At Heode, we manufacture kit furniture for installation in your van or camper van to convert it into a motorhome. Our approach is to design furniture that will accompany you on all your adventures, whether it's a romantic getaway or a month-long road trip to the highest peaks and most remote corners of the world.

Your furniture will see it all, literally and figuratively! And that's just as well, because that's what it's made for.
We work with the strongest materials that are best suited to use in motorhomes: resistance to the torsion of the vehicle body, moisture management due to temperature variations, resistance to fire and water, light weight, and so on.

For our furniture to reach its full potential, it needs regular maintenance. Here's a simple guide to looking after your travelling companions.

Two ranges of furniture:

Our furniture is available in two main materials: raw plywood and HPL laminated plywood.

What's the difference between raw plywood and laminate?

Raw plywood is a material made up of several layers of wood veneers glued together. Each layer, called a veneer, is generally oriented perpendicular to the adjacent layer to improve the strength and stability of the material.

Unlike finished or laminated plywood, raw plywood has no surface finish, which means that it retains its natural appearance after manufacture.

The veneers used in raw plywood can come from a variety of wood species, mainly poplar, birch and okoume, offering a variety of characteristics in terms of weight, durability and appearance. These veneers are glued together using heat and moisture resistant adhesives, creating a robust and versatile material.

Laminated plywood is also plywood manufactured in the same way as raw CP but to which a surface finish has been applied.

Laminated plywood is covered with a composite material. There are several types with varying qualities. The most resistant is HPL, which consists of sheets of paper impregnated with phenolic resin and compressed at high pressure. This layer of laminate gives the plywood a smooth, durable, scratch-resistant surface. It offers a virtually infinite aesthetic finish in terms of colour, texture and print.

This surface finish makes laminated plywood ready for use without the need for any other treatments or coatings.

How do I maintain my Heode raw plywood furniture?

• Step 1: Sanding before assembly. We recommend that you sand your furniture with a medium grit (between 120 and 150).
• Step 2: Cleaning. Vacuum the sanded surface to remove any dust residue, or wipe with a slightly damp cloth.
• Step 3: Treatment. We strongly recommend that you use protective oil to ensure that your furniture lasts as long as ever, while using products that respect your health and the environment.

Which oil should I use for my raw plywood furniture?

In terms of oils, we offer :

• Osmo Top Oil: this natural blend of oil and wax is perfect for maintaining your furniture Heode. It has the following advantages:
  
  - Suitable for contact with food, so don't worry about using it on your kitchen furniture
  - Water-repellent and UV-protective
  - Resistant to stains and household cleaning products
  - Moisture-resistant

This oil is perfectly suited to treating children's toys, so Osmo top oil is harmless to humans and animals.

Can I paint or varnish my furniture Heode?

Yes, you can paint your furniture after sanding. In this case, we recommend that you choose a paint that is suitable for unfinished, indoor wooden furniture.

It is also possible to varnish your furniture, but we don't recommend it. Although it can harden the wood, it has the major disadvantage of ageing in an unsatisfactory way, compromising the appearance and durability of the furniture over time: risk of flaking and scratching, difficult retouching, sanding or stripping essential in the case of renovation.

Why is oil the best solution for maintaining my wooden furniture?

In our opinion, oil treatment is the best option for the following reasons:

• If your furniture is damaged, it is very easy to renovate. All you have to do is sand the damaged area to soften the impact and apply a protective coat of oil. Unlike paint, which requires you to sand and repaint the entire surface of the furniture, there will be no visible joints.
• deeply nourishes the wood, giving it optimum protection
• will not chip or peel over time
  

How do I maintain my laminated plywood Heode furniture?

The advantage of our laminated plywood furniture is that you can assemble it straight away, without having to treat the panels first. Once the furniture has been installed in your converted van, all you need to do is clean the surfaces regularly. This will preserve the colour and appearance of the covering. We recommend using Armaflex solvent-free cleaner (a health-friendly solution) with a microfibre cloth to ensure optimum durability.

And there you have it, all you need to ensure your furniture lasts and looks its best. Roadtrips to infinity and beyond!