FAQ
18. What types of payment do you accept? How does it work?
We accept Discover, Visa, Mastercard, personal checks, and, of course, cash. We don’t accept American Express. There are no discounts for checks or cash.
We ask for 1/2 of the total as a deposit, with the other half due upon completion and acceptance. Please see our return policy.
At this time, we do not do any wholesale business. If you are a retailer seriously interested, please contact Rockridge Furniture.
16. I’m a designer. Do I get a discount?
Please see the previous answer. Unfortunately, our price structure does not allow for discounting.
15. If I buy a lot, can I get a discount?
No. We try to be as competitive as possible on the prices. Please don’t ask us to work for less.
14. What type of cleaning products should I use? How do I care for the furniture?
We recommend using Lemon Oil or Orange Oil about once every 6 months. Other than that, dust with a clean cloth; there is no need to “feed the wood”, or to use a product like Pledge. We strongly warn against using Murphy’s Oil Soap. On table tops, you should use coasters and placemats. Spills and crumbs can be cleaned up simply with a sponge.
13. What type of finish do you use?
We use a wide variety of hand rubbed stains; however, we finish everything with 4 coats of spray-applied lacquer. We don’t use any wax because it doesn’t have the longevity we are looking for.
12. I’m in a rush, and can’t wait 4 weeks. Can you do it?
Yes, we can, but we charge you a 30% premium. This goes to pay overtime and rush fees. We put you at the top of our list, and we expect payment in full at the time the order is placed. It will still take us 2 weeks to complete an order.
11. How long does it take to build the furniture?
Normally it takes us about 4 weeks to complete a project. Very little happens during the first two weeks, as we are working on other customers’ furniture. Most items take two full weeks of construction time, including finishing and upholstery. When we get really busy, it can be as long as 6 or 8 weeks to completion.
10. How does your furniture compare to pieces built by new furniture manufacturers?
It’s much better made and will last longer. It’s less expensive than pieces of comparable quality. It’s available in about 4 weeks, as compared with 12-16 weeks for most manufacturers.
9. Do you do built-in cabinets or kitchen cabinets?
No. We have no plans to offer these services, but we would like to find a partner who can.
7. What if I want it in another wood, like Mahogany, or Maple?
It can be done. We don’t stock these woods, though, so it may take an extra week or so to get the lumber, and there is a slight increase in cost which varies with the current price of the lumber. Want a quote? Just send an email to Rockridge Furniture & Design.
6. How do oak and cherry compare with other woods?
White oak is extremely hard and has a very pronounced grain. We don’t use red oak. Cherry is softer than oak, and has a very fine grain. With exposure to sunlight, the stains used on oak tend to bleach, and the wood becomes more yellow over time (10+ years of sunlight). Cherry does just the opposite; cherry darkens with exposure to sunlight. This phenomenon is most prevalent right after the piece is made.
5. What was the philosophy behind the Arts & Crafts movement?
The Arts & Crafts movement was part of the reform movement at the beginning of the 1900s. The Industrial Revolution of the 1870s allowed for cheap, low quality furniture to be mass produced on assembly lines, by minimally skilled workers . There arose a social fear that we were becoming part of a mechanized society. The Arts & Crafts movement reintroduced the philosophy of “one person-one piece”, in which one craftsman would oversee the entire production of “his” piece. This return to higher standards gave dignity back to the individual craftsmen, who could once again take pride in their work. Much has been written about this social reform movement, and it is an interesting history to learn about.
It is a way of cutting the wood to bring out the beautiful medullar rays, read more about quartersawn white oak.
3. What is the difference between Arts & Crafts and Shaker?
The styles are really very different. Shaker usually has rounded legs and was rarely done in oak. In both Arts and Crafts and Shaker, the beauty comes from the wood and its simple unadorned style.
2. What’s the difference between Arts & Crafts, Mission, and Craftsman style?
None. These were marketing terms used by manufacturers in the early 1900s. In different parts of the country, the different names were used, and that’s what they are known by today.
1. Do you have a catalog that you can send me?
We may have one in the future, but at this time we don’t have any plans to produce one. New items will be added to this web site. If you’d like to be kept abreast of changes, please get on our mailing list. Use the button to the left.
