To answer this question, is engineered wood good for furniture? First, it’s important to know which type of wood you’re talking about.
There is a range of types of engineered woods. Some are durable and pricey such as HDF, MDF, and others are cheap but don’t offer durability like a cheap particle board.
Engineered woods like plywood, MDF, and chipboard can be used for making small furniture like a table, chairs, doors, or desks.
However, the home used furniture like a showcase or a bed. These types of woods are not feasible for that kind of stuff since they can’t beat the hardwoods’ quality which lasts for generations.
One of the major downsides is, Engineered woods are not strong and can break apart when exposed to heavyweight.
Let’s say you have a table that has a lot of weight put on it every day by people sitting down for lunch or dinner.
Over time, the screws in the legs can wear out from all the pressure and cause the table to fall apart.
Note that, these woods are not well resistant to water like walnuts. They can expand and some curve-like rings start appearing over them after a while.
Nonetheless, if you want to have furniture that you don’t have to last for generations. Also, for cheaper options. Then engineered wood is the best choice to fulfill your needs.
Pros and cons of engineered wood furniture.
Pros.
- Temperature and humidity do not affect the color, they’re good in soaking up any type of paint color, the recommended color type is acrylic.
- A cheaper alternative to hardwood
- Doesn’t require prepping or sanding before finishing, saving a lot of time.
- Has a low maintenance requirement
- No preconceived notions are required and it can be made into any shape desired.
- Due to the fact that it uses fewer raw materials than natural wood, engineered wood can also be shaped into any shape you want.
- The furniture made from natural wood can rot over time if not properly maintained, so it needs to be painted or varnished more frequently. Unlike solid wood, engineered wood has none of these problems.
Cons.
- Repairs are more difficult than with natural wood
- There is no “warm” feeling to it, which may or may not be desirable.
- Due to the popularity of the material, it is difficult to find pieces in good condition at lower prices.
- Changing the color requires completely stripping it and starting over if the finish is unchanged.
- The range of species and grain patterns is fewer than those available in natural wood.
What makes engineered wood good for furniture?
There is a process that makes engineered wood to be able for making furniture. Mainly the treatment increases the overall durability, gives the top coat a natural wood flavor, and adds some shine to its top layer.
Using the veneering technique on engineered wood, the top layer is coated with hardwood like maple or walnut wood. This is to coat an additional layer of real wood to give it some natural properties like to make the upper surface water-resistant up to some extent.
Moreover, these types of woods are easier to work with, whether for a personal or industrial level. They are easy to cut and do not require as much preparation as hardwoods because their basic structure is smooth. Unlike natural woods which have to be treated in several ways to get a usable piece out of them.
Another interesting thing about these types is that their furniture is usually lightweight, which does not replicate their quality. Instead, you will find them more durable than those made out of softwoods.
Why engineered wood furniture is popular?
Engineered wood is a great choice for furniture. It’s not as expensive, but the look and feel are still so far comparable to natural hardwoods, which surely can’t beat the durability of hardwood-made furniture.
Furniture made from engineered wood can look great and last for years. There have been many uses for this type of material in furniture, and it is predicted to become even more popular in the near future due to its advantages over other materials like solid wood.
This is made of renewable resources so there will always be supply. It also comes in different grades of various quality levels. In other words, it can be customized to suit any project and is a great way to make furniture that lasts and comes in cheap.
Which engineered wood is best for furniture?
MDF is the best-engineered wood for furniture. It is low-flammable since the resins in it do not burn or create toxic fumes, and is more durable than many natural kinds of wood like pine and fur.
Since it does not entirely warp when exposed to moisture, which makes it a good choice for humid climates or homes with wood stoves. Nowadays the most of the doors are being made from this board for commercial usages or residential usage.
Additionally, the price is lower because the product does not have to be kiln-dried, which minimizes production costs.
Verdict-
MDF is one of the most prevalent engineered woods for furniture. It’s affordable, strong, and dense enough to stand up on its own without a secondary wood support layer.
It uses formaldehyde as an adhesive to bond the boards together in addition to using resin glue- often has mineral oil or wax added, which helps it resist water damage.
It is a man-made composite material made from sawdust or recycled paper products bonded together with heat and pressure.
It is the strongest type of engineered wood available and can be sanded for finishing.
The other two(Particleboard and Fiberboard) are more porous than MDF and are often used for applications where a smooth, paintable surface is needed.
