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Choosing Your Furniture
A Guide to the Most Common Furniture Materials
We carry furniture that is made from many different materials and is available with a multitude of finishes. This should make it
easy for you to find exactly what you want, at a price that’s friendly to your budget. That being said, it’s useful to know a little bit about products
that are commonly used in furniture construction.
MDF is a common abbreviation for medium density fiberboard, or engineered wood. MDF is made out of multiple wood fibers glued together under heat
and pressure, and is generally very affordable and often just as durable as solid wood. Teamed with laminates and wood veneers, furniture made with MDF
can imitate the look of real wood while meeting the budget requirements of most families.
MDF offers several advantages over alternate materials, while not being too costly. It can be made with recycled materials, and possesses no grain so it can be drilled and/or cut without damaging the surface. Also, MDF is often sturdy enough to be nailed together, and yet it’s light enough to be shipped cheaply and easily.
Solid wood furniture is considered the best quality furniture on the market, and if you are purchasing furniture that will be in your home for a long time,
it is a very smart investment. Even with wear, solid wood gains character and charm and becomes a part of your family. Solid wood furniture is usually
crafted with attention to detail that includes dovetailed joints, wood on wood drawer glides, and strong protective finishes.
Hardwood solids, in particular, are cut from the trunks of deciduous hardwood trees. Among the most popular of these are oak and maple, which are commonly used for constructing furniture and cabinetry. And don’t forget, no two pieces of solid wood furniture are the same, so your furniture will be completely unique.
Asian hardwood is also referred to as parawood, rubberwood, and tropical hardwood. Mainly from Southeast Asia, this wood is as strong as maple and is
often referred to as Malaysian Oak because of its durability and strength.
The trees used for this wood are native to the Amazon region of South America. In the 19th Century their seeds were transported to England for germination and the resulting seedlings were brought to Malaysia and planted permanently (thus the name Asian hardwood).
Furthermore, the trees are used to produce latex for 25-30 years prior to being cut down for furniture construction. This ecologically friendly process has spawned the name rubberwood.
Wood veneers are constructed of thin slices of real wood which are adhered to the surface of a piece of furniture to give it the glowing appearance of
real wood. Veneers can be laid over less costly and lighter materials to save production and shipping costs, or added to a very expensive piece to
showcase a particularly beautiful grain pattern. Any smooth and flat material can have veneer laid over it, making this an extremely versatile and
popular method of constructing furniture.
The slices used for veneering are generally trimmed from the most attractive parts of the wood source. A saw was originally used for this procedure, but is now commonly replaced by a stationary knife. This reduces the dust that is caused by sawing, and also allows more slices to be cut from each individual log.
Tempered glass is stronger than both untreated and annealed glass. When broken, it shatters into many small fragments as opposed to large shards. Therefore it is traditionally used in place of other glass products in applications requiring increased strength and reduced likelihood of injury
in the event of breakage. Also, the glass fragments that result from a break are linear and more likely to remain in the frame.
Tempered glass can be made in one of two ways, both of which produce very similar results. The first is by subjecting the glass to a special heat-treatment in which it is heated to about 680° C and cooled afterwards. The second method is by covering the glass with a chemical solution which produces a higher mechanical resistance than untreated glass.
Poured mouldings use a mould to produce a decorative recessed or relieved surface, generally on an edge. Molten resin or wood bits are poured into a mould, often reinforced with fiberglass. As opposed to using wood, this is a much easier way to produce elaborate designs in furniture; the moulds can simply be
etched to simulate wood grain, and even knots. This is an old process that is making a comeback in highly decorative and unique furniture.
Remember, if you have any questions at all about the information below, feel free to call us at (800) 306-8697 and speak to one of our trained service
specialists. Or if you prefer the convenience of Email, drop us a line at service@racksandstands.com. Thanks for shopping with us!
Engineered Wood/MDF
MDF is a common abbreviation for medium density fiberboard, or engineered wood. MDF is made out of multiple wood fibers glued together under heat
and pressure, and is generally very affordable and often just as durable as solid wood. Teamed with laminates and wood veneers, furniture made with MDF
can imitate the look of real wood while meeting the budget requirements of most families.
MDF offers several advantages over alternate materials, while not being too costly. It can be made with recycled materials, and possesses no grain so it can be drilled and/or cut without damaging the surface. Also, MDF is often sturdy enough to be nailed together, and yet it’s light enough to be shipped cheaply and easily.
Laminates
Laminates consist of a layer of wood or other product, such as paper, which is applied over a wood frame and sealed with a protective layer
of thermosetting resin. They are used in a wide variety of products (especially office furniture), as they can be extremely durable and stand up to
daily use by many people. In addition, when adding employees - or pieces of furniture to complement what you have - you are virtually guaranteed that
the finish on your products will match what you already have. Unlike real wood, laminates should not fade or have variations from piece to piece.
They are also very easy to clean with just a soft cloth.
Laminates consist of a layer of wood or other product, such as paper, which is applied over a wood frame and sealed with a protective layer
of thermosetting resin. They are used in a wide variety of products (especially office furniture), as they can be extremely durable and stand up to
daily use by many people. In addition, when adding employees - or pieces of furniture to complement what you have - you are virtually guaranteed that
the finish on your products will match what you already have. Unlike real wood, laminates should not fade or have variations from piece to piece.
They are also very easy to clean with just a soft cloth.
Hardwood Solids
Solid wood furniture is considered the best quality furniture on the market, and if you are purchasing furniture that will be in your home for a long time,
it is a very smart investment. Even with wear, solid wood gains character and charm and becomes a part of your family. Solid wood furniture is usually
crafted with attention to detail that includes dovetailed joints, wood on wood drawer glides, and strong protective finishes.
Hardwood solids, in particular, are cut from the trunks of deciduous hardwood trees. Among the most popular of these are oak and maple, which are commonly used for constructing furniture and cabinetry. And don’t forget, no two pieces of solid wood furniture are the same, so your furniture will be completely unique.
Asian Hardwoods, Parawood, and Rubberwood
Asian hardwood is also referred to as parawood, rubberwood, and tropical hardwood. Mainly from Southeast Asia, this wood is as strong as maple and is
often referred to as Malaysian Oak because of its durability and strength.
The trees used for this wood are native to the Amazon region of South America. In the 19th Century their seeds were transported to England for germination and the resulting seedlings were brought to Malaysia and planted permanently (thus the name Asian hardwood).
Furthermore, the trees are used to produce latex for 25-30 years prior to being cut down for furniture construction. This ecologically friendly process has spawned the name rubberwood.
Wood Veneers
Wood veneers are constructed of thin slices of real wood which are adhered to the surface of a piece of furniture to give it the glowing appearance of
real wood. Veneers can be laid over less costly and lighter materials to save production and shipping costs, or added to a very expensive piece to
showcase a particularly beautiful grain pattern. Any smooth and flat material can have veneer laid over it, making this an extremely versatile and
popular method of constructing furniture.
The slices used for veneering are generally trimmed from the most attractive parts of the wood source. A saw was originally used for this procedure, but is now commonly replaced by a stationary knife. This reduces the dust that is caused by sawing, and also allows more slices to be cut from each individual log.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is stronger than both untreated and annealed glass. When broken, it shatters into many small fragments as opposed to large shards. Therefore it is traditionally used in place of other glass products in applications requiring increased strength and reduced likelihood of injury
in the event of breakage. Also, the glass fragments that result from a break are linear and more likely to remain in the frame.
Tempered glass can be made in one of two ways, both of which produce very similar results. The first is by subjecting the glass to a special heat-treatment in which it is heated to about 680° C and cooled afterwards. The second method is by covering the glass with a chemical solution which produces a higher mechanical resistance than untreated glass.
Poured Mouldings
Poured mouldings use a mould to produce a decorative recessed or relieved surface, generally on an edge. Molten resin or wood bits are poured into a mould, often reinforced with fiberglass. As opposed to using wood, this is a much easier way to produce elaborate designs in furniture; the moulds can simply be
etched to simulate wood grain, and even knots. This is an old process that is making a comeback in highly decorative and unique furniture.
Learning More...
If you'd like a little more advice from our furniture experts, or have a specific question that we haven't answered here, feel free to give us a call
at service@racksandstands.com. Our friendly staff at Racks and Stands is always happy to help!
