Why choose plywood over natural timber for making furniture

When it comes to long-term purchases or investments, it is only fair that people put a lot of thought into it and consider all options before making a final decision. One such financially substantial decision is building furniture and interiors for your home. This can require some consideration as people can get confused about the type of material that they should utilize for the construction of their furniture, thanks to a variety of alternatives available. However, the most common options are natural timber and calibrated plywood which people get the most perplexed about. While natural timber has been used for years, plywood is a newer option that has come up in the past few decades.

In this blog, let’s explore the differences between the both, and understand why you should choose plywood over natural timber when getting furniture made for your home. 

Economical

If you have to adhere to a strict budget, it is better to look for a reliable plywood supplier in India who will provide you with good quality plywood that is calibrated. This is because natural timber is comparatively more expensive as compared to plywood. Even though plywood is treated with various chemicals to become boiling waterproof, termite-proof, and fire retardant, its cost is still more affordable than regular hardwood. It can sustain thermal expansion/contraction better than wood. As opposed to that, timber may be more likely to shrink and expand, and despite its durability, it is prone to cracking, breaking, and staining, with an additional need for maintenance, which makes it comparatively more expensive as compared to plywood.

Environmentally friendly

In the process of manufacturing calibrated plywood, no forest produce is used. This makes it an environment-friendly product as it only uses sustainable agroforestry produce. This leads to significantly lesser deforestation as fewer trees are cut down to use its wood. All of this ultimately leads a rational customer to pick plywood over natural timber, thanks to its sustainable source. However, a midway between these can be going for plywood made from natural timber which can help you build sturdy furniture that will last for ages.

Termite-proof

Termite-proof plywood is gaining popularity as the choice of most people looking to build their furniture, as it is covered and infused with certain chemicals that keep such pests away. This layer of chemicals, although fatal to pests, is completely safe for other animals as well as humans. It also significantly increases the lifespan of your furniture, as termites cannot cause it any harm, leaving it cavity-free and with a finish that lasts. On the other hand, natural timber is way more prone to borer and termite attacks, and because of its raw form, the cost of protecting this wood against such attacks is rather expensive and difficult. 

Durability

If you are wondering which is more long-lasting, furniture made from natural timber or furniture made from calibrated plywood, we have some news for you! Both of these are more or less similarly durable. Plywood is a strictly adhered, multilayered pile of thin wooden sheets, strips, and chips, making it stronger as well as more competent to withstand heavy weights and loads. This is why it is the perfect material to be used for building furniture that has to handle regular pressure, like tables, chairs, cabinets, beds, and more. Plywood is also much more resilient to temperature and humidity fluctuations, ensuring it does not crack or bend. Its overall strength and durability are higher than regular wood. It also has a higher nail-holding capacity as compared to raw timber. On the other hand, natural timber is not the appropriate material for the construction of such load-bearing furniture, as it tends to crack, split, or break if exposed to temperature or humidity changes.

Consistency

Natural timber, in its raw form, is difficult to work with because of its inconsistency and raw quality. The strength and quality of every piece of wood need to be meticulously checked and inspected before using any of it to build your furniture. On the other hand, any plywood supplier in India will attest to the fact that each sheet of plywood maintains consistency and uniformity in thickness, durability, and strength. This is especially of significance to carpenters who require a material that is dependable and will not bend, crack, or break with time and use.

Final thoughts

To wrap it all up, it is an evident choice – if you are ready to go the extra mile to be attentive towards your furniture and interior, can manage to invest the time and effort to make it pest-free, and can go through regular maintenance checks, you can go for natural timber furniture. However, if you want your home to be a comfortable and safe space, go for ONLY CALIBRATED PLYWOOD. It is important to note that plywood is the most optimized form of wood – Wigwam offers versatile, zero-emission, boiling waterproof, termite-proof, and fire-retardant ply with a lifetime guarantee that is calibrated so your furniture lasts forever.