Assembling and installing a solid wood table

A large solid wood table arrives in parts: the top, the base and the fixings. We're happy to assemble and install it, but if you'd rather do it yourself, this guide will help you avoid the usual mistakes.

Before delivery

• Measure doorways, stairwells, the lift and any tight corners. A top longer than two metres won't always fit in a standard lift.
• Clear the spot where the table will stand and the route to it.
• Have something soft ready — a blanket or cardboard — to lay the top on face down.

What you'll need

• Two or three people: a solid wood top is heavy and must never be carried alone.
• A cordless screwdriver with bits that fit the supplied fixings.
• A spirit level.
• A tape measure.

Assembly

• Lay the top face down on the soft surface.
• Position the base on the underside. We either mark the leg positions in advance or provide a diagram.
• Fix the base with the supplied screws. Don't overtighten screws in slotted holes — the slots let the wood move a little as the seasons change.
• Turn the table over with two or three people, lifting by the top, not by the legs.

Levelling

Floors are rarely perfectly flat. Put the table in place and check the level along its length and width. Most of our bases have adjustable feet: turn them until the table stops rocking and the bubble sits in the middle.

The first few weeks

• The wood needs time to adjust to the room. For the first few weeks, keep the table away from radiators and air-conditioning vents.
• After a while, check the fixings — once the wood has settled they sometimes need a slight tightening.
• Don't put heavy objects on the edge of the top until the table is level.

What not to do

• Don't drag the assembled table across the floor — it loosens the fixings and scratches the floor.
• Don't swap the supplied screws for longer ones: they can come through the face of the top.
• Don't assemble the table in mid-air or stand the top on its edge without someone holding it.

Need a hand?

We handle carrying, assembly and installation within Sochi, and for other regions we can advise on arranging assembly locally. It's worth booking if the table is long or heavy, has a complex base or has to go up stairs without a lift. Ask your manager for details when you place the order.