When people consider buying furniture, sometimes they want to know if they should choose a piece made from rubberwood or maple wood. These woods have some similarities, but there are also some differences.
Rubberwood and maple wood produce floors, furniture, cabinet, and other objects. Rubberwood comes from southeast Asia, and Maple wood grows worldwide but is predominately found in North America. Both rubberwood and maple wood have advantages and disadvantages.
Table of Contents
Rubber Wood Vs. Maple Wood
Both rubberwood and maple woods are woods used in a lot of furniture manufacturing. Rubberwood is a light-colored medium-density tropical hardwood. It is from the rubber trees that usually grow on rubber plantations.
Both rubberwood and maple wood are used for various products, including furniture, flooring, cabinets, and even sports equipment or kitchen products. They are both light-colored woods, so it can be harder to tell which one is rubberwood or maple wood once the wood is stained or finished.
About Rubber Wood
Some people consider rubberwood an environmentally friendly wood because once the rubber plantations can no longer use the trees to extract rubber, the tree is cut down for wood. The reason is that the trees had already served their purpose of producing rubber, so using the tree for quality wood furniture is a bonus.
It was not until the late 20th, and early 21st century, with the development of chemical treatments to protect wood against fungal and insect attacks, that rubberwood could be used for furniture production. Because of this, rubberwood is considered a plentiful wood as there are many rubber plantations with many mature trees, especially in Southeast Asia.
Before using chemicals on the wood, the tree was not considered helpful once the trees could no longer tap for rubber. The rubber plantations would burn down the rubberwood trees and plant new ones.
Today, wood can be sold, processed, and used for high-quality furniture and production.
Some of the Advantages of Rubberwood:
Rubberwood has a lot of advantages which is why it is a popular wood that continues to be used in many kinds of products. Here are some of its advantages:
- Plentiful Wood – Rubberwood is abundant wood, especially in Asia, where many products are being produced.
- Environmental Friendly Wood – As no trees were cut down just for wood production, rubberwood is considered by many to be an eco-friendly wood. The wood is only cut down once the rubber trees can no longer produce rubber.
- Takes Stains Well – Rubberwood can take many different stains and finish well. This makes it an excellent wood that is used for a variety of products.
- Versatile – Rubberwood is versatile and can be used for many different products.
- Durable – Rubberwood is a durable wood that can give excellent durability, similar to some hardwoods.
- Cheaper – Rubberwood is usually more affordable than other more expensive hardwoods.
Some of the Disadvantages of Rubberwood
Even though rubberwood is considered perfect for furniture and other wood production, there are some disadvantages.
- Smaller Planks And Boards – Some of the significant disadvantages of rubberwood is that you can not use the wood to cut large plank boards like some other woods, so there may be limits for your furniture design for rubberwood.
- Warping And Twisting – When the wood is drying, that wood can warp and twist. So when working with rubberwood and drying and treating it, you need to understand this and ensure you consider it.
- Perishable Before Treatment – Before rubberwood is fully treated with chemicals and other treatments, it tends to decay. Before treatment, it can be susceptible to insects and fungi. But once properly treated, it is perfect and stable wood.
- Allergies When Working With Wood – Some people with latex allergies report having issues with wood. But this should not be an issue once the wood is processed, cut, and finished. In other words, buying a piece of rubberwood furniture should not be a problem if you have allergies.
- Not Durable Outdoor – Rubberwood is not as durable as other kinds of wood when used outdoors. Because of this, rubberwood is usually used for indoor furniture and other items.
About Maple Wood
Maple wood is from the Maple tree found in many of North America’s forests. Maple is a wood known to furniture makers and woodworkers as light in color, has a smooth grain pattern, and is very durable. These qualities make it an ideal wood for flooring, furniture, cabinets, and other items.
There are varieties of maples all over the globe. The two most common and abundant species of Maple in North America are hard and soft maple. Even though Maple wood can be referred to as hard or soft maple, maple comes from a deciduous tree, so they are all considered hardwood.
Here are some of the differences between hard and soft maple:
- Hard Maple – Hard maple is more commonly known as Sugar Maple.
- Soft Maple – Soft Maple usually comprises a few varieties of Maple Species, such as Big Leaf Maple (Acer Macrophyllum) and Red Maple (Acer Rebrum).
Hard and Soft Maple tree varieties can produce a variety of grain patterns and effects. So depending on what kind of grain pattern you want, you can dictate what maple you want to use.
Maple wood is used in flooring, cabinets, furniture, and even musical instruments; these products use soft or hard maple wood.
Some of the Advantages of Maple Wood:
There are many advantages of using Maple wood and why Maple wood continues to be a trendy wood for all kinds of products. Here are some of the advantages of Maple wood:
- Superior Hardness – Maple is considered one of the hardest varieties of wood. Because of this superior hardness, you will see maple flooring in bowling alleys and gymnasium floors.
- Easy To Clean And Maintain – Maple wood is considered easy to clean and maintain, especially for flooring. This is also true for furniture pieces; it is easy to maintain.
- Consistent Grains – Many people prefer Maple wood as it has a consistent grain and contains fewer imperfections than many other kinds of wood.
- Light-Colored Wood– Maple is a light-colored wood, so it can be preferred for certain stains and finishes.
- Shorter Growing Time For Maple Trees – Maple trees have a shorter growing season than many other hardwoods like oak, walnut, and cherry, slower-growing woods. The shorter growing time adds to the eco-friendly nature of Maple wood.
- Keeps Its Value – Maple furniture and wood are considered wood with value. Unlike rubberwood, which is regarded as cheaper and more abundant wood, Maple wood is usually a wood that will retain its value over time.
Some of the Disadvantages of Maple wood
Even though maple wood is considered excellent, there are also some disadvantages to using Maple wood. Here are some of the disadvantages of Maple wood.
- Lack Of Grains – If you are looking for wood with many grain patterns, then Maple wood may not be the wood for you. Most Maple wood varieties do not have a lot of grain patterns.
- Many Types And Grades – What is confusing for many people is that Maple wood has so many types and grades. Not all grades and types of Maple wood are of the highest quality. You must fully understand what kind and type of Maple wood you buy.
- Can Be Difficult To Stain – For some stains, maple wood can be challenging to stain. So when working with Maple wood, you need to understand how well the wood takes the stain or color you require.
- Expensive – Maple wood is usually more expensive than wood-like rubberwood. If expense is not a deal-breaker, you may want to use maple wood. But many times, Maple wood can be 2 or 3 times higher than rubberwood for the same product.
Both rubberwood and maple wood are excellent choices for a variety of products. Even though they have some similarities, they both have advantages and disadvantages. Which one is best for you will depend on whether you are using the wood or how you are using it, along with your budget or price points.
Find out more about how Mondoro can help you create, develop, and manufacture excellent home decor and furniture products – don’t hesitate to contact me, Anita. Check out my email by clicking here or become a part of our community and join our newsletter by clicking here.
Mondoro gives out a FREE Lookbook to anyone interested. You can receive a copy of our latest Lookbook by clicking here.
Listen to our Podcast called Global Trade Gal. You can find it on all major podcast platforms. Try out listening to one of our podcasts by clicking here.
Subscribe to our Mondoro Company Limited YouTube Channel filled with great videos and information by clicking here.
Related Content
Is Real Wood Furniture Worth The Extra Cost?
Real wood furniture costs can vary due to the types of solid wood being used and the grade of the wood. Not all real wood furniture is worth the extra cost, especially if the wood they are using is substandard and the furniture is poorly constructed.
You can discover more by reading Is Real Wood Furniture Worth The Extra Cost? by clicking here.
Hardwood Solids Furniture, What Does The Term Mean?
Hardwood solids can include non-solid woods as engineered woods. Hardwood solids are used in furniture and other industries to classify what kind of wood is used in a product. The terms usually do not classify what type of wood is used.
You can discover more by reading Hardwood Solids Furniture, What Does The Term Mean? 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.
