Buying Quality Furniture
Jan 29 2017 Home Improvement furniture woodThis article is going to discuss some of the most important factors that should be considered when purchasing new furniture. An elegant furniture is crucial in adding value to your home.
Wood furniture
Composition
Most people have a notion that softwood is soft while hardwoods are hard in nature. However, this is not true. Hardwood is the indigenous or deciduous trees whereas the softwoods are the coniferous trees. In fact, there are some hardwoods which are softer than the softwoods. The surface of the wood which is exposed should be scratch resistant. You can test this by drawing a line using your fingernails across the wood surface.
Scratch –resistant wood are considered to be of high quality and are durable. Any sturdy plywood or solid wood is highly resistant to scratching. The best plywood should have nine layers. Besides, you should ensure that the wood chosen does not have knots since knots are susceptible to cracking. Woods which are ‘’knottier’’ are less desirable. Pressed wood, fibreboard and particle board should also be avoided. Veneer-This is a premium wood used for covering the low-quality wood. This piece of wood is very effective, and it can also be used in making high–quality furniture.
Construction
The quality of the furniture is highly dependent on the construction of joints. Anything which is held together by use of nails or staples is shoddy construction. Dovetail or mortise-and-tenon is the best joints in construction. Dowel joints too are effective just like the screws. All the corners should have a reinforced block which is attached at an appropriate angle.
Upholstered furniture
Composition
You should unzip the seat covers of the removable cushions. This will enable you in checking inside the chair of the sofa. Both the sofas and the chairs contain a block of foam which is wrapped with cotton, or Dacron. A protective cover should cover this block of foam. Foam-only cushions are considered to be less comfortable and less durable. The density of the foam’s seat should have a rating or at least 1.8 pounds.
Construction
The different items can be tested by sitting on them in various spots. Establish whether you sink or tip, the removable cushions should be lifted and pressed down. This will enable you to feel the spacing and the resistance of the cushions to pressure. The back and the arms should be squeezed. You should ensure that the frame is not felt through the padding.
