Hong Kong's intense humidity and long dry spells can warp fittings and furniture. Timely applications of the right stuff gives these strength and extends life
A BIT OF WOOD in the home adds warmth and a sense of the natural, amid all that plastic, metal and glass. However, anyone who has lived through a full calendar cycle in Hong Kong knows that wood is prone to react in different ways in each season.
In the long summer months, wood soaks up the high humidity like a sponge and visibly expands. In the winter, the opposite happens: dry air causes wood to contract to the point that it can crack as it pulls away from joints.
Air conditioners, dehumidifiers and heaters only compound the problem - unless these are kept switched on permanently to a constant temperature and humidity, something done rarely outside a museum environment.
So, if you are especially fond of a piece of furniture or proud of the wooden fittings around your home, be prepared to spend some time and money on regular maintenance to prevent cracking or to fill cracks, or simply to prevent decay.
Choice of wood types is often dictated by budget, rather than suitability to Hong Kong's climate.