There are many furniture options made from solid wood: teak, beech, acacia, maple, pine, birch, walnut, and many more. Out of all of the options available, solid oak furniture ranks as one of the best.
Why Buy Solid Oak Furniture?
Solid oak furniture is beautiful and timeless and is present in many different retailers. There are many different reasons to choose solid oak home furniture.
Easy Maintenance
Solid oak furniture is easy to maintain. A few tips for maintenance are:
- Place solid oak furniture away from heat sources like heat vents and radiators
- Keep your oak furniture in spaces with low humidity
- Avoid using solvents on oak furniture. Solvents like rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover can damage the finish.
In regard to everyday care, oak furniture only needs to be lightly dusted. If there are any spills or stains on the furniture, they can merely be wiped off or cleaned with a gentle soap.
Just like other materials, oak furniture can be worn down by everyday wear and tear. The difference is there are actions you can take to keep your oak furniture looking like new.
- If there are scratches, lightly sand them down with sandpaper and refinish. If the scratches or gouges are deep, they can be filled with epoxy putty and sand it down.
- If the oak furniture is fading, you can stand down the finish and stain and re-stain the furniture to look newer.
And to keep your solid oak furniture looking brand new, you can apply furniture wax to it twice a year.
Durable
Oak wood is well known for being durable and strong. It is a hardwood that has been used for furniture for hundreds of years, and it grows in dense rings, which only adds to its strength. Additionally, some types of oak wood are naturally water resistant, so low levels of humidity and moisture won’t damage it; and for areas with higher levels of moisture, there are solid oak furniture options that have been treated with a sealant.
Versatile
Solid oak furniture is versatile. It is available in countless different styles and designs, and it is made to fit in with any home and interior. No matter what design you already have in your home, solid oak furniture won’t clash.
There are different stains and finishes for oak furniture, and the shades of the oak itself vary. Regardless of where you’re buying your solid oak furniture, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Sustainable
On top of the other benefits of buying solid oak furniture, they are not only great for your home but for the environment as well. Around the world, close to 80% of the forests have already been destroyed because of deforestation. In some countries, like America, logging is one of the biggest industries. Owning sustainable furniture like solid oak furniture means that you own the furniture for longer. Not only do you own it, but you can pass it down to other generations or reuse it for other purposes. Instead of constantly replacing furniture, you’ll have a piece of furniture that you can re-stain, refinish, and sand down when you want it to look new and when you want to alter the look.
Value
Solid oak furniture tends to be on the pricier side, and it’s not difficult to see why. With all of these benefits that come with buying and owning solid oak furniture, the price is worth it. Other furniture options are cheaper in the moment but expensive in the long run because they break easily, or they’re not meant to last.
Solid oak furniture is the opposite of that; it’s made to be durable and last a long time. That’s why they cost more. They tend to be handcrafted with care and don’t need replacing very often. In the long term, solid oak furniture is worth the price you pay.
Can Solid Oak Be Infested With Pests?
It’s highly unlikely for oak to be infested with pests. Oak has naturally higher levels of tannin, which makes it naturally resistant to fungus, insects, and mold. Water and moisture can still attract pests, so it’s still important to take care of solid oak furniture.
Differences Between Veneer and Solid Oak
Wood veneers are slices of natural wood that are pressed onto another material, like plywood, to create a finished look. Wood veneers are similar to solid oak and are available at lower prices. However, solid oak is less permeable to the cold and damp, and it works well with different tools and materials.
Also, when you knock on the veneer, there is a hollow, echoing sound; solid oak only generates a small thud.
There are many different reasons to buy solid oak furniture; not only are they worth their price, but they are sustainable and don’t require much work to maintain. Not many furniture pieces have the same elegance and beauty as solid oak furniture.
