only have access to European and homegrown Larch, which typically has more knots and resin pockets than the type of Larch we have been historically using. If you wish to purchase Larch chairs, please email us: sales@lorshipchairs.co.uk to discuss your order.

Leaving your chairs exposed to the elements will not structurally harm them, but please note that the weathering process will be accelerated when they are repeatedly drying out after rainfalls. This can cause small splits to form, and some raised grain as well. Your chairs will still be perfectly useable, but they will not maintain their "new" look for very long in such conditions.

If you would like to maintain the honey-gold colour of your chairs as long as possible, simply keep them dry. We do not recommend the use of chair covers, as these can trap moisture underneath. We do recommend periodically treating any outdoor wooden product with, for example, an oil containing anti-fungal / anti-mildew agents. One suggested product is Textrol Penetrating Oil for Wood: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/textrol/ . Please note that if you intend to finish the chairs with a varnish, stain or paint, then please check the finish compatibility with the treatment.

If you bring your chairs indoors, please ensure they are dry before storing.

All wood will expand and contract with changes in temperature and moisture, which can cause the wood to split when it gets wet then dries out. This is a normal part of many real woods, and will not affect the durability of the chair.

If you want to limit this happening, we suggest you treat your chair. Products such as Textrol: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/textrol/ are designed for this purpose.

The wood oil is very easy to apply. 1 litre will easily cover 2 chairs and leave some left over. You only need to apply one coat after sanding the chair with 80-120 grit sandpaper. You could choose just to stain the armrests if you like.

These treatments will slow down the weathering and greying of the chair, and also retard splitting. Please note, the chair will still weather, and might still develop small splits.

We have chosen wood that can last without any treatment for many years, but this will not prevent the possibility of warping, which can happen to all natural woods. We suggest not to leave new chairs in direct sunlight for around 4 weeks to prevent rapid temperature changes that can lead to warping. Minor splitting may still occur afterwards. If you cannot keep the chairs out of direct sunlight for 4 weeks then it is highly recommended to treat the wood as soon as the chairs arrive.

Another potential issue in the British climate is the growth of mould. Whilst not affecting the structural integrity of the chairs, mould and mildew growth can look unsightly until the weathering has turned the chair grey-silver and it becomes less noticeable. Therefore, we recommend periodically treating the wood to maximise its longevity.

We advise considering the use of products like Textrol (https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/textrol/). The oil will also improve the chair's water resistance, extending its lifetime. It's also easy to apply, so treatment twice a year will not take too much time.

As the wood weathers, you may notice a slight blackening in some places, caused by the tanins in the wood. These tanins are not harmful, but actually help to preserve the wood. As the chairs turn a silvery-grey, any blackening will disappear.

If you have any questions, please get in touch through email: sales@lordshipchairs.co.uk.

Wood will always last longest when it is kept dry. However, Douglas Fir is good at resisting the weather, and covering wooden chairs in winter generally makes them go mouldy.

If you can put them in a garage or summerhouse, that is the best, but only do so when the chairs are dry. If you do cover them, make sure they are well ventilated.

The most important thing is that the legs of the chairs are not left sitting in water all winter. So if your patio tends to collect water, put the chairs up on a brick or something to lift them off the ground.

Your chair should require little care, though we do recommend treating any outdoor wooden products, for example with oil containing anti-fungal / anti-mildew agents.

As the chairs start to weather, the grain might raise and the chair becomes slightly rough. It can be sanded with 80-120 grit sandpaper, although we don't advise heavy sanding, and then sealed.

For general cleaning of the chairs, mild detergent and (a not too harsh) scrubbing brush is best. Light sanding may be required for stubborn stains. We have been testing non-bleach solutions for cleaning the chairs and oxalic acid has shown some good results in restoring the chairs to their natural colouration.

We do not recommend using a pressure washer in cleaning wooden chairs as this may cause the wooden fibres to seperate and exacerbate splintering/cracking of the wood.

Good news! Your chair will arrive fully assembled. And by that, we mean you can take it out of the box and start using it right away. Flat-packed chairs are not to be trusted and we don't want you wasting the summer kneeling in the garden with an instruction book!

Because of this, the chair will come on a pallet. The driver will make a kerbside delivery. If access is difficult, please let us know when you order and we will do our best to make sure delivery is as smooth as possible.

You will be responsible for safe disposal of the pallet. If you wish the driver to take the pallet away, please contact us immediately after placing the order and we will try to arrange with the delivery company.

Of course! We have had a number of customers that have required replacement parts mainly due to overeager pets using the chairs for scratching posts or sharpening their teeth.

Please contact us by email: sales@lordshipchairs.co.uk. We can discuss the issue and also guide you to the best way to replace the part.

We have a warehouse in Eastbourne where you can try the chairs before purchase. Please contact us via email: sales@lordshipchairs.co.uk to arrange a time and date where you can test the chairs and accessories.

We do not at present offer direct international shipment. However, if you would like your chairs shipped to a foreign address, we would be more than happy to send your chairs to a UK freight forwarder, such as Hedley's Humpers.