DINING ROOM TABLES
Never allow spilled food or beverages to dry on the surface of your dining room table.  Avoid placing hot dishes and objects with rubber feet directly on tabletops because such damage is not covered by our Warranty.  Use heat pads or felt to protect the surface.  Use coasters or pads under glasses.  Do not use vinyl plastic pads or mats for extended periods as staining and softening of wood finishes can result.  When opening a dining table, lift the table end slight­ly to avoid stressing the table legs.

Table Leaves.  Table leaves are made separately from dining tables and will not match perfectly in grain or color.  Because leaves are designed for temporary use, these variations as well as small gaps of 1/8 inch or less are not considered defects and cannot be made smaller.
To prevent warping of leaves, we suggest that they be showroomd flat.  Markings on the underside of the table will guide you in the proper placement of your leaves.  Because wood may vary with temperature and humidity changes, we also recommend that you showroom the leaves under the same conditions as those of your table.
Protective table pads for most styles we sell are available at our showroom to protect your tabletop when entertaining.

Brass, Glass, Lacquer and Other Finishes
Brass and Chrome Finishes: Minor pitting and scratch­ing are normal characteristics and cannot be serviced.

Glass: Minor scratches, small air bubbles, surface waviness and lightly pitted areas occur naturally during glass manufacture and are not considered quality defects.

Lacquer Finishes: Like a fine automobile paint finish, some fine hair line scratches may be visible at the time of delivery.  These are not defects and will not affect the durability of the finish.

Marble: Marble is porous and can stain.  It can be cleaned with a mild soap and warm water, rinsed with clean water, and wiped with a clean soft cloth to insure no residue remains.  If needed, repeat the process with white vinegar.  Regularly polish your marble with a good non-yellowing paste wax.  Never use abrasive cleaners.  Food and liquid stains should be blotted immediately with a damp, soft cloth.  Protect your marble against rings caused by beverages by using coasters.  Variations in color, texture, geological veins and voids occur naturally as marble is created.  These variations are not quality defects.

Solid Brass and Metal: Variations in finish, color and texture are normal and cannot be changed.  Joint seams will not always be perfectly smooth.

WOOD FURNITURE
Just as trees in the forest are not the same, each individual piece of furniture has markings that will differ from catalog and showroom samples.  Mineral streaks, grain variations, knots, small pits, and other marks of nature are normally found in fine woods and are not considered defects.  Variations cannot be controlled or corrected and will even occur among pieces within a set.

Distressed Finishes: Sometimes the manufacturer intentionally dents, discolors and scratches the wood to create an aged appearance.  Techniques used include physically marking the surface with a blunt instrument, marking with darker stain and splattering with stain.  An aged appearance is sometimes achieved by rubbing pumice or a similar medium into wood pores.  The number and nature of distress marks are a matter of design by the manufacturer and cannot be changed, nor is it an option that can be deleted.

Door Warping: It is important to properly close the doors and not allow them to hang open.  Long periods of varying humidity can also produce warping.  High humidity causes expansion; low humidity causes contraction.  The client is responsible to keep doors closed when not in use, as well as to keep a reasonably stable level of humidity in the home to avoid warping problems.

Leveling and Settling: Over time, the foundation of your home settles and floors can become uneven.  This can cause furniture to sit unevenly, or cause uneven doors on armoires.  Most furniture sold today has adjustable glides that can accommodate any leveling problems you may encounter.  Your Smithe deliveryman will level your furniture upon delivery.  If your furniture does not have a built-in leveling device, a shim or two will help to level a piece when needed.

Matching Finishes: Most planks absorb stain differently.  Each vendor's version of a certain finish such as "Cherry" will be different.  Finishes change as they age.  Because of these issues, The Company expressly will not match wood finishes to pieces already in your home, or guarantee a perfect stain match from item to item in a new multi piece order, such as a bedroom set.  Minor variations will always be present, regardless of cost.

Normal Changes Over Time: Wood finishes will change in appearance as they are used.  Items with low sheen finishes tend to develop an increased sheen over time.  Slight variations in appearance and the fit of joints and seams will result from the normal expansion and contraction of wood as it responds to climatic changes in the home.  Many wood species darken or redden with age.  White painted finishes tend to yellow with age.  These changes in tone, fit, finish, and texture are normal signs of aging and are not covered by any warranty.

Solid Woods: Solid wood furniture is susceptible to changes in humidity.  It contracts in a dry environ­ment and expands in a moist environment, creating season cracks, minor warping, and inconsistencies in alignment of doors, drawers, and table tops.  These are normal changes that should not be cause for alarm.  These changes do not affect the structural integrity of the piece and cannot be corrected.  Maintaining proper humidity during winter months is recommended.

White Washed Finishes: White washed finishes will enhance knots and grain variations naturally found in the wood.

WOOD FURNITURE CARE
The guidelines below must be followed in order to be eligible for Warranty coverage.

Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Extreme heat from radiators or heat ducts can cause warping or splitting as well as buckling or delaminating of veneers.

Cleaning: Dust lightly using a soft terry cloth with the grain of the wood.  To remove minor stains or caked on dirt, wipe with a soft damp cloth.  Oily stains can be removed using a cloth damp with a mixture of warm water and Murphy's soap.  Dry the piece thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth.  To avoid scratch­ing, you should blot, rather than wipe spills.

Damage Prevention: Apply adhesive felt glides to lamps and similar objects before placing them on tables.  When serving hot food, always use place mats under the plates and hot pads under the serving containers.  Do not set synthetics, rubber or plastics on the wood finish as they might contain chemicals that will damage the finish.  Do not leave newspapers or magazines on wood as the ink can bleed onto the finish and into the wood.

Painted Finishes: Brush painted finishes should not be polished because they will acquire a higher sheen.  Clean with mild soapy water and dry immediately with a clean, soft cloth.

Polishing: Do not use silicone waxes, lemon oil, or other oily polishes.  They can attract dust and grit, causing scratches in the finish.  We recommend Furniture Cream for standard lacquered wood finishes once a year or less.

Sun Exposure: Overexposure to sunlight can adversely affect wood finishes, causing cracking and bleaching that are difficult and costly to repair.

Touch-Up: Minor damage may be touched up with a furniture touch-up pencil, which can be purchased through our service department or at a hardware showroom.  Buy a set of light, medium and dark markers, and start with the lightest color touch-up marker.  Contact client services if further repairs are necessary.

Other Tips
If perfume or nail polish remover is spilled, do not blot it off.  The lacquer which has been softened by the chemicals should return to normal when the liquid has totally evaporated.  Allow the area to dry, rub it with a fine automotive polishing compound, then apply a fresh coat of polish.

If candle wax drops on your wood finished surface, hold an ice cube to the wax to harden it.  Blot up the water and use a dull plastic spatula to remove the wax without touching the wood.  Gently scrape away any remaining wax, and rub the area with furniture polish to replace the protective coating.