Good questions, straight answers.

Most pieces are made to order, so it depends on the piece: turned goods like bottle openers ship in 3–5 days, benches and ottomans in 2–3 weeks, and chests in 3–5 weeks. Anything marked Available now is already finished and ships within the week. The current lead time is listed on every product page. If you're on a deadline (a wedding, a birthday), say so — rush spots are sometimes possible.

Use the contact form (or email directly) with the piece you'd like and your shipping ZIP. You'll get back a total including shipping, simple payment instructions, and your build date — usually the same day. Nothing is charged until you confirm.

Secure card payment by emailed invoice, plus the usual suspects — the exact options are included with your quote. Commissions are split: half to schedule the build, half before shipping.

Yes — it's a big part of the shop's work. Any catalog piece can be resized, and new pieces can be quoted from a photo, a sketch, or a paragraph describing what you need. You'll get a fixed quote and a drawing before any wood is cut. Start on the commissions page.

You'll get them whether you ask or not. Every order includes photos of your finished piece before it's boxed — if anything looks off to you, we fix it before it ships, not after.

It's quoted with your order total, based on the piece and your ZIP — no surprise checkout math. Small goods travel USPS or UPS; benches and chests ship freight or well-packed ground depending on distance.

Every shipment is insured for its full value. Send photos of the piece and the packaging within 48 hours of delivery, and you choose: repair, replacement, or a full refund. See Shipping & Returns.

Local pickup is available and takes shipping off your total — mention it when you order and we'll arrange a time. Local delivery of larger pieces can often be arranged too.

Yes — it's built for it. The bench is thick, full-dimension pine sealed with an exterior-grade finish and assembled with exterior-grade hardware. Give the finish a fresh coat once a year — a 15-minute job with a rag — and it'll keep taking the weather season after season.

Aromatic cedar's natural oils are what repel moths and insects — the scent is the protection. Inside a closed box or chest it lasts for years, and a light sanding of the interior brings it right back anytime.

Yes — with pyrography, decorative wood-burning done by hand. Bottle openers come with a single letter burned into the base at no charge (just ask when you order). Larger burn work — a name across a chest lid, a date inside a keepsake box, custom artwork — is quoted per project, since the time varies a lot with the design. Mention what you're picturing and you'll get a price with your quote.

It will look better — and slightly different. Wood grain is unrepeatable, especially in walnut, so no two pieces are identical. Dimensions and construction match the listing; the grain is yours alone. That's the point of handmade.

Honestly, mostly by using it. Indoor pieces want nothing more than a dry cloth; oiled pieces like a fresh coat once a year; outdoor benches want their exterior finish refreshed annually; raw cedar birdhouses need nothing at all. The full care guide covers each finish in a few sentences.

Construction, for the life of the piece: if a joint fails or hardware works loose under normal use, send a photo and it gets repaired or replaced. It doesn't cover normal weathering (that's cedar doing its job), misuse, or modifications — but if something seems wrong, ask. The default answer is to make it right.

Catalog pieces: yes — within 30 days, in original condition, with return shipping on you and a full refund of the piece price. Custom commissions are yours alone, which is why they start with a sketch and photos at every step, so there are no surprises. Details in Shipping & Returns.