Furniture can be expensive.
When considering the costs, one must also consider the benefits.
You want something that looks nice as well as functional.
Others will swear by hardwood furniture.
Its reliable, durable, functional, and expensive.
In this article
What is particle board?
While hardwood furniture is easy enough to understand, just what, exactly, is particle board?
These bits are adhered together with glue and pressed into shape.
As a result, particle board is mass produced, readily available, and cheap.
It doesnt really have a grain, but the pattern is uniform and easily replaceable.
Those are all useful attributes, but the benefits tend to end there.
The pieces are made from solid wood, crafted with traditional tooling.
As a result, the pieces are beautiful, variable, and expensive.
Hardwood furniture, in contrast, can last for centuries if properly cared for and protected from damage.
While it might be an expensive upfront cost, over the years, the costs will definitely balance out.
What can each withstand?
Particle board is pretty infamous for sagging, bowing, or cracking with little provocation.
The mere thought of holding a lot of weight sometimes seems like enough to cause particle board to fail.
Hardwood, in contrast, is strong.
It wouldnt be used to make everything from furniture to houses otherwise.
How do they look?
Particle board is usually covered with a laminated surface to cover up the sandy look it has.
You could also stain it for a different color.
The laminate tends to peel and chip at corners and places of wear and exposure.
Then again, particle boardfurniture doesnt usually come to mind when decorating.
Comparing costs
As previously noted, particle board is cheap.
When it comes to wood, its probably the cheapest way to make furniture.
These pieces, though, wont last very long.
As for hardwood furniture, it can last for a long, long time.
There are museums with wooden furniture that predate the discovery of the New World.
The upfront cost, however, can be a bit steep.
For some, it might be too much.
Just, not in price.
The secondary market is not forgiving in this regard, either, as pieces are so desirable.
Bargains are out there, but in just a straight upfront cost comparison, particle board wins.
At least, until you oughta buy a new piece because the first one snapped.
Regular dusting and the occasional wiping will provide the bulk of such efforts.
You might, at most, need to tighten a loose screw.
Anything more involved is just as likely to damage the flimsy material as fix it.
Hardwood, however, can require a fair bit of regular, though light, maintenance.
Ensuring the surface is clean and dry will help prevent damage.
The same is true for any drawers or cupboards.
Its also a good idea to prevent too much sun exposure to avoid surface damage.
While not an involved list of duties, it does need to be done regularly.
Both particle board and hardwood furniture have their advantages and disadvantages.
Particle board is cheap, easy to take care of, and easy to replace.
Thats good, because you will need to replace it at some point, usually in a few years.
For the short term, its fine.
Hardwood, however, requires careful, regular maintenance to keep it in good condition.
It also tends to cost a lot.
That said, it can last for centuries if properly maintained.
In the long term, hardwood is the clear choice, but particle board has its uses as well.
You wouldnt put an Amish cherry desk in the garage, for example.
see to it you get the right piece for the job, regardless of the material.
