Solid oak furniture

Traditionally, oak furniture, and even more so made from solid wood, is considered one of the most prestigious and expensive options. Previously, only the wealthiest people could afford such a purchase, but even now the cost of such furniture groups is significantly higher than conventional products. At the same time, solid oak is distinguished by outstanding characteristics, rich texture of color and wood pattern.

When deciding to purchase solid wood furniture, you should think about the key difference between the main raw materials used. In most cases, such products are made of pine or oak, but which will be better and more durable – we’ll try to figure this out together.

Advantages and disadvantages of furniture or solid oak

The main advantages of oak furniture:

• Strength and durability of the material.
• Environmental safety.
• Unique decorative properties.

Solid oak is considered a “classic” of furniture art. For many centuries, it was from this wood that real masterpieces were created, and the reliability of the material became a household word.

Important characteristics of solid oak

The material has outstanding characteristics that fully influence the comfort and durability of use.

Main properties of solid oak:

• Unique surface texture. When properly processed, the surface is distinguished by a clear pattern of fibers and a light background – sapwood. The characteristic textured rays against such a background look especially advantageous, but for high-quality surface treatment you need to put in a lot of effort and skill.
• Resistance to fungal infections, which allows the use of solid oak furniture in rooms with high air humidity. Resistance to decay is due to the chemical composition of natural wood, which determines long-term and trouble-free operation of oak products.
• Hardness, measured on the Brinell scale, reaches 3.7 kg/mm². This is a very decent indicator, showing resistance to mechanical damage and scratches during operation.
• The ductility and flexibility of the material with quite significant hardness is simply amazing. This makes it possible to create unique decorative elements. Classic options for finishing solid oak furniture are popular: carving, brushing, bleaching, staining.

Another interesting feature of oak wood is its color change upon prolonged contact with water. The surface becomes dark purple with a characteristic green tint. This effect is achieved exclusively naturally (staining oak), which is why products made from such material are an order of magnitude more expensive than usual. At the same time, the structure and strength of oak do not lose their characteristics at all, which once again confirms its resistance to any environmental conditions.