Real Wood vs Veneer vs Laminate Furniture
Real Wood vs Veneer vs Laminate Office Furniture
Finding a real wood desk, or any piece of office furniture made with 100% solid wood is becoming less and less common. Many pieces of furniture today are made with some version of engineered wood or laminate due to its durability in comparison to real wood. That’s not to say that real wood is a bad option, but rather, that it’s rare to find an entire piece of furniture made with 100% real wood today.
While real wood makes for beautiful furniture, veneer and laminate make for beautiful furniture as well. Even though they look quite similar, they also have some major differences. Below we’re going to highlight some of the main differences between each with some pros and cons. So the question is Real Wood vs Veneer vs Laminate Office Furniture?
Pros:
Below are some common pros and cons of laminate: Pros:
Real Wood Office Furniture
Some of the biggest appeals to real wood furniture is the obvious beauty of the natural wood grain and the craftsmanship that goes into it. While engineered wood or laminate can capture it’s essence pretty well, nothing can really replicate the alluring beauty of a real piece of solid wood furniture. A piece of wood veneer is more likely to capture the essence of real wood a bit more than laminate can because it’s topped with a thin sheet of real wood, whereas laminate is not. Below is an example of one our solid wood tables.- – Every piece of furniture is unique
- – The natural beauty of the wood grain is exposed
- – Controlling moisture can be a problem
- – Can be expensive
Veneer Office Furniture
Veneer furniture is made with substrates, which is typically either plywood, particleboard, or medium density fiberboard – also referred to as medium density overlay, MDF, or MDO. The substrate is covered with a very thin layer of real wood. This is done by applying the wood veneer with an adhesive to adhere it to the substrate. Below are a few pros and cons of choosing veneer over real wood or laminate: Pros:- – Can offer more of a real wood look than laminate
- – Not as susceptible to moisture
- – Scratches can generally be sanded and fixed
- – Can still get damaged
Plywood
Plywood generally offers a lighter weight and can be more sag resistant, whereas medium density fiberboard has a bit more weight to it and is typically used in more expensive pieces of veneer furniture. Pros:- – Lightweight
- – Sag-resistant
- – The face veneer can be frequently found to peel off. Make sure you find a tightly bonded piece
- – Requires some sanding to get the veneer glue to adhere properly
Particleboard
Particleboard is probably your lowest grade option when it comes to choosing a substrate. It is still a good veneering substrate, but not as fine as medium density fiberboard (MDF), which we talk about a bit more about below.Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
Medium density fiberboard is typically used in high end furniture pieces. It provides a uniform surface for the wood veneer to adhere to. Pros:- – Flat surface
- – Stable
- – Requires some sanding to get the veneer glue to adhere properly
Laminate Office Furniture
Laminate furniture is a very durable and affordable option for many. It’s made with sealed plastics, making it highly resistant to scratches, stains, and heat.- – Cheaper than solid wood and most veneer pieces
- – No effect to it when it comes in contact with water or heat
- – Can’t get fixed when it’s scratched
- – Depending on whether the laminate is low, medium, or high pressure, it can be susceptible to water and other liquid damage. The higher the pressure, the less susceptible it is.