With today’s superior production technologies, it’s easy to mistake quality plywood for solid wood. In fact, clients have sent me photos of furniture they thought were made of solid wood, only to find them—plywood. Here are some pros and cons in using both kinds of wood.
The Beauty of Solid Wood
- The natural beauty and texture of solid wood are unsurpassed.
- So is its unparalleled strength.
- Easy to restore, refinish and repair.
For example, our locally grown walnut is richly toned with beautiful black streaks and sometimes, even blue and red hues—simply amazing stuff!
Quality Bamboo Plywood & Plywood Wood
- Extremely strong, bamboo is 30 percent harder than oak and 17 percent harder than maple; definitely comparable to top-grade plywood.
- Eco-friendly and sustainable, bamboo plywood harvested after five years is preferable in sustaining heavier loads (even floors, roofs and walls).
- Plywood is heavy duty and stable with less shrinking, warping and cupping.
- More affordable in mimicking the beauty of solid wood.
- Great for flat surfaces—desk and table tops, bookcases, cabinets.
BTW, it’s also common to confuse plywood with less desirable particle board and fiberboard.
Plywood is practical for select components in beds and chairs. Typically, the best application is hybrid. For example, in using manmade plywood for large, flat surfaces and integrating solid wood for smaller components to endure higher stress.
By Tarik Yousef