If you're interested in wooden furniture and researching which type of wood is better, you've likely come across both engineered wood and solid wood. The price differences between them might surprise you. If you find yourself overwhelmed, unsure whether to choose engineered wood or solid wood, or if you're interested in purchasing solid wood furniture but worried about being deceived, then this article is a must-read for you. Giving Tree Home will guide you through the differences between engineered wood and solid wood in terms of concepts, longevity, cost, and health, helping you make the most informed decision.
Concepts
Let's start with the concepts of engineered wood and solid wood. Engineered wood, also known as manufactured wood or composite wood, is a material composed of multiple layers. Its top layer is usually a thin veneer of natural wood, while the base layers consist of high-density fiberboard or other stable wood composites. It's important to distinguish engineered wood from laminate. While engineered wood is synthetically made, it essentially remains wood; laminate, on the other hand, is entirely made from synthetic materials and, despite its wood-like appearance, contains no real wood.
Solid wood, as the name implies, is a single piece of natural wood sourced directly from trees, without any composite or synthetic materials, so it is often called raw wood. It can be divided into softwood and hardwood for furniture products, depending on its characteristics. Softwood typically comes from trees like poplar, cedar, and pine, while hardwood comes from species such as cherry, walnut, birch, and oak.
In the furniture industry, according to industry standards, if more than 70% of the material used in furniture is raw wood, it can be classified as solid wood furniture. If it's below 70%, it's called wood-combined furniture. Therefore, even if someone claims to sell solid wood furniture, it might actually be using engineered wood. If you want to purchase furniture made from real solid wood rather than synthetic products, be sure to inquire with customer service before buying. While this may be a bit troublesome, it could save you a significant amount of money.
Longevity
The difference in longevity between engineered wood and solid wood primarily stems from their manufacturing processes and material properties. Engineered wood is typically made by pressing multiple layers of materials together with adhesive, giving it excellent resistance to warping and stability, especially in environments with significant humidity and temperature fluctuations. Engineered wood furniture can last 20 to 30 years, depending on its manufacturing process, adhesive quality, and maintenance.
Unlike engineered wood, solid wood is made from a single piece of wood and lacks a multi-layer structure, making it more prone to warping, shrinking, or cracking when exposed to humidity and temperature changes. That's why engineered wood is preferred for furniture in humid environments like bathrooms. However, because solid wood doesn't use chemical adhesives or bonding agents, it retains the natural characteristics of the wood. This natural quality makes it less susceptible to chemical degradation, and it won't lose strength due to adhesive aging, resulting in a longer lifespan. Over time, the moisture content in solid wood balances out, making it more stable. Especially when using high-end woods like oak, mahogany, and teak, which have high density, hardness, and natural resistance to decay and pests, the lifespan of solid wood furniture is further extended. With proper care, solid wood furniture can last over 50 years.
Cost
It's evident that solid wood is generally much more expensive than engineered wood. Typically, the price per square foot of engineered wood ranges from $3 to $10, while solid wood costs between $5 and $15. This price difference becomes even more pronounced during processing, as solid wood furniture usually requires more sanding and finishing, such as applying varnish or wax, and most solid wood furniture is assembled using traditional mortise-and-tenon joints. These processes not only increase production costs but also make solid wood furniture several times or even dozens of times more expensive than engineered wood furniture.
However, considering only the initial cost isn't entirely fair to solid wood furniture. As mentioned earlier, solid wood furniture has a much longer lifespan than engineered wood furniture. In the long run, the durability of solid wood furniture means you'll need to replace it less frequently and incur fewer associated installation costs. Additionally, solid wood furniture isn't just a utility item; as it becomes more stable over time, it often retains or even increases in value, which is why many antique pieces are made from high-end solid wood.
| Plywood Bathroom Vanity | Solid Wood Bathroom Vanity |
 |
 |
| 60"W x 18"D x 35"H | 60"W x 21.5"Dx 33"H |
| Resin Basin | Ceramic Basin |
| Double Sinks | Double Sinks |
| $1,799.99 | $2,999.99 |
| Buy Now | Buy Now |
Health
People generally believe that raw materials are safer and healthier, and this view is justified. We typically assess the health of materials based on their VOC emissions. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are chemicals released into the air during the use of materials or products. Materials with low VOC emissions can reduce harmful substances in the air, improve indoor air quality, and lower the risk of respiratory irritation, headaches, allergic reactions, and long-term health issues.
When properly maintained, solid wood furniture is the choice with the lowest VOC emissions among all furniture materials, giving it a significant health advantage. However, there's no need to overly worry about engineered wood either. Modern engineered wood often comes with low-VOC options, and many countries and regions have strict regulations and standards for VOC emissions in building materials and indoor products, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Ending
Both engineered wood and solid wood are excellent materials for furniture, and the choice between them mainly depends on your budget and needs. If your budget allows, solid wood is undoubtedly the superior choice, especially in terms of durability and long-term value. If you're looking for wooden furniture for your bathroom, we highly recommend considering Giving Tree Home. As a long-established website specializing in kitchen and bathroom furniture, we offer a wide range of wooden furniture, including bathroom vanities, over-the-toilet storage, and medicine cabinets. We ensure that all our products are made from the most reliable and safe materials to guarantee a healthy and worry-free home environment.
