Know The Difference in Wood Furniture Materials

Do we really know the difference between solid natural wood and chipboard furniture? 

When it comes to choosing furniture for our home, selecting the right material is essential to ensure durability, reliability and aesthetics. Solid, natural wood and manufactured wood like chipboard/particle board are very different materials, both with their own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Read on to discover the differences. 

Understanding Solid Wood

This wood is extracted directly from the trunk of the tree, being a more robust and solid material than chipboard, which makes it the ideal choice for durable furniture. When you look at a piece of solid wood furniture, you’ll notice the natural grain patterns and texture of the wood itself. Each piece is unique, showcasing the inherent beauty and characteristics of the tree it came from. Solid wood furniture is sturdy, durable, and tends to gain character and value over time. 

Advantages of solid natural wood:

• Durability: Solid, natural wood is known for its long-term durability and strength. Furniture made from this material tends to resist wear and tear and the passage of time better.
• Timeless Aesthetics: The natural beauty of this type of wood is indisputable and adapts to any style of decoration. Unlike chipboard, solid wood offers a sense of warmth, creating a cozy atmosphere. Each grain or knot contributes to make each piece unique and exclusive.
• Restoration: Solid natural wood can be easily restored. Scratches or imperfections can be sanded and re-varnished, maintaining the original appearance of the furniture. In contrast, furniture made of chipboard is often more difficult or impossible to repair.
• Versatility: Natural wood is a very versatile material that can be worked in many ways creating a great variety of designs.

Disadvantages of solid natural wood:

• Price: The superior quality and durability of solid wood means that the price may be slightly higher than particleboard.
• Weight: Due to its density and solid structure, solid wood furniture tends to be heavier to move.
• Sensitivity to Moisture and Temperature Changes: Solid natural wood can be sensitive to moisture and extreme temperature changes.

What is Plywood?

Plywood is a wood product that is made from thin veneers of normal, milled wood. Manufactured from thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers, having both glued with each other at right angles. All plywood’s bind resin and wood fiber sheets that are long, strong and thin to form a composite material.

Advantages of plywood:

• Strength & Durability: Plywood can withstand strong pressure, weight, and frequent use. The stiffness of plywood has made it hard to bend and inflexible.
• Versatile: Plywood is also a versatile option for furniture building because it can be easily cut to size and shape expanding the scope of woodworking projects.
• Resistance to Moisture: The cross banded layers and balanced construction mean that hardwood plywood won't shrink, swell, or warp as much as solid wood. 
• Lightweight: While solid wood is heavy, furniture made from plywood is comparatively lighter to transfer.
• Variety of Thicknesses: Sheets in 1⁄8", 1⁄4", 3⁄8", 1⁄2", and 3⁄4“ thicknesses minimize waste. At Forest Designs, we  use ¾” sheets to ensure long term performance. 
• Color-Matched Appearance: In premium grades, at least one side will be uniform in color and grain, making staining and finishing easier.

Disadvantages of plywood:

Strength: The materials used to make plywood are essentially byproducts of actual lumber; but they don’t have the same natural density and are therefore weaker than normal wood.

Moisture Damage: Because plywood lacks the tightly-packed grains of hardwood, it is susceptible to water damage. It cannot be stored anywhere that gets wet and will be permanently damaged if exposed to moisture for long periods of time.

Paint Adhesion: The rough and composite surface area of plywood makes it more difficult to paint. Paint, more easily can chip off of a plywood surface.

Use of Glue: There are certain odor levels for many furniture glues which some people are sensitive to. The white glue we use is non-toxic and meets VOC guidelines.

Price: Plywood is actually one of the more expensive types of engineered wood. 

Difficult to Cut: There is no cutting against or with the grain with plywood. That’s because the grains are designed to run perpendicular to each other with every layer.

Tough Sanding Material: If you are using plywood for furniture or cabinets, you will likely have to sand it. Sanding plywood takes much longer than regular wood and will likely require more physical effort.

 

Identifying Chipboard/Particle Board Wood:

Chipboard does not contain solid wood; it is produced by using wood chips that are bonded together with other synthetic materials such as adhesives and resins.

Advantages of chipboard:

Economical: Offering lower raw material quality and durability, chipboard is generally less expensive than solid wood.

Versatility in Dsign: Because of their manufacturing process, chipboard can be molded into different shapes and sizes.

Light Weight: Chipboard furniture tends to be lighter to move.

 

Disadvantages of chipboard:

Limited Durability: Although less expensive, chipboard is not as durable and strong as solid wood. It can be damaged more easily and is more prone to dents and scratches.

Difficult to Repair: Unlike solid wood, chipboard is not as easy to repair. Damage such as chipped edges or dents can be difficult to fix.

Less Authentic Aesthetics: Although the appearance of particle board has improved over the years, it does not offer the same authenticity and visual warmth as solid wood.

Less Moisture Resistant: Sensitivity to moisture and temperature changes; chipboard can be sensitive to moisture and extreme temperature changes.

 

Conclusion:

In summary, if you want to bring warmth to your home, value durability, timeless aesthetics and are willing to invest in furniture that will last over time, solid wood is the ideal choice.

At Oak Arizona, we use solid wood and plywood to hand craft our furniture; chipboard (particle board) is never used. Rest assured, you can have peace of mind knowing that your next furniture purchase is authentic real wood.

For more information about our products and craftsmanship, visit Oak Arizona online or in our Mesa store or factory. Experience the difference of real wood furniture, crafted with passion and precision.

American Made - where quality meets craftsmanship.