Solid Wood vs Engineered Wood Furniture: What You Need to Know Before Making a Purchase

Solid Wood vs Engineered Wood Furniture: What You Need to Know Before Making a Purchase 

All the materials which are used in interior design, wood remains one of the most versatile as we are about to find out. You can probably take it for any part of interior design– furniture, floor covering, wall treatment, ornaments, etc .

It does not need much manipulation to apply it in different design themes and color schemes. This implies that there is an array of grains when it comes to the types of woods; by implication therefore, the homeowner has virtually endless colors, textures and designs to select from when it comes to wall finishing, flooring and furniture designs in the house. This you may do to get a number of effects on the wood. 

What is Solid Wood? 

Constructional timber, furniture timber etc is worked on timber gotten from logs which have been gotten for logging down fully grown trees. Many people are familiar with natural woods, which are divided into two major categories to wit; hardwoods, and softwoods. This differentiation normally, although not invariably, follows the degree of the hardwood and softwood density.

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These two broad divisions are: The first is the hardwoods which includes oak, maple, teak and rosewood, the other is the softwoods that include pine, Rubber wood and white cedar.

• Solid wood furniture is made mostly from slabs obtained from felling fully grown and matured trees.
• Some of the common woods used are Maple, Oak, Redwood, Mahogany, Ash, Beech, Teak, Rosewood and Cherry which vary in color density, surface grain as well as thickness.
• Expectations of Hispanic consumers reflect this in that solid wood furniture is characterized by natural grains in that the surface of different units cannot be matched.
• It is relatively easy to carve and to shape, and may have insertions that enhance the natural appeal of the material.
• It has durability and strength – once you buy solid wood furniture, it will last for decades, thereby, be inherited.
• Seasoned woods range from very light brown similar to blond color to very dark brown with a tinge of red from the variety of woods available.
• Solid wood on the external surface begins to break, when in constant contact with water, but this could be refinished that is sanded and polished.

What is Engineered Wood?

When forests started to be cut down, natural wood became hard to acquire and thus furniture whose raw material was solid wood became very expensive. New types of the engineered floor began to be used in replacement of the problematic solid floor which was scarce. Plywood, high-density fibreboard or HDF, medium-density fibreboard or MDF, particle board.

Structural timber is a material that is made of strand, particle, fiber or veneer, or thin board of wood bonded with one or more layers of adhesives to produce products like plywood, fibreboard etc.

• Furniture is finished with natural wood veneer or with decorative laminates.
• Having laminated surfaces is easier to maintain since they do not absorb moisture, and only require wiping.
• The surfaces of the veneers are alike to real wood because they are coated with a thin layer of natural wood and can be polished.
• It refers to another aspect of engineered wood where the quality of products is outstanding; thus they are not easily degraded by moisture. Marine ply is ideal for use in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
• It can be used where quick refurbishing can be required such as modular kitchens, bookshelves, wardrobes etc and can be laminated or veneered.

Difference Between Engineered Wood and Solid Wood: Pricing Strategy

From the facts that have been analyzed above we can deduce that the solid wood price is way above engineered wood price. Some of the materials that solid wood competes with include; Pine wood, rubber wood, oak wood, maple wood and walnut wood all of which cost between ₹650 to ₹5000 per square foot.

While laminated veneer lumber for instance can range from ₹ 150 – ₹ 1500 engineered wood can be expensive. These are average ranges, but the price can vary from the quality, the certain type of material, manufacturer and stores. 

How to Differentiate Engineered Wood from Solid Wood

When it comes to furniture pieces, people should know what is meant by engineered wood furniture and solid wood furniture. This basically gives you information to enable you to make the right decision and be confident that you will be getting your worth. Here are some tips on how to identify engineered wood and solid wood. 

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On the Pattern Grain, see that the surface had not been damaged.

For certain, one of the simplest ways to tell whether furniture is made from solid wood or not is through the grain pattern. In solid wood furniture, should there be a pattern, it should be consistently seen all over the given piece. Nonetheless, engineered wood furniture may come with a recurrent or cyclical design pattern in the sense that it is made up of several layers of materials. 

Check the Weight

It is also evident that solid wood furniture is rather heavier compared to engineered wood furniture. If you are in doubt whether a particular piece of furniture is constructed of solid wood or engineered wood, try lifting it. The quality of solid wood furniture furniture should be heavier in comparison with the weight of the furniture made of engineered wood. 

Examine the Edges

Another means through which one can determine if a furniture is made of engineered wood is by looking at the edges of furniture. If you look at most products and observe the layers you realize that it is engineered wood. Solid wood furniture, in contrast, will be smooth with a very stained appearance that is quite organic in nature right at the edge. 

Check for Imperfections

Still, natural wood furniture will contain knots, mineral streaks, or variations in color, and thus, it will differ from engineered wood furniture, which looks less heterogeneous. For one, you can look for imperfections on the surface, and this will be vital in that you will be in a position to tell whether the furniture is made from solid wood or from engineered wood. 

In the end

Firstly, solid wood has more durability, natural look and feel, secondly it is costly and needs more care and maintenance as compared to engineered wood. In contrast engineered wood is relatively cheap although more moisture resilient and comes in a plethora of designs and variants. However, it is not as hard as the solid wood, and it might not last as long as the solid wood furniture.

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