Design Tips
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The usage of wooden furniture has become extremely popular in today's world. There are lot of variety of wooden furniture that is available in the market. While going for furniture shopping you would have come across the term solid wood and engineered wood. The solid wood is a lumber milled directly from the trees. But what is engineered wood exactly? how do we choose the right variety available in the market? I’m sure most of you have this question - which one is the better option for your home? Well, read on to find out more!
Do you know how to choose your engineered wood?
Engineered wood
Engineered wood is a composite wood or man-made wood. This is manufactured by binding or fixing strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood together with adhesives or other binding agents. The production process of engineered wood involves breaking down wood into small pieces or fibers and then reassembling them using adhesives and heat or pressure. This process creates a strong and stable wood product with consistent properties as opposed to the natural variations found in solid wood. It is often more cost-effective, as it can be made from smaller or lower-quality pieces of wood.
Types of engineered wood
1. Plywood
2. Fiber Board
3. Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
It is also more resistant to warping, shrinking, and swelling compared to solid wood.
Overall, engineered wood provides a versatile and sustainable alternative to solid wood, offering greater dimensional stability and a wider range of applications.
Plywood
Today plywood is a very common term that is used in the field of construction. As it is a versatile material it is used both in interior and exterior spaces based on it's thickness and grading. This wooden panel comes with a combination of dry veneers which are assembled perpendicularly to each other to acquire good mechanical strength in both along and across the fiber grain. Adhesives are then applied over the assembled veneers, alternatively. This is the main binding force to withstand stress, strain and weather conditions which makes it durable. It is an economical material that can be used for any interior, structural and exterior work. Today plywood is available at various range depending upon the application and usage in the market. Mostly plywood thickness varies beween 3mm to 25mm but commonly used thicknesses are 6mm, 8mm, 12mm, 16mm and 18mm. It is also graded from Grade A to Grade D which determines the quality based on the front and back appearance of the veneer. Plywood is available at three different grades in market and they are Commercial Ply, Dipping Ply and Marine Ply.
Material Uses : Wall cladding, Furniture, Modular Kitchen, Wardrobe etc.
Compatible finishes : Laminates, Veneers, Acrylic sheets, ACP Sheets. Glass & Mirror.
Fiber Board
Mostly office and kitchen interior are finished with Fiberboards. Fiberboards are available at different densities in the market. They are Low-density fiberboard (LDF), Medium-density fiberboard (MDF), High-density fiberboard(HDF). In which usage of Medium-density fiber board (MDF) is very common and it is created by first breaking down hardwood and softwood particles into wood fibres. Then, mix the wood fibres with wax and a resin binder to form panels by applying high temperature and pressure. MDF has a smooth finish and consistency. It is generally denser than plywood but can soak up water faster. Therefore, it is susceptible to damage if used outdoors. The LDF & MDF are termite resistant and not water resistant material.
MDF :
Material Uses : Wardrobe & Kitchen Shutters, Light weight furnitures, Flooring, Wainscoating, Speaker boxes, Doors & Windows,
Compatible Finishes : Laminate, Veneers, Duco paint, PU finish and all oil based and water based paints.
What is HDHMR?
HDHMR (High Density High Moisture Resistance) Boards are highly recommended for dry bathrooms and kitchens, because of their density and moisture-resistant properties. This high density fiber board is the most superior version of fiber boards in the market today. HDHMR is highly waterproof, mositure resistant & termite resistant. This makes HDHMR boards very useful for use in outdoor furniture, doors, windows, shutters etc, where there are higher chances of moisture. It is heavier than any other construction material. This is why it might be difficult to cut and shape it. The best character about this material is that it is durable & low maintenance. After long-term use, some HDHMR boards might bend and lose shape. This can also happen if you store the HDHMR boards under poor conditions for a long time. As an alternative to HDHMR you can use WPC in places with prolonged exposure to water.
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
An oriented strand board is extremely used for wall sheathing, floor underlayment and roof cover. This type of engineered wood is formed by combining wood flakes with adhesives and then compressing them. Oriented strand boards may come sanded or unsanded. OSB is not used for applications where there is direct contact with a moisture source. OSB can be used for both structural and non-structural applications, such as furniture frames, decorative wall paneling, shelving, packaging and crating, pallet manufacture, dry storage pallets and industrial tabletops. They can also be water-resistant, depending on how they are made and are much cheaper and more uniform than plywood. However, the lower quality versions, when exposed to too much water, can expand by up to 15 per cent.
Materials Uses : Wall sheathing, Floor underlayment, Acoustic Insulation Roof decking and Furniture.
Compatible Finishes : Laminate, Resin filler and Solvent based varnish.
Make your choice based on your purpose and location of use. The budget also plays an essential factor in selection. It is challenging to determine the quality of these engineered woods, and you will be better off shopping in a standard store than relying on middle men. Choose the right type of engineered wood for your home with the help of this guide.
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For an online interior design consultation or further professional guidance for your interiors needs, contact us at Terra Atelier!
To purchase the above materials with proper guidance contact - Aasish Jain +91-9566277093, Arihant Gyp Ply and Lam.