About Us

Nature’s Edge, Crafted for Modern Living

We are meticulous with our wood finishing, using a multi-step process, including Rubio hardwax oils, and optional hard and topcoat ceramic protective finishes. These products hold up exceptionally well against heat, water and daily wear, while maintaining the natural look and feel of the original wood. Our optional ceramic layers add extreme stain, UV and wear resistance.

Beyond adding the human element, you can expect exclusive event invites, expert Facebook Marketing Partner guidance, and early access to new features.

Wood Finishes

We are meticulous with our wood finishing, using a multi-step process, including Rubio hardwax oils, and optional hard and topcoat ceramic protective finishes. These products hold up exceptionally well against heat, water and daily wear, while maintaining the natural look and feel of the original wood. Our optional ceramic layers add extreme stain, UV and wear resistance.

The products we use are environmentally friendly and low-VOC, and are durable, easily maintained and can be repaired or refreshed easily in place. Our lengthy, detailed process results in a beautiful, long-lasting surface that will hold up to daily wear.

Slab & Lumber Selection Process

At SlabKraft, our benchmark is the creation of bespoke, heirloom pieces that can be enjoyed for generations. Utilizing salvaged trees for slab furniture offers a remarkable opportunity to create sustainable and functional works of art. The process of building such furniture is meticulous, with numerous elements contributing to the individuality of each piece. With slab wood, there will always be elements of surprise, and embracing this is essential. Each slab is unique, adding to the individuality of live edge furniture.

Our client consultations cover various aspects including sourcing and sustainability of the wood, drying techniques, slab selection criteria, understanding the nature of raw materials, leveling methods, addressing natural wood movement, and providing maintenance guidelines for the finished product.

Sourcing

We use reclaimed wood primarily from the Northwest, New England and locally within the Carolinas region. We work with all varieties of walnut, maple, white oak, sycamore, cherry and ash. For special projects and smaller applications, we additionally source other hardwoods, including exotics.

In order for trees to be removed ethically, they must meet specific criteria. This includes being dead-standing or dying from disease, as well as posing hazardous conditions such as encroaching roots or dangerous branches. Trees that have fallen due to windstorms or mudslides also fall under this criterion. We do not support the use of materials from clear-cut forests and instead focus on salvaged trees.

Stabilizing

Once a tree is felled, it is taken to a mill where industrial saws are used to cut logs to desired thickness. This exposes unique grain textures and features, adding character to the wood with beautiful live edges.

Slabs need to be naturally air dried for a minimum of approximately 1 year per inch of thickness and undergo additional kiln drying to reach a suitable moisture content (under 10%, ideally 5-7%). Proper and gradual drying helps prevent potential issues when slabs are converted into furniture. Once a slab has nearly reached the required drying time, it is placed in a kiln for anywhere from about 8-16+ weeks.

This not only aids in further drying but also eliminates any insects that may have taken root in the wood. Once the wood has been properly seasoned through this process it’s ready to be worked with.

Selection

After being cut, leveled, processed, and sealed, a finished slab will have a different appearance from its raw, unfinished state. We guide clients through the slab selection process in order to help them achieve their desired result.

For typical seating arrangement pieces, we prefer slabs that are linear – as even as possible from end to end. Less variation makes for easier seat placement. A slab should be longer in its raw state than the final desired length. This is to allow for selection of the most desirable section of the slab with enough material for excess cutoff. For instance, if a 9-foot table is desired, we suggest 11’-12’ slab options. It’s also important to consider the varying widths of live edges, so we ask for minimum and maximum width specifications to provide suitable options.

Most slabs have deviations and imperfections. We stabilize such areas via different methods. We prefer to keep the slab in as natural a state as possible, and when reinforcement is needed, use inlays to stabilize cracks. However, some clients prefer to have voids or imperfections filled with epoxy. We typically do this withclear, or natural shades to compliment the wood, including black for woods such as walnut.

Features that may initially appear as imperfections can actually add uniqueness and character, including knots, dry rot, and small insect holes.

Wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature. A rise in humidity will cause wood to expand, while dry conditions will cause it to contract. This is a normal process for all wood furniture and household items, although proper processing can help minimize it. However, it is impossible to completely prevent wood movement, as there may still be unexpected factors at play. We remind our clients who opt for a slab table that these “imperfections” should be embraced and appreciated, as each piece is one-of-a-kind.