What furniture is better than an array of chipboard veneer. Solid wood furniture: pros and cons. high temperature resistance

Today, furniture manufacturing companies offer a variety of custom-made options. And one of the main issues that needs to be addressed is the choice of material. In this article we will try to figure out what advantages and disadvantages are present in the most popular furniture materials:

solid wood

Furniture made of chipboard and MDF, when compared with sets that are made of solid wood, has an undeniable advantage - a more affordable cost. Furniture sets, which are made from solid wood, for example, oak, alder, walnut, beech, are in a certain way a classic that will always be in fashion. The best interiors were created and are created today with the help of elements of such furniture. Solid wood furniture is a classic example of interior design, it will make the atmosphere warm and cozy. After all, wood products are distinguished by their beauty, naturalness, environmental cleanliness, they can completely change any home and saturate it with positive energy.

Furniture companies that make kitchens from an array highlight the following advantages:

natural materials
individual approach to any client
perfect quality of manufactured kitchen cabinets
exclusive design solutions
unlimited period of operation

We can also note four characteristics of natural furniture, in which neither chipboard products nor MDF products can yet compete with it:

environmental friendliness. Solid wood products do not have chemical impurities, which means they cannot harm your health.
practicality. It is believed that wood is a very capricious material, however, it is precisely as a result of its natural properties that it has an increased resistance to moisture and rot than products made from chipboard or MDF.
aesthetics. Today, the surface of MDF can completely imitate wood. However, this is just an imitation. And better than a bed made of wood can only be a bed made of a rare breed of wood.
tree energy. Everyone knows that trees share with man the pure energy of nature. For example, oak helps to gain clear thoughts and strength, and beech brings a charge of invigorating energy, which cannot be said about chipboard. But the fact that formaldehyde resins, which are part of the chipboard and emit gas into the air, causes depression - scientists have already proven.

Solid wood and MDF furniture

MDF is a medium density fibreboard. Fiberboard is created from waste from the woodworking industry or from forests that are to be cut down. These materials are crushed into small cubes, after which they are treated with high pressure steam, and then the cubes are sent to the disks of the grater machine. The frayed material is sent for drying and further gluing. Wood particles are glued together with paraffin or lignin, so MDF is an extremely environmentally friendly material. The price of MDF is higher than chipboard, but in this case there is no need to save. First of all, no substances hazardous to health are emitted from MDF. In addition, the strength of MDF is almost 100% higher than that of chipboard.

Disadvantages of MDF:

MDF is a highly flammable material,
often MDF boards are characterized by low resistance to moisture,
susceptibility to mechanical damage.

Solid wood and veneer furniture

If you are looking for a reasonable and profitable compromise, then furniture and veneer finishes are the best choice. Veneer - thin sheets of wood removed from a log by sawing or peeling. The advantages of veneer products include slower aging in comparison with natural solid wood, practicality and convenience. In addition, natural veneer looks like wood, that is, it has a high aesthetic appeal.

The interline interval is a golden mean between a chipboard and the massif. Veneer is more expensive than chipboard furniture, but much cheaper than natural furniture. At the same time, the decorative properties of veneer can be compared with solid wood. For this reason, furniture factories use veneer to make beds, dressing rooms, and kitchens. For example, a veneer bed looks like a solid wood product, because there are no joints on the edges of the parts, but in chipboard they are very noticeable.

A high degree of wear of veneer kitchen sets is achieved by coating it with polyurethane primers and varnishes. After that, a reliable item is obtained that is not afraid of scratches, moisture and temperature changes. In addition, veneer furniture can be exposed to direct sunlight, it does not dry out.

How to care for solid wood and veneer furniture

immediately after purchase, you need to wipe all the furniture outside and inside with a soft dry cloth, especially if the delivery was carried out in the winter,
several times a month it is advisable to use special polishes for wood products, for example, Pronto, but you should carefully study the instructions before use,
to remove food stains and liquids, you can use a damp, well-wrung cloth, after which be sure to wipe the surface with a soft cloth.

Solid wood products are purchased by people who prefer a refined and elite atmosphere. Kitchens, wardrobes and even shelves in the bathroom and the array emphasize not only taste, but also status. Well-designed solid wood furniture elements in the interior will create a luxurious and respectable atmosphere in your home. In addition to standard types of wood, for example, beech, oak, cherry, walnut, many companies also offer more valuable types of wood, such as mahogany or ebony, rosewood, wenge.

Manufacturing technology

New solutions, materials, approaches to design - form a high-level market. This concerns, first of all, the production of kitchen sets. Masters think over the concept of creating furniture to the smallest detail so that it is ergonomic, beautiful and durable.

The most common and suitable materials for the manufacture of headsets for many years remain solid wood, MDF and plastic.

Pros and cons of MDF kitchens

They are in high demand among buyers. Moreover, only furniture facades are made from MDF material. The rest - the frame and interior trim are made of laminated chipboard.

MDF is a durable and reliable material that is obtained by pressing wood chips under high temperature. During the production process, lignin is released from sawdust, which sticks them together. The result is a dense sheet.

From 17,856 rub.

From 21,229 rub.

The resulting canvas is then decorated by applying various materials: plastic, PVC film, coated with enamel, acrylic film or paint. There are a lot of options for decorating the kitchen.

The service life and resistance to mechanical stress for MDF with different coatings is not uniform.

Advantages of film-coated headsets:

Bright and saturated colors.
The ability to design facades in different colors: plain, combined, two-color and others.
They do not absorb foreign odors.
Moisture resistant.
Do not deteriorate with sudden temperature changes.
Does not release toxins.
Shiny and reflect light.

Minuses:

Not resistant to mechanical damage: accidental impact can lead to chips, deep cracks and scratches.
It is necessary to constantly wash and polish, because even with a light touch of the hand on the surface, fingerprints and stains remain.
High price.
The inability to carry out the restoration of facades at home.

Covering MDF with PVC film also has its positive and negative sides:

You can make a kitchen in any color and make a visual relief of the coating: under the skin, wood, patina, stone and more.
Clean up quickly.
When washing, you can use strong detergents, hard sponges and brushes.
The color retains its tone for a long time - about 30 years.
Resistant to low and high temperatures (up to 100 degrees).
Not afraid of moisture.

Minuses:

At temperatures above 100 degrees, the film peels off or curls.
Do not place the kitchen under direct UV rays.

Pros and cons of a plastic kitchen

Deservedly in high demand, despite the high cost.

Plastic is glued to MDF or chipboard in different color styles. The first option is expensive, the second is cheap.

From 28,211 rub.

From 22,205 rub.

For sheathing, 2 types of plastic are used:

Rolled (budget option) - thin, fragile and short-lived.
Sheet - compacted, hard and not afraid of shock.

Plastic headsets are produced in different styles. However, the following are popular:

Empire style - subtle and delicate shades, intricate drawings and patterns are visible. Such furniture has smooth features.
Hi-tech - there are many elements of plastic, glass and metal. Characterized by strict features.
Classic - a combination of standard and rigor in style.

Pros:

High strength - withstand almost any load.
Moisture resistance is an important indicator for kitchen furniture.
Color fastness - does not fade under UV rays.
Easy cleaning - quickly wash with any means.
Wide range of colors and finishes.
Light weight - such headsets can be independently rearranged and moved.

Minuses:

If the headset is lined with glossy plastic, then it is difficult to wash it.
Polymer or aluminum edges darken over time.
Between the edges and facades, in the cracks, hard-to-reach dirt accumulates.
High cost - this applies to high-quality sheet plastic. Roll plastic - much cheaper.

Pros and cons of solid kitchen

They belong to the category of expensive and elite furniture. The massif of oak of Russian origin is especially appreciated. The most budget option is a birch kitchen. Average in price - headsets made of pine, ash, alder and beech.

Wooden furniture is made the longest, as the raw material itself is subjected to prolonged drying.

From 27,300 rub.

From 30,786 rub.

Pluses of headsets from the array:

Environmentally friendly - made without synthetic additives.
"Live" furniture - releases oxygen into the room.
Service life - over 40 years.
Stylish and rich appearance.
It is possible to make milling and stucco molding on the facades.
Strong and dense - resist many damages.
Easily eliminated defects - scratches, cracks.
Special processing of wood does not allow fungi and insects to spread through the furniture.

Minuses:

Heavy and massive furniture.
High price.
Sensitive to sudden changes in temperature.
Regular and thorough care.
Detergents must be specially selected.
It is necessary to periodically tighten the fittings.
Do not place hot dishes.
It is important to monitor the humidity in the kitchen. For a headset from an array - optimally 50-70%.

Choosing the best kitchen for your home

So, you have decided to get a brand new set, but you don’t know how to choose good furniture and what material is better for the kitchen - plastic, MDF or solid wood.

Kitchens must meet 4 main criteria: high wear resistance, functionality, attractive appearance and ease of use.

7 steps to the perfect kitchen:

Take measurements of the room before visiting furniture stores or call the measurer at home.
Make a rough layout of the headset - draw layouts of the future kitchen.
Choose the material for the facades, backsplash and countertops. What kind of material is best suited for your kitchen - our furniture factory specialist will tell you.
Think about filling cabinets and drawers for maximum functionality of the headset.
Think carefully about what household appliances will be in the kitchen.
Order the production of furniture to order, preferably without prepayment.
Wait for delivery and assembly, and enjoy cooking in the brand new kitchen.

In this article:

Wood is the undisputed leader among the materials that serve as the basis for interior doors. For its decorative and protective cladding, paints and varnishes, laminate (and its varieties), veneer, fine-line are used.

There are, of course, orders for doors made of polymers, metal (for example, from an aluminum frame with glass inserts). The decoration uses stone (both artificial and natural), various fabrics, leather. But the share of these materials in mass production is low - such doors are made, as a rule, to order for small-scale or piece production.

Consumers evaluate doors according to standard criteria:

price,
quality,
outward attraction,
operational characteristics.

But for manufacturers, the features of materials are more important, which can simplify the technological process, reduce costs or, on the contrary, create additional problems during storage, transportation and processing. Consider the pros and cons of various materials used in the production of interior doors.

On the saving of raw materials and the cost of doors

Even 70 years ago, natural solid wood was the only material for the manufacture of interior doors. But the lack of natural resources forced to look for other solutions. The reason is simple: about 2.5-3 units of doors are produced from 1 m3 of high-quality solid wood, and no more than 2 units from the same amount of industrially suitable wood.

Due to the scarcity of raw materials, the price of solid wood doors has gradually turned them into premium products. Veneer and fine-line reigned in the middle price category. Therefore, the most optimal combination of "environmental friendliness - quality - price" today is considered to be an array of coniferous species lined with natural veneer.

From 1 m 3 of wood, you can get about 400 m 2 of veneer, which is enough to make 10-15 doors. And if the tree is grown and processed according to technology fine-line, 1m 3 will be enough to produce 20-25 doors (less waste).

The use of honeycomb technology in the production of interior doors made of MDF (chipboard) made it possible to fill the low price segment with a wide range of products.

Of course, the quality of such products corresponds to the cost, but it allows you to get 50-65 doors of the following design from 1m 3 of wood:

frame - MDF / chipboard, from 5 cm thick (sometimes replaced with inexpensive wood);
internal voids - "honeycombs" from chipboard / MDF (wood-based panels with special internal round channels);
external cladding - MDF sheets, which are additionally decorated (painted, laminated, veneer).

Natural array in the production of interior doors

A door made entirely of furniture panels is a beautiful and durable thing. Its cost depends primarily on the type of wood. Expensive wood used in mass production - beech, oak, maple, mahogany. The price for such doors "starts" from $500. Therefore, a higher demand is noted for products made from “soft” wood (for example, pine, spruce), their cost is quite budgetary - from $200.

array- material, whimsical in storage and processing. In production, only carefully dried boards and shields can be used to avoid deformation and warping of wood. At the same time, an array of poor quality (for example, with knots or curved beams) is guaranteed to lead to marriage. Therefore, with independent harvesting, it is sometimes necessary to reject up to 60% of lumber.

Array advantages:

the strength of the door structure, reliable fastenings, good adhesion of the canvas to the finishing materials;
the opportunity to launch a full production cycle workshop, which will allow you to independently produce raw materials for doors;
material that "speaks for itself" - massive doors do not need special advertising, they are known as high quality goods and appropriate prices.

Flaws:

unique individuality of the structure of each door;
poor tolerance of humidity and temperature changes;
a solid wood door has a significant weight, so the fittings (especially door hinges and locks) must be of high quality, designed for high loads;
high probability of the formation of cracks in the places where the lamellas are glued when using low-quality glue or insufficient drying of the starting material.

Therefore, in serial and mass production, solid wood interior doors are covered with a decorative and protective layer of natural veneer.

Fineline and veneer

To reduce the consumption of materials, veneer sheets began to be used in the production of door panels - thin slices of wood (0.6-1 mm), which are glued together to achieve high density.

But natural veneer has a special nuance - the uniqueness of the wood structure. Therefore, in mass production, where it is necessary to achieve the same indicators (including in the pattern and in the color scheme), a high percentage of waste occurs. But most often such a marriage is found after the tinting or varnish has dried - at the final stage of production.

A new product of the wood industry helped to solve the "eternal question" - veneer made using “Fine-line” technology. It is produced from industrial wood of fast-growing poplars and abachas, grown in a special way, so that the structure is uniform, and the blanks do not have knots and other defects.

Peeled veneer is obtained from this wood, glued in stacks according to a special program, and painted to give the most identical appearance. Therefore, a fine line from the same batch will be guaranteed to have the same parameters and characteristics.

Advantages: naturalness of the material, and when using fine-line technology - the stability of color and structure. The use of veneer is a chance to reduce wood waste in production and diversify the product range. This material makes it possible to make available doors that reliably imitate expensive breeds. For example, natural mahogany or wenge veneer costs 5 times more than its fine-line "version", not to mention the array.

Minuses: fine-line has low strength (the material is based on soft poplar, so you should not expect special wear resistance from doors made using this technology). Even multi-layer varnish does not save. In contrast, a hardened lacquer applied to a soft base increases the likelihood of cracks or a distinctive "white halo" from even a minor impact.

But natural veneer is made from hardwood, and is designed to protect soft wood from accidental damage. But the high cost and a large amount of marriage is an unrecoverable drawback of this material.

MDF, chipboard

Chipboard, and subsequently MDF- the most economical material in terms of conservation of natural resources and production costs. For the production of plates, wane, thin gauge, branches are used - in a word, wood waste. Doors made of these materials have the lowest cost (especially when facing with a laminate - a synthetic film with a pattern).

To reduce the cost, many manufacturers make only a frame from solid wood (for example, from pine lamellas), and the surface of the canvas is covered with embossed or smooth MDF boards (chipboard).

Advantages:

low price;
the possibility of decorating (painting, pasting) for any material, not limited to wood;
low weight (11-20 kg) allows the use of almost any fittings - according to the choice and capabilities of the client;
structures do not dry out, and are much less sensitive to moisture and temperature changes than solid wood doors.

Flaws:

the appearance resembles plastic to many (especially the “Finnish” white smooth doors);
not resistant to damage - upon impact, dents are formed that cannot be restored;
contain formaldehydes harmful to health;
have weak ends of the door leaf;
color - low strength.

Materials used for external decor of interior doors

1. Laminate- paper impregnated with acrylic or melamine resins. With the help of full-color printing, a very plausible imitation of an expensive finish is achieved, but paper remains paper - it burns out over time, easily deforms from mechanical damage and moisture, and has poor adhesion to the base material (especially on curved elements).

2. Dual chrome laminate- a polymer film with corundum additive, which is specially processed for resistance to ultraviolet radiation, scratches and abrasion. It holds well both on planes and on elements with a large radius of curvature. Reliably imitates natural veneer.

3. Veneer- a thin cut of wood, thanks to which even a door made of MDF or glued pine beams looks no less impressive than a solid wood door. Resistant to accidental damage, allows you to significantly expand the range - from the usual oak to wenge, mahogany and other exotic species.

4. Paint and varnish products- to protect and impart a spectacular glossy or noble matte sheen to finished products, they are varnished in several layers (if necessary, after preliminary tinting). Although many manufacturers use manual labor at this stage, automating the process will help eliminate a large number of hidden defects, ensuring smoothness, the absence of air bubbles and uniform coverage of the door leaf.

BUYER ADVICE: WHAT TO CHOOSE - SOLID WOOD, VENEER OR LDSP? When choosing a furniture material, first of all, attention is paid to durability, environmental friendliness and cost. In most cases, cabinet furniture is made of wood, veneer or chipboard. All these materials are products of the woodworking industry, but they differ in production technology. Solid wood - natural wood of different species, from simple to exotic: pine, oak, ash, walnut, larch, mahogany and ebony ... For the manufacture of furniture, wood is painted, coated with impregnations and varnishes, polished. Veneer - a thin slice of natural wood up to 3 mm thick. When used in furniture production, veneer is used to veneer sheet material: HDF, MDF, chipboard, plywood. Wooden plates and the base are connected with adhesives. Chipboard - a board made of wood pulp: sawdust, shavings, crumbs - they are pressed together with formaldehyde resins into sheets. These sheets are further lined with a colored or textured film of paper impregnated with melamine resins. The advantages of these materials Solid wood furniture is natural and environmentally friendly. Depending on the species, the wood is soft or hard, but its strength is higher than that of veneer or chipboard. And the natural texture of wood gives the furniture a spectacular appearance - it is difficult to find two identical wood. Veneer furniture looks like natural wood furniture thanks to the veneer. Veneer is more resistant to changes in temperature and humidity than wood; furniture from it rarely cracks and cracks. At the same time, prices for veneer furniture are much lower than for similar models made of wood. Chipboard furniture is popular because it is an inexpensive and easy-to-manufacture material. The appearance of laminated chipboard is the most diverse: the laminating film is not limited to the textures and colors of wood, so furniture made of laminated chipboard can be bright and unusual. And the ease of processing allows you to diversify the design of furniture. Another important point is affordable prices. Weak points of each material When buying solid wood furniture, it is worth remembering that, although wood is considered an environmentally friendly material, impregnations, varnishes and other means of processing it may contain harmful impurities. It is also important to understand the types of wood so as not to make a mistake with the quality. Due to the cost of the raw material, the price of such furniture is quite high. In addition, wooden furniture needs special care. When buying furniture made of veneer, you need to pay attention to the bonding strength of the layers of this material so that the furniture lasts a long time. The veneer must be protected from impacts and water ingress so that the facing wood does not crack and does not begin to lag behind the base. When buying furniture from laminated chipboard, it is necessary to check the certificates of conformity: chipboard must belong to class E1 in order to be considered environmentally friendly and furniture from it could be placed in a nursery. You should also consider the laminating film, edge, board thickness and be especially careful during the selection. Conclusions Solid wood is a beautiful but expensive material. Furniture from it is suitable for a spectacular living room. Veneer is an attractive and medium-priced material. Veneer furniture due to its resistance to temperature and humidity is the best option for the kitchen. Chipboard is an unpretentious and budget material. It is often used to produce functional furniture - wardrobes. You can choose a suitable sliding wardrobe on the website.

Veneer or solid: which is better?

It has long been no secret that veneer furniture has a number of advantages compared to similar furniture not only made of chipboard (which is obvious in its essence), but even made of solid wood. Furniture made of chipboard or MDF and covered with oak veneer will be perceived as massive, oak, both by eye and by touch. Such furniture is environmentally friendly, not subject to natural deformations, has a much lower weight and cost compared to solid wood, and besides, care for it is less scrupulous. And if we remember the natural factor (compare how many trees it takes to produce the same furniture from solid wood and veneer?), then the choice becomes completely obvious.

In addition to covering the veneer with protective and aesthetic layers of varnish, it can not only be tinted, but also combine different patterns or even types of veneer in random order (marquetry technique), which is unattainable when working with an array.

However, let's not get ahead of ourselves, let's dwell on this issue in more detail.

Consumers are primarily interested in the main operational parameters of purchased furniture - these are strength and durability, hygiene and environmental safety. These characteristics of furniture directly depend on the materials from which it is made. Speaking of wood materials, consider solid wood and furniture panels of chipboard and MDF with various types of coating.

So, natural wood, in other words, solid wood, is the highest quality, expensive, but at the same time a very capricious material. Solid wood furniture requires proper care, otherwise it risks losing its external gloss from changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, when caring for furniture made of natural wood, wet cleaning is contraindicated, you need to use special compounds, most often with wax to remove dust and give shine. The durability of such furniture depends on the type of wood, how it is processed, and how much this type of wood is prone to warping (i.e. swelling), sensitive to light and changes in humidity (usually wood is much more capricious in this respect than other materials). Of course, at the same time, solid wood furniture guarantees high environmental cleanliness in the house, the absence of chemical components and synthetic resins. High-quality solid wood furniture speaks of the taste and social status of the owners, however, without proper care, it loses its appearance and operational properties over time.

Furniture made of wood-based panels is more practical than wooden furniture in many respects: it is cheaper and easier to handle. But it causes negative associations associated with the recent past among our compatriots, when chipboard furniture crumbled around the edges and emitted harmful formaldehydes, which was caused by the poor quality of adhesives and violation of technological processes.

Modern particle boards are made by pressing and gluing small wood chips with special adhesives. Adhesives of sufficiently high quality are now used, and manufacturing technologies are regulated by special standards. Russian standards for chipboard are generally considered to be the most stringent in Europe, and strict certification prevents boards of inadequate quality from appearing on the market.

In addition to ease of handling, chipboard furniture is the cheapest in the general price grid, and this affordability makes it the most popular. Mass production provides a large selection of sizes, colors and styles. The only limitation is that furniture shapes can only be straight. If you like rounded corners, embossed facades - you need to choose furniture from MDF - fiberboard.

This multilayer board is made by dry pressing fine wood fiber under high pressure and temperature conditions. The binder is lysine, which is released by wood under the influence of temperature and pressure. Therefore, MDF is as environmentally friendly as wood, as it consists of absolutely natural components.

Both chipboard and MDF, before becoming furniture, need additional processing - cladding - covering with films, plastic or veneer. The appearance of furniture and the strength of its surfaces depend on the type and quality of this coating.

Film cladding is either a laminating process, when the coating is applied during the pressing of the board, or laminating, when the film is glued onto the already finished board.

Facing plastic is also made from compressed paper layers using special technologies, and, in addition to being highly decorative, has refractory properties. Furniture lined with plastic is most often used in kitchens and bathrooms.

natural veneer refers to the oldest ways of finishing the surface of the plates. A protective varnish must be applied over the veneer. Furniture lined with veneer is indistinguishable from solid wood furniture in terms of decorative qualities, but it is very dependent on compliance with the veneer sticking technology and the quality of protective varnish coatings. Therefore, the manufacture of such furniture should be trusted only to professionals in their field, working on high-quality equipment.

Based on the described characteristics and the conditions in which the furniture will be used, some recommendations can be made.

If you are short of money, your choice is chipboard. A large selection of such furniture is presented in the well-known IKEA store.

If the possibilities allow the use of more expensive materials, try to diversify the interior. For example, furniture in classic oak veneer will look good in the hallway, in the kitchen you can use plastic or enamel coating (enamel looks especially interesting in combination with the effect of mother-of-pearl or patina), and in the living room you can put solid wood furniture or furniture in veneer with using the marquetry technique, - at the same time, the interior will acquire its own zest and will form a single harmonious ensemble.

In any case, trust your taste and let your imagination run wild! After all, it will depend on how comfortable you will feel.