Question 1

Can you disassemble and reassemble furniture for shipping?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our workshop team disassembles legs, shelves, doors, and any removable components before crating. Each part is individually wrapped and labelled. At the destination, our white glove delivery partners reassemble the piece in the room of choice using the original hardware. We photograph the furniture before disassembly so the reassembly matches the maker's intent exactly.

Question 2

How do you protect furniture from moisture during sea freight?

Accepted Answer

Every sea freight crate includes a moisture barrier lining, silica gel desiccant packs, and humidity indicator cards. The marine-grade plywood we use is itself moisture-resistant. For high-value hardwood pieces, we apply a breathable protective wrap before crating to prevent condensation damage during the 3-6 week ocean transit.

Question 3

Do you handle CITES permits for furniture made from protected wood?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If your furniture contains CITES-listed timbers such as ebony, rosewood, or African blackwood, we obtain the required CITES export permits from the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. We also advise on EU Timber Regulation compliance and Lacey Act requirements for shipments to the United States.

Question 4

Can you collect from any furniture workshop in the Western Cape?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We collect from workshops across the Western Cape including Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Somerset West, and the Cape Winelands region. For workshops outside our standard collection area, we arrange dedicated transport. We conduct a full condition report at the point of collection.

Question 5

How long does it take to ship a dining table from Cape Town to London?

Accepted Answer

By air freight, a dining table reaches London in 5-7 working days door-to-door including customs clearance. By sea freight, allow 4-5 weeks for ocean transit plus 1-2 weeks for UK customs clearance and last-mile delivery. We recommend 1-2 days for crating before either method. Air freight is typically R12,000-R25,000 for a standard dining table.

Furniture Export Logistics from South Africa