Wood terminology gets used loosely, and the same word can describe several very different things. This guide explains the materials plainly, so you can read a specification and know what you are getting.
The first distinction: solid wood, veneer and board
Almost every piece of wooden furniture is one of three things, or a combination.
Solid wood means the part is cut from timber all the way through. It can be sanded and refinished many times, and it moves slightly with humidity, which is normal.
Veneer means a thin layer of real wood bonded to a stable core. The surface is genuine timber, so it looks like the real thing because it is, but it cannot be sanded back repeatedly. Good veneer over a stable core is often better than solid wood for a large flat panel, because it will not warp.
Board with a decorative surface means a manufactured core with a printed or foil layer on top. It is not wood on the surface at all. It can look convincing and it is stable and inexpensive, which is why it is used so widely in storage furniture.
All three are legitimate. What matters is knowing which one you are buying.
The board materials
MDF is made from fine wood fibres pressed with resin. It is smooth, dense and takes paint and lacquer beautifully, which is why painted furniture and shaped door profiles are usually MDF. It is heavy and it does not like standing water.
Particleboard, sometimes called chipboard, is made from larger wood particles. It is lighter and less expensive than MDF and it is the standard core for flat pack and much fitted furniture. Quality varies with density, so ask for the grade.
Plywood is made from thin layers of wood glued with the grain alternating direction, which makes it strong and stable for its weight. It holds screws well and resists warping, which is why it appears in furniture frames and in better quality cabinet construction.
Blockboard has a core of solid timber strips between veneer faces. It is stiff and light for its size, and it suits long shelves and doors.
For any board product used indoors, ask about the formaldehyde emission class. Standards vary by market and the low emission grades are widely available.
The common timbers
Oak is hard, strong and has an open grain that takes stain well. It suits tables, chairs and anything that has to last. Its colour ranges from pale to warm brown depending on the species and the finish.
Ash is similar in hardness with a straighter, lighter grain. It bends well, so it appears in curved chair backs.
Beech is dense, pale and very consistent, which makes it the standard timber for chair frames and for parts that are painted or hidden.
Walnut is a rich dark brown with striking grain. It is used where the timber itself is the point, usually as a veneer on larger surfaces because of the cost.
Rubberwood, sometimes described as parawood, comes from trees at the end of their productive life in latex plantations. It is pale, takes stain well and is widely used in furniture frames and table tops. It offers good value and a sound environmental story.
Pine is a softwood, light and inexpensive, with visible knots. It marks more easily than the hardwoods and suits rustic styles and painted finishes.
Teak contains natural oils that resist water and insects, which is why it is the traditional choice for outdoor furniture and boat fittings.
Acacia is dense with attractive variation in colour and does well outdoors with a little care.
Hardwood and softwood, explained
The terms describe the type of tree rather than the hardness of the timber. Hardwoods come from broadleaf trees such as oak and beech. Softwoods come from conifers such as pine and spruce. Most hardwoods are harder in practice, but there are exceptions, so judge a timber by its actual density rather than the category.
Moisture content, the number that matters most
Wood contains water and it moves as that water changes. Furniture made from timber that is too wet will shrink after it arrives somewhere drier, which is what causes panels to split and joints to loosen months later.
Ask what moisture content the factory works to. A figure in the range of 8 to 12 percent is typical for indoor furniture, adjusted for the destination climate. A moisture meter is inexpensive and lets you check for yourself.
How to read a specification
When a quotation says oak, ask whether that means solid oak, oak veneer, or an oak effect surface. Ask which parts are which, since a table with a solid oak frame and an oak veneered top is a perfectly good and common construction.
Then ask three questions. What is the core material. What is the surface. What is the moisture content. With those answers you know what you are buying.
If you would like help reading a specification or matching a timber to a project, our team in Foshan is glad to work through it with you.