Why Buy Solid Wood Furniture

What To Expect When Buying hardwood furniture

High quality, strong and long lasting – solid wood furniture is an investment. It will age well achieving a patina of age that will appeal to everyone. Hardwood is ideal for making furniture simply because it is so long lasting. It is strong enough to create any type of furniture and be carved into ornate patterns. Solid wood mahogany furniture is becoming rare due to environmental issues.

Softwood & Hardwood

Solid wood furniture is made from either hardwood or softwood. Softwoods such as pine and cypress have a lighter appearance, are easier to cut and lighter to move around. Softwoods will scratch much more easily than hardwoods.

Hardwood comes from timber that has a dense, very heavy texture. Museums worldwide contain examples of hardwood furniture made hundred of years ago which was sourced from trees such as oak, sheesham and mahogany. The harder the wood, the more difficult it is to mark.

Unique Furniture

No two pieces of wood are ever the same. Even wood from similar species such as oak can vary slightly in colour depending on the age of the tree, the weather conditions that it has experienced and the way it was treated at the sawmill and by the furniture manufacturers.

The size of an individual piece of wood varies considerably. Some trees are quite small, while others such as oak can grow to great heights. The older the wood, the greater the number of ring marks in the grain.

What To Expect When Buying Hardwood Furniture

Wood has natural variations in the grain depending on age and environmental conditions during its lifetime
Knots look attractive against the grain.
Medullary rays may be present. These are silvery lines or stripes, which give a distinctive appearance to oak hardwood.
Holes, cracks and pin marks may appear over time especially if the wood is not cared for properly
Solid wood will expand slightly when wet or damp, contracting in dry conditions. Consequently, most solid wood furniture contains tiny expansion gaps to allow for this expansion/contraction process.
Do not expect a uniform appearance

Caring For Hardwood Furniture

Regular polishing will keep wood furniture in good condition.
Solid wood will expand slightly when wet or damp, contracting in dry conditions. Most solid wood furniture contains tiny expansion gaps to allow for this expansion/contraction process.
Cracks and scratches can be treated and restored to its original sparkling form
Solid wood will expand slightly when wet or damp, contracting in dry conditions. Most solid wood furniture contains tiny expansion gaps to allow for this expansion/contraction process

Pro’s & cons of different furniture types

Furniture Type	Solid Wood	Veneered	Flat Pack
Pros	Ready for immediate use Beautiful finishes Can be carved Strong Durable Environmentally friendly and sustainable	Beautiful finishes Uses rare and unusual woods Sustainable Environmentally friendly Strong Durable Different thicknesses	Inexpensive Easy to take home Wide choice
Cons	Can be expensive Heavy	Low quality veneers may come unglued Cannot be carved	Has to be assembled before use Can be difficult to assemble May be low quality Will not be solid wood but a mixture of materials

Is Solid Wood Sustainable?

Wood is a natural product. Sustainably managed forests situated worldwide are used to supply timber for furniture products. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ensures that for each tree that is cut down, another tree is planted. This now covers over 45m hectares of forests. This maintains habitats and meets the needs of local communities. Reputable furniture companies will know exactly where their furniture was sourced.

Choosing solid wood furniture is an investment that is worth making. This is quality furniture which will last a lifetime, always look good and creates the immediate impression of luxury. The stunning sheen of solid wood is incredibly beautiful, adding lustre to every room within the home. It ensures high quality, sustainable products which will look perfect in any home.