Expert: Jamie Yocono - 8/28/2008

Question
I am wondering what would be some things that I should watch for when buying wood furniture? what should I look for as far as construction? is there anything that I should specifically watch out for? I guess my biggest question is how do I know that I am not getting some junk that just looks good?

Answer
Hi Grant,

There is a lot of confusion when buying furniture, so I'll try to help. But - the answer is to your question isn't simple, so this might include some information that you don't need. I'll need to explain a little about wood, and then a more about the actual construction of the furniture.

So this may turn into a long answer. Grab a cup of coffee!

Wood is classified as either a softwood or a hardwood. The difference isn't it's actual density, but rather, whether or not a tree loses it's leaves. If a tree loses it's leaves, it's a hardwood. Examples would be Mahogany, Cherry, Oak, Maple or Walnut trees.  Trees that don't lose their leaves are classified as soft woods, and those include Pine, Fir, Spruce, and other evergreens.

Hardwoods are most commonly used to build quality furniture. They're more expensive because these woods hold up better to wear and tear, and and frankly, they look better, too. Just in terms of cost vs. attractiveness, I'll give you a breakdown: The more expensive hardwoods are Mahogany, Cherry, Walnut and Maple. The lesser expensive hardwoods are Poplar, Beech, and Oak . Soft woods, like Pine or Fir, are used in lesser quality furniture. So it you're looking for durability and beauty, hardwood furniture is really only the kind to consider.

If you think about it, furniture really takes a beating over time. Think of all the times a kitchen table is wiped with a damp rag to clean it. Water (moisture) and wood don't mix too well, so a durable finish is very important. Think of how many times people tip their chairs back and balance on two legs. Or slam a drawer shut. My point is- furniture takes a beating, whether we realize it or not.

So besides the wood specie, construction and hardware are pretty important. You want to look for quality drawer glides, hopefully ones that fully extend from the cabinet (called full extensions glides) rather than one that only extend 3/4's of the way out. Metal are definitely better than wooden ones, which are prone to sticking when they swell with humidity changes. Ball bearing slides are very high quality, roller slides are less heavy duty.

As far as hinges go- European cup hinges are far more desirable than others, since they are adjustable in 3 dimensions. All doors eventually sag or droop, so being able to adjust them is really important. Fasteners are another area that many buyers do not take into consideration, but they're quite important. Good quality furniture does NOT use nails for assembly, but rather, uses screws or wooden parts, like dowels or biscuits. Nails work out over time, so you just don't want them. Period.

Of drawers and doors- you want joinery that will stand up over time. Drawers that are dovetailed, as opposed to stapled, are far better. Doors should be flat (not warped) and open and close easily. A door that's hanging crooked will only get worse over time. So check out the details, just like you would when buying a car.

It's really sort of common sense stuff, Grant.

Put this all together and you'll get a picture of what you need to look for. Quality wood, quality fasteners and hardware, and quality construction. You can use your hands and eyes to determine if the wood finish is decent. Feel it. Is it smooth and free of drips? And don't just feel the top, but feel the finish in some out of the way place, like under a table top or on the inside of a dresser.

Another area to examine is wood products- veneered panels (plywood) versus solid wood. And even further- what's the core inside the veneer. Plywood would be better than a core of particle board or MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). As a rule, solid wood is far superior to anything that is veneered, but then again, there are some great pieces out there that are veneered.

I have a suggestion, and that would be to visit the website of the Furniture Society, which is a group of people dedicated to making high quality hand made furniture. Their site is: www.furnituresociety.org.  You can look at the portfolio of a few builders, it's quite interesting. You might even find one in your area. Most woodworkers I know welcome visitors to their studios, and you can ask a million questions and educate yourself on the various aspects of furniture construction. Mind you- not all handmade furniture is pricey and out of reach for the average consumer.  Check out www.guild.com for other handmade furniture examples.

When I lived in Ohio, my prices were about equal or slightly more expensive than store bought stuff. And some of what I built was less expensive. Now that I live here in Las Vegas, my prices have risen considerably because of the high cost of materials.  So geography will play a little part in the pricing structure.

Finally- I like Pottery Barn furniture, as well as a few other mass produced pieces, like West Elm and Ikea. Not all store bought stuff is junk, as some (snobby) furniture makers would have you think. Yes, there is a lot of bad stuff out there, but it's like buying a car- be informed about what to look for, and you should do just fine.

So the short answer - look for something made of solid hardwood, with good fasteners and hardware, and finished with something that will hold up to your lifestyle. Then weigh the price of it vs. something of less quality. Decide if it's worth it to pay more. I think it is.

Good luck, I hope this helps. Feel free to write back with any other questions you might have after reading this.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
www.wooditis.com
Las Vegas, NV