Description
Ash Plank Table Tops: Ash plank table tops are hardwood table tops custom made to order in Spartanburg, SC. This particular listing is for 1-3/4″ thick ash. Most of our hardwood tops are made from ash, however we can make them out of white oak, red oak, or poplar. If you’d like a different wood mentioned, please give us a call to go over pricing and details! As with all of our tops, we apply a polyurethane finish to provide the most durable surface possible with very easy maintenance. We have a number of standard stains or we can try to match what you have for an added cost. Every table is made to your fit your needs. It seems like no two orders are the same! If you need sizes that are not listed please contact us. Place your order and call/email to hammer out the details!
*Table bases sold separately.
Wood is a natural material that expands and contracts with respect to its environment. Moisture control is a primary concern for wood tables during fabrication but also after placement in a restaurant, hotel or home. Furniture damaged by unmanaged humidity control is not due to a product defect.
The moisture content of wood changes in response to relative humidity. When air is humid, the wood absorbs moisture and swells. When the air is dry, wood loses moisture and shrinks. Excessive shrinking or swelling can affect the look of the wood or possibly cause cracks or splitting. Customers that are going to install wood tops in a climate that sees large humidity swings, or excessively dry or wet conditions should be prepared for movement in the wood. Movement may result in something as minor as shrinkage of the table but possibly in less desirable ways such as cracks or openings between seems. In the case of steel banded tables, or bread boarded tables, the band will sit differently with respect to the table edge as the moisture content changes.
The best course of action for customers with harsh environments or large humidity swings is to regulate humidity with a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed. If your restaurant’s relative humidity is below 30% you should consider using a humidifier. If relative humidity is above 50% consider a dehumidifier.
At Café Tables, we construct tables in a way that suits most of the country with relative humidities between 30% – 50%. Our tables are made per industry standard using lumber that is kiln dried from the mill. Wood is stored at Café Tables in a humidity-controlled environment and moisture content is maintained within the wood between 6-9%. Moisture content is checked during fabrication and prior to sealing. If you believe your environment is going to be harsh, please bring it to our attention prior to ordering. We cannot guarantee that moisture will not be a problem, but we can take additional steps to better match your environment during fabrication. Ultimately, your investment should be protected by managing your environment’s humidity.
For further reference we recommend reading a paper by Carl Eckelman at the University of Purdue: “The Shrinking and Swelling of Wood and Its Effect on Furniture”.
