How to Tell If Your Furniture Is Made From Solid Wood

It’s no secret that the days of all furniture being made from solid wood are over. Today,

wood veneer is quite common, as are various types of plastic that resemble wood. Of

course, traditionalists prefer to have the real thing in their homes, but sometimes that’s

easier said than done.

There are no shortage of companies and ‘suppliers’ that are more than happy to sell you

something you think is solid wood, even though it isn’t. To keep it all straight in your

head, and make sure you get what you pay for, here are some ways to tell if your

furniture is made from solid wood.

Ask the Supplier

No one wants to look like the proverbial uninformed consumer, but there’s really nothing

wrong with asking the supplier if you aren’t sure. Besides, if they are purposely selling

you something that isn’t solid wood, they’ll have to lie to your face to keep the charade

going.

In all likelihood, any supplier will be happy to explain their pieces to you. Don’t worry

about offending a craftsman or anything else. Just think of it as giving a furniture

supplier the opportunity to show how well their product are made. If they have good

business sense, they’ll see it as a chance to snag a lifelong customer.

Lift it Up

You probably can’t tell by weight alone, but generally speaking real wood furniture is

heavier than veneer. Move it around a little or lift it up. If it has that solid, dense feel to

it, you’re probably on the right track. You can also take a peak at the corners as you lift.

Sometimes, a veneer covering will start to fade or chip away at the corners, because it

isn’t part of the entire, original piece.

Check the Grain

Once you get a little experience under your belt, it will be the grain of the wood that lets

you determine between real or other. You can actually feel the grain of the wood as a

tiny ridge with your fingertips, and it is always visible to the eye. If the furniture has

been sealed to prevent drying, you may need a magnifying glass or similar tool to see the

grain clearly, but it will be there.

If the furniture has carved details as part of the wood is also solid wood. Even the

craftiest craftsmen can’t carve details and designs into veneer or laminate.

Anne-Quinn Furniture

http://www.anne-quinn.com/