For interiors and furniture making, the battle between engineered wood vs hardwood has been an interesting discussion for homeowners, interior designers woodworkers and lovers of wood, where both types have their properties, strengths and weaknesses which have to be thought of while choosing the wood for the floors, furniture and other architectural elements of the house.
This in-depth article takes you through the details of engineered wood and hardwood with emphasis on two of the most popular types of woods: ash and walnut to help guide your decision when making your next purchase for your home or project.
Essence of Engineered Wood: Modern Wonders of World
Engineered wood, a creation of the human mind and technological development in the woodworking field is an innovation that brings out the beauty of natural wood, the stability and the flexibility of the product as seen in the current world trends in the use of the product in the construction of houses, offices and other buildings. In its simplest form, engineered wood is made of several plies of wood material with a top layer of high-quality veneer of the desired wood type, supported by several layers of plywood or HDF (High-Density Fiberboard), to produce a material that is less prone to the effects of moisture and temperature changes than solid hardwood.
The Enduring Allure of Hardwood: Beauty of the Natural World
While the discussion about engineered wood vs hardwood continues, solid hardwood has stood the test of time. It is widely used for construction, furniture, and other woodwork and remains a timeless and warm material that is nearly impossible to replicate. The range of grain patterns and colour tones, the knots, streaks, and other markings and the overall appearance of every solid hardwood piece make each finished product a piece that cannot be replicated and can be an item that can be handed down in families for generations.
Engineered Wood vs Hardwood: Comparison
By examining each type of material and getting familiar with the comparison between engineered wood vs hardwood it will be possible to understand the major factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing favour one or another type of panelling or floor coverings taking into account specific conditions of use and other parameters.
Durability and Longevity
While both engineered wood and solid hardwood can last for many years if maintained well, because of their ability to be sanded and refinished many times throughout the lifetime of the furniture, the hardwood has a slight advantage when looking at the longevity and the ability to rejuvenate the piece to fit into current trends. The thickness of the top veneer layer of engineered wood products also differs greatly and higher quality products may allow one or two refinishing but this is not as many as in the case of solid hardwood.
Water Repellent Nature and Stability
In the warfare against moisture and changes in climate, engineered wood stands as the triumphant, as the layered structure offers increased protection against such issues as warping, cupping, and other ill effects that may be caused by moisture, which can hurt solid hardwood. This stability is an advantage in that it makes the engineered wood suitable for installation in areas of high humidity or over concrete subfloors or regions of the country with extreme temperature and humidity changes where the solid hardwood may expand and contract more than the engineered wood.
Cost Considerations: Trade-off between the Quality and the Cost
Although a higher cost of engineered wood compared to solid hardwood may be observed at the beginning of the project, especially for superior kinds of wood such as walnut, it is quite important to take into consideration the overall value of the material and the possibility of refinishing when comparing prices based on the budget. Between engineered wood vs hardwood, higher quality engineered products which have thicker wear layers may prove to be less costly in the long run as the initial cost savings do not compromise the product’s durability. Hardwood may be more expensive to acquire but it proves to be more cost effective in the long run due to its indefinite number of refinishing cycles.
At OAK Furniture Collection, we are well aware of the differences between engineered wood and hardwood and present products and furniture that fully reveal the potential of the wood as we use premium quality materials in our items. Our trained staff is committed to directing you to the right decision and assisting you in choosing the right wood for your project.
