Solid Wood Furniture

Solid wood is a term primarily used to distinguish between ordinary lumber and engineered wood

Solid wood furniture contributes to a delicious, hot and vivid impression of the home. Wood is a living material that is changing all the time. Over time, this can cause the color tone of the wood to change depending on exposure to light and so on. If the wood is maintained properly, it can last for many years. Wood is a living natural material and wooden furniture will always be unique. Veins and knots are part of the nature of wood, and no two wooden furniture items can be totally alike. The wood is in a constant process of change, which means that color and structure changes through the lifetime of the furniture.

Since many species experience color changes in the beginning, you should leave all surfaces exposed the first few months, so you avoid the "stains" from vases, knick-knacks, etc. The more the wood is exposed to sunlight, the faster the process. If you want to reduce the transformation processes, it can be slowed by protecting the wood from sunlight and changes in humidity.

Water should not be used on wood - and you should therefore immediately wipe up any spills.Solid wood can "work" when the air humidity changes. This means for example that countertops can become rough or slightly curved, and there may be small natural cracks between the veins, which is irrelevant for durability. Solid wood should be able to "breathe" and therefore you should never cover solid wooden furniture with materials, such as. plastic or oilcloth. If the wood can not breathe, it will crack.

Solid wood furniture vs. engineered wood 

While solid wood refers to ordinary timber, the term "engineered wood" refers to plywood, OSB and hardboard. Solid wood (clean wood) is an expensive material, why furniture made of solid wood is always described as being of high quality. Pure hardwood furniture is completely superior in quality and durability and is thus placed in a higher price range than furniture made of engineered wood (eg. plywood). While solid wood is a living quality material that is easy to work with, furniture and other elements that is made of engineered wood, consists typical of a thin surface of bare wood while the inner part is filled with cheap imitations.

Durability varies widely between solid wood and engineered wood furniture. Solid wood furniture can last for generations (centuries) without yielding for damage or wear. One of the advantages of solid wood is that the wood is the same throughout, so repairs are relatively easy to make. Since it is pure wood throughout, you can even give the furniture a different kind of treatment than the original. Repairs of veneer is extraordinarily difficult and sometimes impossible. Solid wood is very resistant to pests and termites, as long as it is processed according to the regulations. The furniture can be sanded repeatedly without affecting durability. Furniture in engineered wood in contrast, are less durable, and can in many cases be impossible to repair due to their internal construction. Their life is considerably shortened due to this fact.

Solid wood furniture is strong enough to satisfy all furniture designs, and can last for centuries. It is still and open question whether furniture made of plywood (often made of pine) can do the same.

Solid wood is expensive. Engineered wood is not.