Furniture Q & A

WOOD AND FABRIC FURNITURE QUESTIONS
What is solid wood?
What is a veneer?
What is “Plank” solid wood furniture?
What is “Laminated” solid wood furniture?
What is “Butcher Block” solid wood furniture?
What is soft wood furniture?
What should I look for in drawer construction?
Are doweled or “dovetailed” drawer joints good?
What should I look for in chair construction?
What should I look for in table construction?
Checklist for buying wood furniture

LEATHER FURNITURE QUESTIONS
Is all leather furniture called Genuine Leather Furniture the same?
How strong is leather?
What is Top Grain leather?
What is Split Leather?
Can you mix leather and fabric pieces?
Can Leather be repaired if scratched or torn?
My teenagers don't sit down, they plop! Will my leather furniture take the abuse?
Will leather soften after years of use?
Can Leather be cleaned?
Will Leather fade?
How long will leather last?
What sort of frame should I look for in my leather furniture?
What about the suspension of my leather furniture?
Are all foams in cushions created equally?

WOOD AND FABRIC FURNITURE QUESTIONS

What is solid wood?
Solid Wood means that all exposed parts of the furniture are made of solid board, either softwood or hardwood lumber. No veneers or particle boards are used. When solid boards are used in furniture construction, they are glued together side by side along the edges. Often, a number of boards are used to make the wood more stable and reduce the chance of warping. By following a seam to the end you can always identify solid board, where you will find the "end" grain. Many veneers are glued over the edges to look like solid wood, but they will always be faced on the end and show no end grain. Remember, "all-wood furniture" is not necessarily solid wood. A veneer can help you achieve the look you desire at a cost lower than solid lumber.
(back to top)

What is a veneer?
Veneer is a thin layer of wood applied in sheets over underlying layers of wood, plywood or particleboard. Plywood is made of thin layers of solid wood glued over each other with grains running at 90-degree angles to produce a strong core. A "real wood" veneer is often glued on top. Artificial veneers can be overlaid on plywood or particleboard. A plywood core is lighter, less expensive and more forgiving if damaged, but it can swell if it gets wet. If damaged, particleboard will often fracture because the material is so hard it cannot absorb a shock.
(back to top)

What is “Plank” solid wood furniture?
Plank is made of pieces that have the same length but varying widths.
(back to top)

What is “Laminated” solid wood furniture?
Laminated is made of pieces that have the same length and width.
(back to top)

What is “Butcher Block” solid wood furniture?
Butcher block is made of pieces with varying length but the same width.
(back to top)

What is soft wood furniture?
Softwoods come from conifers. (e.g. pine, spruce, fir) Some hardwoods, such as balsa wood, are softer than some softwoods, such as pine.
(back to top)

What should I look for in drawer construction?
Drawer construction is generally a good indication of overall furniture quality. Look inside, behind and underneath to assess materials and workmanship. Are interior surfaces smooth and free of excess glue? Do drawers move freely yet have automatic stops? Are drawer fronts attached with dovetail joints? Are there support blocks on drawer bottoms? Is the hardware straight? Some drawers have no guides. The lack of guides allows more "play" and can cause the drawer to bind when it is opened and closed.
(back to top)

Are doweled or “dovetailed” drawer joints good?
Now, as in the past, doweled and dovetailed drawer joints indicate a high degree of craftsmanship. However, modern machine technology, good bonding glue and pneumatically driven staples coated with resin have afforded savings in construction while providing durability.
(back to top)

What should I look for in chair construction?
If possible, turn them upside down and take a good look. Are joints snug and free of excess glue and filler? Are joints reinforced by nails or screws? Do slats and rungs fit snugly? Look for arm-and-leg or back-and-leg components that are crafted from a single piece of wood. Of course, the piece should feel sturdy, free of wobbles and creaks.
(back to top)

What should I look for in table construction?
If the table has leaves, make sure you can add and remove them easily in the store. See that corners are reinforced with blocks and legs are attached securely. Obviously, the table should not wobble or bend under pressure.
(back to top)

Checklist for buying wood furniture:

• Doors and drawers fit well
• Drawers have glides and stops
• Drawers glide easily when pulled
• Drawers have dust panels
• Drawer corners are joined securely
• Insides of drawers are smooth and snag free
• Long shelves have center supports
• Doors swing open easily without squeaking or rubbing
• Long doors are attached with sturdy hinges
• Hardware is secure and strong
• No rough edges on hardware
• Interior lights operate easily
• Entertainment units have holes for electrical cords
• Heavy balanced feeling when table is rocked
• Table leaves fit properly
• Table leaves match finish and grain of the table
• Finish feels smooth to the touch (except distressed finishes)
  (back to top)

LEATHER FURNITURE QUESTIONS

Is all leather furniture called Genuine Leather Furniture the same?
Not at all. First, there are variations in grades of leather. Those variations determine how the hide will wear over time. And secondly, there are some lines of furniture that say Genuine Leather, but when you inquire more closely, you learn that manufacturers are using vinyl panels on the sides and backs of the pieces of furniture; wherever someone would not be sitting. This brings down the price of the furniture considerably, but mars the look. Close examination shows mismatches between vinyl and leather. And over time, those mismatches tend to get worse, and the leather mellows and the vinyl becomes brittle.
(back to top)

How strong is leather?
Leather is the strongest natural material known to man.
(back to top)

What is Top Grain leather?
This is the best grade of leather. When a hide is cured, it is split to divide the top layer from the layer beneath. As the name implies, Top Grain is the top portion. It retains all the natural scarring and wrinkling of the hide (which is minimized by skillful cutting and placement of the hide on the piece of furniture). If these characteristics aren't desired for the intended look of the hide, the Top Grain can be sanded and buffed until a more uniform look is attained. Ultimately, Top Grain is most prized because it provides the most strength, durability and suppleness.
(back to top)

What is Split Leather?
This is the layer that remains when Top Grain is removed from the hide. It has none of the textural character of the Top Grain, but can be embossed with a texture that simulates Top Grain. This layer of hide is still appropriate for furniture, but is not as strong as Top Grain.
(back to top)

Can you mix leather and fabric pieces?
Yes. It is done all the time. Our rule of the thumb is: Put the seating that will get the most use in leather because it does not show the day to day wear that upholstery fabric will.
(back to top)

Can Leather be repaired if scratched or torn?
Yes, other than the possible of scratching your leather, it is not often that we get calls about leather being torn or ripped. However, it does happen and there are companies in the market place that can repair your leather pieces.
(back to top)

My teenagers don't sit down, they plop! Will my leather furniture take the abuse?
If it's well made, a leather sofa or chair will handle the tough stuff. That's because leather furniture can last 20 years or longer, and just keep looking better and better. Furniture manufacturers of integrity build their frames (the inside structure of furniture) to last just as long. Read on, to find out about frames and suspensions (the springs and such) that will serve you as loyally as the hide they support.
(back to top)

Will leather soften after years of use?
Yes, but not to the degree you would hope. Leather softness is achieved by tumbling at the tannery. Generally, what leather softness you purchase is what you will have for the life of the furniture.
(back to top)

Can Leather be cleaned?
Yes — Most leathers (ie... protected leathers) can be cleaned with a mild soapy solution and water. Unprotected leathers (ie... pure anilines) require special handling. We recommend the use of leather care products for their protection and cleaning. With all but the most specialized leathers, spills just bead up and can be wiped away! Try doing THAT with cloth upholstery!
(back to top)

Will Leather fade?
Yes. Direct exposure to ultra violet sun rays will cause fading and/or discoloration.
(back to top)

How long will leather last?
A relative question but we know of cases where leather pieces have been passed along to their children after 20 to 30 years of use.
(back to top)

What sort of frame should I look for in my leather furniture?
The frame of a leather piece of furniture is crucial. Your leather furniture will last, according to Furniture World Magazine, four times longer than an upholstered piece. So you don't want your leather furniture to give up on you from the inside out. Ask these questions about the frame of a piece your are considering: Is it made of kiln-dried hardwood? It should be. If wood isn't dried in a kiln, it will dry out later -- in your home! That means warping. Also ask if the frame was constructed with double-doweled corners. This makes the joints stronger, to give you noiseless, stable support.
(back to top)

What about the suspension of my leather furniture?
First, look at the suspension system in the seat cushions. Do they have inner-springs? Some leather furniture makers save a few dollars by leaving out the springs. Instead, they'll insert a slab of foam (see the description of foam in cushions, which follows shortly). At first owners don't notice a difference in a cushion without springs. But over time, their cushions don't spring back as quickly -- or at all -- when they get up. It's nice to leave behind a good impression, but not on your seat cushions!
(back to top)

Are all foams in cushions created equally?
No! You can compare your leather furniture to carpeting. You may have heard that you can extend the life of new carpeting by buying good quality padding to go under it. The same holds true for leather furniture. Find out what the back cushions of the leather furniture you are investigating are made of. Inferior furniture is often stuffed with shredded foam, a byproduct of the cushion-making process. Recycling is a good idea, but not here! Shredded foam tends to break down over the years, making the cushions lumpy or limp. Look instead for virgin-fiber Dacron, or its equivalent, in all back and side cushions.
(back to top)

*The preceding questions and answers are attributed to OakPlus Furniture.

Search Engine Company