FAQs

Why do you use Cypress?

For many reasons. Cypress is well known for its resistance to insects, rot and decay. Its color consistency and relative lack of knots are distinctive characteristics which make cypress an excellent choice for outdoor furniture. It is also a beautiful wood (one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s favorites) and often displays lovely patterns of grain and a predominantly yellow tone, with reddish, chocolate or olive hues.

Although Cypress is resinous, the resin (called Cypressene) isn’t sticky. It glues well, sands easily and readily accepts finishes. It is also among the most durable woods in the world, which is why it is called “the wood eternal.” It is more elegant and beautiful than any treated pine you’ll ever see.

Only one species of cypress grows in the United States, Taxodium distichum, so that’s what we use. Bald Cypress is the common name for this species, although it’s marketed under other names. (It’s called Bald Cypress because the tree loses its needles in the fall.)

In the United States, most cypress trees grow in the South, primarily in wet, swampy areas along the Atlantic Coastal Plain to Florida, and west along the Gulf of Mexico to the border of Texas and Mexico. It’s plentiful here in North Carolina. Cypress also thrives along the Mississippi Valley from the Louisiana delta to southern Indiana. Cypress is no stranger to water!

Do I have to assemble the furniture?

Most of our products do not require assembly. The larger pieces like chairs and tall plant stands are completely assembled prior to shipment then partially disassembled for shipment. Detailed assembly instructions are included with every order.

What tools do I need?

None. If your order requires any assembly, a square-drive screwdriver and all the screws you need are included.

How long will it take to get my order?

Most orders ship within two to three weeks of receipt, depending on the size of the order and time of year. Delivery time via FedEx Ground service is about 2-5 business days depending on your location. If we anticipate a delay, we’ll let you know.

What do I need to do to take care of my furniture?

Wood is made mostly of cellulose and lignin. Cellulose is fibrous and gives wood its strength. Lignin is a kind of natural glue that holds the fibrous stuff together. Wood has enemies, mainly bugs, water and sunlight. Bugs eat wood. Ultraviolet (UV) light changes the lignin molecule in wood so that it loses its adhesive properties. The lignin leeches out of the wood, leaving a rough, fibrous gray surface. If you apply a finish to the wood–a stain or sealer or paint–you can slow the process down and help your furniture last longer.

Of any exterior finish, paint offers the best form of protection, but it’s the most difficult to maintain. Paint will eventually peel and will be more unsightly over time than a wipe-on finish like a sealer or a colored stain. In fact, most outdoor finishes will only last 1-3 years before they need to be renewed. That takes a commitment on your part to periodically protect your furniture.

Regardless of the finish you choose, you should wipe off dirt or grass clippings and wash your furniture periodically with mild soap and water. Application of a sealer or stain every few years will continue to protect the wood.

Important: Do not leave chair or table legs in contact with the ground for extended periods of time. This is a prescription for rot. Your furniture will last much longer if it rests on bricks or concrete or flagstone–any kind of hard surface that doesn’t retain moisture and harbor insects.

One final note: If you don’t intend to renew the finish on your outdoor furniture, the wood will turn a silvery gray color. Once the exterior of the wood is gray, the rate of wood deterioration slows appreciaby. (The damage to the surface actually prevents UV light from penetrating to the interior of the wood.)