How to Choose The Right Quality Wood For Furniture?

There is nothing parallel to wood when it comes to offering a lavish and classic look. Wood has been mainstream for furniture for centuries.  Furniture made out of wood promises durability and aesthetics. Good quality furniture is usually a heavy investment hence it is wise to consider the quality of furniture’s wood with due diligence.

Before dwelling on the right quality of furniture, let us see the types of wood. 

There are two primary types of woods, namely :

1 ) Solid woods

Solid woods comprise both hardwoods as well as softwoods. Solid wood is made of actual lumber and, therefore, is a direct product of the tree.

2) Engineered woods

Engineered wood, also called mass timber, composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board, is made from genuine wood as well as synthetic material.

Here are some tips for choosing the right quality of wood for furniture.

Go for solid wood

Solid wood refers to a piece of furniture that directly comes from lumber and only contains wood, quite contrary to engineered wood, which is a mixture of wood and other synthetic material.  Generally, this wood is expensive as the slow growth is slow, limiting the supply. Solid woods are generally more durable and hence are the best option for your furniture.

In case you are going with plywood, ensure that it has nine layers or more.

Choose Hardwood

Hardwood is a kind of solid wood. Hardwoods are denser than softwood and hence are more preferable if you want long-lasting furniture. Durability and strength are key merits of hardwood. The features that hardwood provides are unparallel to any other wood. Hardwood is expensive due to its slow growth resulting in insufficient supply against demand. The furniture made out of hardwood is seen as high-quality wooden furniture.  examples of hardwood include:

• walnut 
• oak 
• teak  
• beech
• maple

Know your wood

Before buying the wood it is important that you know it.

These are some woods that you might consider. 

Teak

Non-vulnerable to scratches and chips, Teak woods are one of the hardest wood for furniture. Teak woods are used to make high-quality and premium class furniture.

resistant to water pervasion, resistant to inclement weather, natural durability, extreme moisture resistance, and resistance, termites, wood rot, fungus, are some merits of teak wood.

Sheesham

Sheesham, also called Indian rosewood is long lasting and highly durable wood. It also tends to have natural resistivity to dry termites. Sheesham is cheaper than teak but has similar durability, making it an affordable word for your furniture.  The maintenance of Sheesham is high and so is the durability.

Pine

Pine is softwood and is often used in furniture like shelves. Pine is cheap and is not as stiff as Teak or oak but still, it provides reliable durability. Pine is lighter and grows faster than other hardwood which makes it inexpensive. Pine is used in the furniture like tea tables, doors, windows but is not recommended for heavily used furniture.

Oak

 Oak is denser and popularly used. Oak is hard-wearing and has open-grain making it durable and one of the best quality wood for furniture.

 Mahogany

Mahogany is comparatively lighter, but offers reliable strength. It is used to make luxury furniture but Mahogany is expensive and rare to find.

Walnut

Walnut woods are best for decorative furniture. They are beautiful as well as durable.

Cedar

Highly resistant to moisture and insect infection, Cedar is one of the best among the family of Softwood. Although it’s not stiff as other hardwoods like oak or walnut, its weather-friendly feature makes it reliably durable.

Density

The density of wood plays a key role in the furniture’s durability. The denser furniture will last longer and is considered being better in quality than those of less density.

Water-resistant

Water can pervade the pores of the wood, causing it to decay. It is wise to choose water-resistant wood. Cedar wood, white oak, and teak wood are some examples of woods that hold high water resistance capability.

Fire resistant

 You should choose woods that have a higher rate of fire resistance. The woods which are denser, as to say, hardwoods have a higher capability to resist fire, whereas softwoods have a lower rate of fire resistance.

Insect repellant capability

Insects can damage the durability of your furniture and cause it to decay faster. 

Good quality wood is a natural insect repellent. Cedar, redwood, teak are some examples of such wood. They have oils that protect them against insects.

 Conclusion

Choosing the right quality of wood for furniture is important as well as difficult. 

Make sure that the wood for your furniture has the right density, durability, and moisture content.