Last updated on December 31st, 2021
‘Engineered wood’ like MDF, Veneered wood, Composite wood, and Plywood – are all these materials, that sound like distant cousins of Solid wood, really wood? And what are the pros and cons of using them? Let’s find out.
What Is Engineered Wood?
Engineered wood is created using a mix of wood fibers, sawdust, glue, and other chemicals. MDF, for instance, is sawdust and fibers bound together using glue. Their manufacturing process uses extremely high temperatures and pressure to bond the materials together.
Plywood is created by stacking thin layers of wood together. And Veneered wood is created by gluing a thin layer of wood over low-grade timber, MDF, or Plywood.
Problems With Using Engineered Wood
Furniture made of engineered wood gets damaged easily and once damaged, it cannot be repaired, especially if it is scratched or has water damage. Also, it cannot be used outdoors as it will absorb moisture and get damaged easily. Overall, furniture made from engineered wood isn’t long-lasting and needs frequent replacement.
Why Is Solid Wood Better?
Furniture made from solid wood retains its appearance, can weather the elements better and ages gracefully. Also, any damage can be repaired easily, which is something that can’t be said about engineered wood.
Which One Is More Eco-friendly?
Solid wood is much kinder to the environment than engineered wood. Not only is more and more wood getting sourced from managed forests, but it also uses very little energy during its production (naturally), whereas engineered wood uses a huge amount of energy during its production and uses toxic materials like formaldehyde which are present in the glue compounds that it needs.
Happy decorating, folks!
