Composite wood is produced after the processing of natural fibers and sawdust, which has a higher cost. Still, it has better properties in terms of resistance against moisture, insects, and fungi.
What is Composite Wood Furniture? Composite wood furniture is made of engineered wood that is a mixture of natural and other ingredients, including wood, straw, plastic, and glue. Moreover, it is suitable for furniture due to less maintenance, better durability, and resistance to cracks, rotting, and moisture. Furthermore, it can hold paint and shows negligible expansion and contraction. However, it has low strength, a toxic finish, and weighs more than solid wood.
Different types of wood are used for manufacturing furniture, including natural and engineered ones with varying durability, resistance, and cost.
It is manufactured from engineered material prepared by binding fibers and particles using adhesives.
It is commonly used in indoor and outdoor flooring, fencing, and framing of doors and windows. In addition, it is also employed in producing wooden slats to be placed over the bed frame.
What is composite wood?
Composite wood contains a mixture of plastic, straw, and fibers that are joined together to form an engineered material having better strength.
Moreover, it is also known as engineered, or man-made wood and manufacturers have named it wood-plastic composite according to its composition.
The wood fibers and strands are bound together with glue to produce an engineered material made of wood fibers, strands, and sawdust.
In addition, it is composed of natural ingredients like sawdust, veneers, and fibers and a few artificial ingredients like plastic and glue.
Furthermore, it is an inexpensive choice for constructing furniture and cabinets, in addition to the flooring in outdoor areas.
Is composite wood good for furniture?
It offers a few advantages over solid wood as it is processed to produce better material for furniture. There is no risk of slipping when walking on a wet composite deck.
Less maintenance
Composite wood requires less maintenance than solid as it can resist moisture absorption and decays over time.
You have to stain natural lumber to improve its appearance, which requires frequent replacements to a new deck as it begins to rot within a short duration.
Moreover, the selection of engineered wood can help avoid frequent replacement and staining or painting as it can hold paint efficiently.
It requires less cleaning effort compared to natural material as anything exposed to air elements needs maintenance, and you have to clean dirt and fallen leaves from its surface.
Better durability
Composite wood is highly durable than natural and unprocessed one as it is engineered to improve resistance against water, scratches, rotting, etc.
It has an extended service life, making it suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It can also resist scratches and warping that can affect the quality of the material.
Additionally, it can last for almost 20 to 25 years if you have maintained it appropriately; otherwise, the presence of moisture and dirt on the surface can reduce its longevity.
Resistant to cracks and rotting
It is resistant to decay caused by fungi and insects as it is made to withstand harsh climatic conditions like excessive moisture and temperature.
It can efficiently resist moisture and does not provide a platform for mold to grow. Moreover, it is not susceptible to rotting because it is prepared from moisture-resistant material.
Furthermore, cracks will not appear in the composite wood decks as they have better durability, and binders will keep the material tightly bound as it is pressed under high pressure.
Use of recycled material
Every industry is trying to make their practices eco-friendly to protect the environment from deadly chemicals and non-decaying matter that can cause problematic situations.
It is an environment-friendly option as wood composites can become a part of the landfill.
In addition, it has gained importance in the furniture industry due to its ability for natural decomposition.
Moreover, it can be prepared by using waste wood material and recycled plastic. Therefore, it has a minimal impact on nature and becomes part of compost due to its biodegradable nature.
Little contraction and expansion
Wood exhibits a property of contractions and expansions due to changing external temperature. However, wood composites maintain stability and structure against fluctuating temperatures.
Moreover, it shows a negligible expansion in length at high temperatures but does not increase its width. It can also exhibit contractions at low temperatures during cold weather.
The extent of shrinkage depends on the material used in construction, as high-quality material can efficiently resist expansions and contractions.
Able to hold paint
It is suitable for manufacturing furniture as it can efficiently hold paint. However, you have to clean and sand the surface before applying a coat of paint for better finishing.
Cracks do not appear in composite wood decks, which can help maintain a layer of paint for a long time. In addition, it comes in a variety of colors that avoid the need to paint the surface.
You can get different timber tones in addition to sandy brown, greys, and black colors. However, you can also paint furniture to change its texture and aesthetic to give it a new look.
What are the drawbacks of composite wood furniture?
Composite wood has better resistance to cracks, rotting, and water, but a few downsides need to be considered.
It is a heavy wood compared to natural solid as it is a mixture of various materials that increases its weight. In addition, it is not stiff and lacks strength as its components are joined together using glue.
Moreover, it is susceptible to mold after continuous exposure to water and gets saggy over time. It cannot hold screws tightly in their place due to less stiffness and strength.
It contains binders and fillers that are toxic to inhale, while the natural one lacks all the toxic finishing and is made of natural material.
Furthermore, engineered wood is more expensive than natural as it is prepared by mixing different materials that are compressed together and joined using glue.
Is composite wood furniture waterproof?
Solid wood is prone to decay due to exposure to water, but composite lumber can resist water absorption as it is engineered to improve durability.
Moreover, you cannot consider it a waterproof material, but it can resist moisture entry into spaces between fiber particles.
The water resistance properties make it suitable to be used for the poolside deck and a boathouse in a lake as it can remain intact for a long time.
Composite wood furniture is not 100% waterproof because it absorbs moisture when exposed to water for a long time. However, you can use a composite deck in outdoor areas as its material makeup supports water resistance.
Furthermore, the swelling and the volume of water absorbed depends on the composition and presence of internal space between the particles.
So, it is not waterproof as it needs to be 100% synthetic to become completely resistant, but it can efficiently resist water absorption for many years under ideal conditions.
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