Recently I learned that all oak furniture is not created equal. Let me explain.
Oak Book Shelves
Maybe I'm a little naive, but when a store says a piece of furniture is oak, I just assume it's oak through and through. Well, that's what I did until Jake, a friend of mine purchased an "oak" dining set. It was very nice, and for about 00, nobody questioned that it was oak.
Oak Book Shelves
Then there was a problem with one of the table legs. It wobbled. Jake called Eric, another friend who just happened to work at a furniture repair shop. The first thing Eric asked was, "Is it solid oak?" Jake said yes, but Eric's tone caused him to question. Eric said to bring the table by and he'd take a look at it.
When Eric first saw the table, he said, "Got some bad news." Jake knew what it was, but let Eric go on.
Eric explained that most "oak furniture" was a mixture of oak and ash, with an oak veneer. And those were the higher quality ones. Some are little more than particle board with a thin veneer. Yet, calling this stuff "oak" is perfectly legal.
So what's the big deal? I mean, why should it matter if your dining table is solid oak, and not some chipboard with an oak veneer? Two words: strength and durability.
Many solid oak tables are handed down through several generations. The same cannot be said of particle board or oak/ash blends. Over time they weaken. Frequently this can be as little as 5 to 10 years.
Another reason it matters whether or not your furniture is solid oak is price. Ironically, "oak furniture" and solid oak furniture are very close in price. If you're going to pay that price, why wouldn't you want the real thing?
Eric explained to Jake that for his table to be as strong as solid oak, it would need to be about three times as heavy as it currently is. I felt a wave of nausea come over Jake. This was the most expensive furniture purchase of his life, and he felt like he'd been taken. And, in a very real way, he had.
So, when looking for oak furniture, be sure to insist on solid oak. It's the only way you'll be sure that your table might one day belong to your grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren.
Looking For Oak Furniture? Be Sure to Insist on Solid Oak
Oak Book Shelves
Oct 26, 2011 13:33:23
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Mission Style 38 x 14 Inch Light Oak Folding / Stacking Bookcase, 14"W, HONEY OAK Overview
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