WOOD SOURCE

Furniture is made of different woods classified as hard, soft or engineered. The kind of wood that is used is one of the factors that determine how long your furniture will last and how it will fare with age.

It’s more common to find furniture constructed from plywood or engineered wood.  Don’t just look at the surface but what is underneath surface, it will effect the life of the furniture.

Quality furniture is generally made out of hardwood which comes from deciduous trees like oak, maple, mahogany, teak, walnut, cherry and birch. We use oak, walnut and cherry wood.

TRADITIONAL JOINERY

The way a piece is constructed can contribute to its beauty, functionality and how long it will last. The joinery and sturdiness of a piece will tell you a lot about its quality.

Mortise and tenon and dovetails are two of the oldest ways of putting furniture together, and they make for the strongest and most visually appealing joints. Good joints can also have dowels or screws, but they’ll never be stapled.

Any glue that’s used won’t show outside the joint. Look for corner blocks that add to the strength and stability to a piece. These aren’t visible from the outside. They bolt to both sides of the interior corners.

TRADITIONAL FINISH

Sanding, staining, and finishing are part of the process, and neglect at any of these stages can affect the overall quality of a piece. Sanding is the first step in the finishing process. A good piece will be smooth so there are no rough patches when you run your hand over it.

Sanding across the wood grain will produce unattractive results, such as dark lines or scratches across the surface. Improperly sanded wood will not take the stain evenly. Inspect the finish from different angles to check for blotchiness or scratches.

A good stain enhances the natural beauty of wood and adds colour and character. It can make one wood type look like another, or make different woods look similar. High-quality staining will be even without any dark spots.

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

WoodSigns of Poorly Finished Wood

• A rough surface
• A very glossy or cloudy surface that hides the wood grain
• Splintered edges
• Scratches, dents, or dust specks
• Dull spots indicating missed areas or not enough coats
• “Teardrops” around the edges and on vertical surfaces

Distressed furniture is an exception to all of the above.

You’ll find that the surface uses many of these effects to age new furniture and to heighten its rustic appeal. The wood is beaten, battered and nicked before applying the finish. However, good quality distressed furniture should still be well constructed and sturdy.