Since ages, oak is the most preferred wood for making stools. Oak bar stools are highly durable and will have a long life. Additionally, they are beautiful and captivating with their polish and feel. Experts prefer oak because it is lighter than cherry. They are also of the opinion that since ebony, mahogany and other woods are heavier, oak can be preferred for making bar stools. Mostly, people prefer light colored oak to the dark colored one.
A home or an office looks more beautiful with these stools. But, you should select the most appropriate stools for your use. The main point you should focus on is the height of these stools. If your intention is to use them as breakfast stools, they should be shorter than the normal stools. You have many varieties in these stools such as swivel stools, stools with back and those without back.
You should ensure that the stools are made with a solid piece of oak wood and poplar or gum is not mixed with the wood. Sometimes, more pieces of wood are laminated together and this makes the stools more vulnerable and they will be affected by varying temperatures. This may cause warping and cracking. Especially, if the stools are kept in the kitchen, due to the heat in the kitchen surroundings, warp and distortion in shape may take place. This is because the glue used for putting the laminates together will get affected by the heat of the kitchen.
You should also not buy oak stools that are painted. The painting will rob the wood of its beauty.
You may even think of buying unfinished oak bar stools so that you can get the finishing done by yourself. You can have a light finish or a dark finish according to your wish. You can also use wood wax that can protect oak from the vagaries of weather and other elements. Wood wax can greatly improve the natural color, grain and beauty of these stools.
Of all the factors you should look for, you should lay greater stress on durability. Only then, you can have these oak bar stools for a long, long time. If you opt for buying cheaper oak stools, they may snap soon and you will have to spend again to buy new stools.
The reason for people preferring oak bar stools is that oak retains its original attractive appearance throughout its life. But, this is possible only if you maintain the stools properly. You can use normal techniques to maintain these stools.
