Comparing different types of furniture always seems easy until it is time to notice the subtle differences in behavior and properties of these materials in daily life. At first sight, solid wood furniture can look very similar to a veneer alternative. Finishes, grain, and smoothness make identifying the difference challenging.
However, it becomes quite noticeable after some period of usage, which influences maintenance, stability, and longevity of these products. When choosing furniture for your apartment, such as Coffee Table and Storage Furniture, you should know about these differences to avoid wrong purchase decisions.
What Is the Difference Between Solid Wood and Veneer
To understand further details of solid wood and veneer furniture, you should first realize the main properties of these two materials.
Solid wood is made of natural wooden elements, including the whole piece of timber. The grain is consistent and runs smoothly throughout the whole product.
Veneer furniture is covered by a thin layer of wood on the surface. In most cases, the inside of this item consists of synthetic materials (such as MDF, plywood, and others). That is why this item looks like solid wood from outside.
Despite visual similarities, there are some major differences between these two types that become apparent later.
Surface Durability
The first thing that becomes obvious after some time of using furniture is their surface durability.
Solid wooden products remain resistant to any kinds of scratching and pressure due to their material consistency. Even if the surface of the product gets some minor dents or scratches, there will be no impact on its integrity.
Veneer surfaces react differently to pressure and sharp impact.
- The surface can get scratched or chipped if hit by something heavy.
- The core of the product becomes exposed to wear after the first damage occurs.
- Due to thin wooden layer, the surface of the product gets worn faster under constant pressure.
That is why you need to think about these factors when choosing a product to use every day.
Repair Options
Every kind of furniture needs to be repaired at some point, and you can notice the difference here, too.
Solid wood furniture provides a great variety of possibilities for fixing any minor problems.
- The surface can be sanded multiple times if needed.
- It is possible to rework the furniture to improve its visual appearance.
- Even after years of using, solid wood can be repolished to make the product look as brand new again.
There are fewer repairing possibilities when it comes to veneer furniture.
- Deep sanding is not recommended due to fragile core material.
- If the surface of the item is damaged, this issue cannot be solved.
- Usually, it is required to replace the item when it starts to deteriorate.
That is why the longevity of veneer furniture is lower.
Life Expectancy
Apart from repairing ability, you need to consider how long will furniture serve you without major damages.
Solid wood furniture is quite strong, and that is why its life expectancy is very high.
- This material can retain the product's shape over time due to its natural characteristics and consistency.
- The process of deterioration is almost impossible when it comes to solid wood furniture.
Veneer furniture depends on internal structure that determines its longevity.
Depending on a specific type of material used for the core, you can expect different results:
- MDF cores can break or deform after a couple of years due to their weak characteristics.
- Plywood cores are more stable, but still can get broken under certain conditions.
- The adhesive that connects all layers of veneer may become loose after a while.
That is why this kind of furniture loses its strength faster than solid wood.
Visual Changes in Time
Furniture is expected to change visually over a long period of using, and there will be some differences between solid wood and veneer products.
Solid wooden furniture usually changes its appearance in a positive way. During many years, the color of the wood becomes deeper, and the surface looks smoother and more luxurious.
Veneer furniture ages in a different way.
- The surface tends to get darker or lighter under certain conditions.
- Sharp edges tend to peel off, which spoils the overall design of the item.
- Visual changes are more noticeable in veneer furniture, and they look much worse.
That is why this kind of furniture requires constant maintenance to preserve its appearance for a long time.
Cost Effectiveness
While the cost might be an important feature of furniture for many customers, cost-effectiveness might be a much more significant characteristic of it.
Veneer furniture is cheaper because of less expensive production processes. However, it will need replacement faster than solid wood furniture, and therefore, the cost will be bigger eventually.
Calculating the cost effectiveness:
- The product will last longer in case of solid wood.
- The possibility of repairing extends life expectancy and decreases the cost of ownership.
- Replacement is required sooner when it comes to veneer furniture.
That is why the final cost of these products becomes higher despite their initial cost.
Why You Need to Notice These Differences
During the process of purchasing furniture, the difference between veneer and solid wood is hardly noticeable. Both of these types of furniture look shiny and well-finished. However, after some time, you may find out that your furniture needs to be replaced. This issue will occur faster if you choose veneer products instead of solid wooden furniture.
