There is a lot of confusion about what hard solid wood furniture means; solid hardwood furniture is one of those furniture industry words that can sometimes be confusing.
Hardwood solids can include non-solid woods such as engineered woods. Hardwood solids are used in furniture and other industries to classify what wood is used in a product. The terms usually do not classify what type of wood is used.
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Hardwood Solids Furniture Definition
Hardwood solids furniture is a term used a lot in many industries, including the furniture industry. This term can get confusing because many people think when the term hardwood solids are used, it means the piece is made of good quality solid hardwood, but this is usually not the case.
Points to remember about Hardwood Solids Furniture
- Industry Term – Hardwood solids furniture is a term that is used in the furniture industry. Because of this, many furniture companies may write out in their definition for the furniture pieces that their furniture is a hardwood solids piece of furniture.
- No Specific Kind of Wood – Even if the term hardwood solid furniture is used, it does not mean any specific type of wood was used to manufacture the furniture piece; it could be many types of wood and not one particular kind of wood.
- Usually, Several Kinds of Wood – Hardwood solids typically mean that different kinds of wood are being used. This can include both the solid wood parts and the engineered wood.
- Includes Engineered Wood – When the terms hardwood solids are used, it does not mean the furniture piece is 100% solid wood. The term hardwood solids is also used to include engineered wood, including plywood. Engineered wood means that the wood is glued together. Engineered wood can help ensure there is no warping of the furniture; engineered wood may allow the manufacturer to achieve a certain quality or look.
- Not Solid Hardwood – Hardwood solid furniture is different from solid hardwood furniture. That is where there can be a lot of confusion as just changing a few words around it can mean different things – one includes engineered wood (hardwood solids), and the other is 100% solid wood (solid hardwoods).
One of the reasons the term hardwood solids is used in the furniture industry is that a piece of furniture does not use any hollow wood but has wood throughout the structure whether it is engineered or not.
This term can be confusing for people who are not in the furniture industry, but the most important thing to remember is that hardwood solids do not mean that your furniture is made from solid hardwood. The piece of furniture you’re buying more than likely is using engineered wood.
Engineered Wood
What confuses many people about the term hardwood solids is that hardwood solids can include engineered wood. Engineered wood can sometimes be called fast timber, composite wood, manmade wood, or manufactured board.
Points to remember about engineered wood:
- Manmade – Engineer wood is a wood that is manmade. That is why if you purchase antiques that were produced before engineered wood was available, you will not find any engineered wood but only solid wood.
- Bound Together – Engineered wood is manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of the wood pieces together with usually an adhesive or bonding agent.
- Tested To Standard – Engineered wood is also engineered to precise design specifications and tested for international or national standards.
- Uniform and Predictable – Engineered wood is also predictable and uniform in its structure and performance. This is one of the reasons why it is often the preferred wood to be used for building as it is uniform, predictable, and easier to work with.
- Manufactured With Mix of Woods – Most engineered wood is made with some hardwoods and some softwoods. Sawmill scraps and some other wood waste could also be used to manufacture engineered wood.
- Manufactured to Specifications – Since engineered wood is a wood that is manmade, it can be designed to meet specific applications and for a specific type of performance requirement. That is an advantage of engineered wood and why it is used so much in furniture production.
- Huge Availability – There is a lot of availability of engineered wood. Another advantage is that it comes in various thicknesses, sizes, grades, and durability. This makes it an ideal product for all kinds of construction, including furniture production.
- Efficient Use of Wood – Engineered wood comprises wood dust or wood scraps. Engineered wood can also be made out of wood with defects or other issues. This means fewer trees will need to be cut down to manufacture furniture made out of engineered wood than solid wood. If your main concern is how to save the trees from being cut down, engineered wood or hardwood solids furniture would be your best choice.
The main concern with engineered wood is that in the past, a lot of the glue or chemicals used for engineered wood were considered to contain toxins, including formaldehyde. In the United States, almost all furniture with engineered wood must not include toxins like formaldehyde. The reason is that California has passed a law called CARBS, which has essentially outlawed toxic substances to be used in engineered wood.
To learn more about CARB and Prop65, you can read our blog, What Products Are Affected by Prop 65? The Prop 65 Law Simply Explained by clicking here.
Hardwood solids furniture does not mean the furniture is solid wood, but instead usually means it is made from engineered wood. If the supplier you are buying does not give you a lot of detail about those woods, the best thing to do would be to ask them. But for most people, if they like the look of the furniture piece and it is the right piece and quality, they do not mind if the furniture is made from hardwood solids.
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Related Questions
What Are Things To Consider When Finding A Solid Wood Manufacture to Manufacture Your Products?
One of the things we look at when we go into a new solid wood furniture manufacture is in-house kiln wood drying. We also like to know if they understand how to properly join the wood and if they have the equipment to do it. Also, if the manufacturer is in a hot and tropical climate, if they have a dry room to help control the wood moisture levels. We like to work with factories that will cut and shape all the wood themselves and also have in-house finishing facilities.
You can discover more by reading our blog 5 Questions To Ask When Considering A Solid Wood Furniture Manufacturer; read more by clicking here.
What is Solid Wood vs. Engineered Wood?
Solid wood is cut down from the tree, cut into wood boards, and then used for manufacturing. On the other hand, engineered wood is considered manmade as it is usually manufactured with wood chips or wood shavings and an adhesive. Today the manufacturing of engineered wood is extremely technical.
You can discover more by reading our blog All About Teak Wood And Outdod? by clicking here.
