3 Things You Should Know About Oak

Oak is one of the most popular materials used for making wood furniture. Due to its durability, oak was used to build war ships during the 19^th century. Nowadays, it is commonly used for building aesthetically pleasing furniture to adorn the home. Let’s get to know a little more about oak.

1.   Features

·         Oak’s classic appearance can give a rustic ambience to any home.

·         It comes in different colour variations. (See photo below).

·         Oak is not prone to water damage or corrosion.

·         Oak is resistant to scratching, staining and dust.

·         It has smooth texture and good durability.

2.   Purpose

Oak can be used for different purposes. Commonly used for decoration, the construction of an infrastracture, garden furniture, etc., oak is a very adaptable material.

·         Oak as coffee table

 

·         Oak as garden furniture

·         Oak as a dresser

3.   Maintenance

Oak products are easy to maintain. You can easily use paste wax to re-finish old oak furniture. It acts as a protectant and is a good cleaning agent. You can also use oil to clean oak furniture. A linseed oil can make it more moisture-resistant.

If you want the simplest way to maintain oak, you can simply wipe your furniture with a damp cloth and dry it with a clean cloth, once a week, to clear dirt.

However, oak can be prone to wear if it is not properly maintained. Here are some things to avoid:

               

·         Avoid direct sunlight.

·         Avoid putting hot items such as pans on top of oak furniture.

·         Do not use strong cleaning agents.

Railway Sleeper offers different types of oak railway sleepers in the UK. If you have any inquiries about our products, please call +44 (0) 1536-267-107. We are always happy to help!

Different Causes of Wood Decay

Most Commonly Used Timber for Railway Sleepers

Top Oak Railway Sleepers for the Living Room

Fine wood furniture from oak railway sleepers can make for a pleasant and relaxing ambience in your living room. The following list of furniture will help to create an authentic and antique style in your home.

• The Coffee Table 

The Square Oak Railway Sleeper Coffee Table is ideal for large areas with high ceilings. It is made of new untreated solid oak beams. With sizes ranging from 800mm² x 300 mm, 1000 mm² x 300mm and 1200mm² x 300mm, it can be placed in both a contemporary and a traditional living room design. 

• The TV Stand

The Chunky Oak Sleeper TV Unit is ideal for a home cinema room. It comes with two sleeper sections used as top stands. This sturdy piece of furniture is handmade from the timeless oak wood. It comes in three sizes; 1000mm x 400 mm x 400 mm and 1000 mm x 475 mm x 450 mm. 

The Lamp Stand or Side Table

This Beautiful Oak Beam Lamp Stand/ Side Table is bevel-angled on all edges. It is partially air-dried and has a hard wax oil finish planed all round. It varies in size, knots, small splits and colour. This Oak stand can look great with white antique lamps.

• The Door

The Solid Oak Ledge Doors produce a very attractive look. Hand crafted with a wide range of designs and sizes, they are made form European oak, which is kiln dried to 10% moisture content. This actively stabilisers the door to minimise any deforming after it has been hung. All railway sleeper doors are 42 mm thick to complement the size of 20mm vertically and 22mm ledges.These doors can be cut down to smaller sizes. The vertical 20mm boards have a micro bevel on the corner that creates a V-Groove look. The Framed door range was built to a 40 mm frame, with a 20mm vertical board, in accordance with traditional jointing methods. 

• The Floor

The European Oak Flooring adds a touch of classic style and elegance to any decor. Made from home grown oak trees, this extra thick traditional oak flooring is identical to French oak in terms of colour, density and wear resistance. It is kiln dried to approximately 8%-12% moisture content and is machined to 20mm for compactness and heat retention.

 Oak wood makes for great furniture, as it gives elegance to any room setting. To see an extensive list of oak railway sleepers furniture, visit the Railway Sleeper website. 

Why Choose Oak Flooring?

Oak railway sleepers are considered to be the most popular type of wood used for flooring. Oak is at the top of the list for the following reasons:

1.       Durability

 Oak makes an ideal flooring option because it lasts much longer compared to other materials including tiles, marble, cement and concrete. In fact oak usually lasts between 500-800 years. Oak is also extremely durable and hard to break

2.       Beauty

Oak has an attractive grain that adds more detailing to the floor. Oak is like wine…It improves with age. You will notice that the natural colour and detail of oak flooring becomes more noticeable over time. If you want a very clean cut type of oak, choose a prime grade oak. On the other hand, if you want more details like knots and grain patterns, choose a rustic oak.

3.       Variety

There are several different oaks to choose from. Choose according to your preference. Easier to paint compared to other types of wood, timber merchants like Railway Sleeper usually offer oak products in different colours aside from their natural shade. Colours include lime white, peach and antique colours like burgundy and dark brown.

4.       Low maintenance

Oak can be costly but in the long run you will appreciate that the price is justified. Compared to other woods, oak doesn’t require costly maintenance. Resistant to fungal and insect attacks, oak is resistant to termites, parasites and mould mites. It is also easy to clean and it doesn’t trap any unpleasant smells.

5.       Elegance

Oak has always been appreciated for its beauty and elegance. It is also respected for of its overall qualities.

See our extensive list of oak railway sleepers and find the perfect oak for your flooring project. Call Railway Sleeper on +44 (0)1536 267107 for more details.

New Oak Hardwood Railway Sleepers

When it comes to railway sleepers, there are many kinds available out there that you can choose from. From reclaimed sleepers to fresh new ones, railway sleepers are not hard to obtain at all. Aside from being important materials in the railway industry, these beams have now become a big component in terms of home designing and garden landscaping. 

Railway sleepers today are great for creating various pieces of furniture – from coffee tables, chairs, shelves and many other similar items – and they are also greatly utilised in improving a garden’s look. With these beautiful and versatile beams, one can make perfect raised flower beds, outdoor steps, retaining walls and even unique water features. 

Because there are many things that could be done with railway sleepers, it is sometimes difficult to decide what kind of beam is needed in order to complete a certain project, especially if you are not familiar with the materials. One of the best ways out of this dilemma is by consulting professionals or those that work in this business. 

There are different kinds of railway sleepers that you can use and these are: new softwood railway sleepers, new oak hardwood railway sleepers, reclaimed creosoted recycled railway sleepers, reclaimed untreated recycled railway sleepers, contemporary landscaping and garden railway sleepers and reclaimed crossing timbers. Among the most popular of these are the new oak hardwood railway sleepers. 

Why are oak hardwood railway sleepers popular?

These untreated hardwood railway sleepers are popular because they are ideal to be used for almost all garden and landscaping purposes. They are perfect materials because oak railway sleepers are durable and they also do not require any treatment at all. 

These beams have a natural beautiful colour that first turns into silvery grey and later on a charming dark grey, all with the aid of weather and the sun. If you want these oak sleepers to retain its natural colour, then you can opt to use treatments like decking oil or anything similar to that.

Oak Hardwood Railway Sleepers at RailwaySleeper.co.uk

New Untreated Oak Sleeper

These are the type of perfect oak sleepers which are cut straight from the tree. They are mainly straight edged and highly durable.

Rustic Oak Sleeper

These charming sleepers are the best when it comes to showcasing an oak sleeper’s real character. They are also very affordable.