Introduction
According to Mark Roemer Oakland, when you’re shopping for furniture, you have a lot of options. Most furniture is made from engineered wood due to its obvious benefits and cost-effectiveness. However, a lot of people still stick to solid wood furniture. Let’s check out the advantages and disadvantages of solid wood furniture.
The advantages:
1. Hooghly durable and long-lasting –
Timber that comes from the forest is exceptionally sturdy and has proven its might and durability over decades or even centuries since thousands of years. Despite the existence of engineered wood for over a century, you’ll find antique furniture to be made from solid wood like maple, mahogany, teak, oak, walnut, and other such forest-grown timber.
Throughout time, solid timber has also been used for bridges, houses, and even large infrastructure projects. The dark wooden churches of Norway are a few impressive examples. Even after such advancements in technology, solid wood is still being used for construction. If solid wood can hold bridges and houses for centuries, it can make your furniture last through the next generations.
2. It looks beautiful –
You may spend hours painting furniture made from MDF or composite wood. However, it would never look as good as real timber. The natural texture, grain patterns, and blemishes on the timber add to its character and sophistication. The look of real timber is so distinct that it can even be used to identify the type of wood that has been used. Those characteristics also make each furniture piece very unique.
3. Increased value –
A gorgeous table, sofa, bookshelf, or bed made from solid wood furniture has an immense impact on its own value and the value of your home. Unlike flatpacks that can be assembled into furniture, pieces made from solid wood are considered investments since they appreciate value over time.
The disadvantages:
1. High cost –
There are various types of solid wood and not all of them are super expensive. However, most are. Even the cheapest solid wood in the US at the moment, maple is much more costly compared to plywood or engineered wood. When you move up the ladder and get something like cherry, walnut, or white oak, you will lose enough money to make you reconsider financing options. Pricing depends on aesthetics, durability, and rarity and solid wood is much rarer than most other materials used for making furniture.
2. Moisture damage –
If your furniture piece has a great finish and has been sealed properly, moisture isn’t going to be an issue. However, if you accidentally damage a solid wood furniture piece, and even leave a small scratch, moisture can penetrate very easily. That can lead to mold, infestation, and rotting.
Conclusion
Mark Roemer Oakland suggests that you assess all the advantages and disadvantages and figure out how they apply to you before making the choice. While solid wood furniture tends to be expensive, it is also very premium, durable, and can last you for decades.