Choosing the right piece of furniture for your home can be a difficult task – there are so many types to choose from! The reality is they are mostly a good fit for their targeted customer. This guide covers the different timber types used for interior furniture in NZ and pros and cons for each.
New Zealand Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum)
Brunswick Dining by Sorenmobler
A beautiful native New Zealand timber, there is nothing else really like it in the world. NZ Rimu has very unique grain and characteristics, generally a dark streaky grain from the heart of the tree becoming lighter and softer towards the outer. NZ Rimu is a slow-growing tree taking 100-150 years until ready for harvesting. There is only a small resource of this timber which is tightly controlled by the Ministry for Primary Industry. Only a certain amount is allowed to be harvested every year, making it one of the most expensive timbers for making furniture.
Pros of New Zealand Rimu
- Very unique, nothing like it anywhere else in the world!
- Sustainably logged
- Relatively hard timber so will not easily dent & scratch
- Beautiful grain for use on furniture
- Quality solid timber that will last for many years
Cons of New Zealand Rimu
- Highly priced: only a certain amount is harvested each year making it scarce
- Susceptible to borer
- Heavy to lift: Being solid timber, Rimu furniture can be quite heavy to lift/move
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures: Always use coasters and table mats for hot or cold items
- Colour fading: If exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods, the timber stain will likely fade or change
American Oak (Quercus Alba)
Oaka Dining
American Oak grows broadly across the eastern half of the United States. It boasts a characteristic strong grain and broad rays, stains easily and can take to a wide variety of colours.
It is commonly used for furniture and is known to be particularly durable due to its density, making it a great option for long lasting furniture. While it is a very hard wood, it still has great workability.
Pros of American Oak
- Durability: A hard timber, good water resistance and longevity
- Maintenance: easy to maintain
- Grain: Characteristic strong grain and rays that take easily to wide variety of stain colours
- Machines well and can be worked to a smooth finish
Cons of American Oak
- Heavy: Hard solid timber makes American Oak furniture heavy to maneuver
- Usually highly priced
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures: Always use coasters and table mats for hot or cold items
- Colour fading: If exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods the timber stain will likely fade or change
American White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
Karamea Bedroom
American White Ash is a porous hardwood that is dense and hard-wearing. It grows across the entire Appalachian area on the East Coast of the United States. The sapwood is light coloured to nearly white and the heartwood varies from greyish brown to light brown, to pale yellow streaked with brown. There can be a significant difference between the heartwood and sapwood colours once stain is applied, giving each piece of furniture a stunning, unique look.
Pros of American White Ash
- Durable and hard-wearing: American Ash is less susceptible to dents and scratches than softwoods.
- Appearance: American White Ash has a definite, well-defined grain that shows up beautifully with any stain colour
- Good staining and polishing qualities
- Easy Processing: American White Ash is smooth in nature and machines well.
Cons of American White Ash
- Higher price bracket: American White Ash is one of the higher quality timbers available and imported from America hence the price tag is usually in the higher bracket.
- Can split more easily than softwoods however this can be overcome by pre-drilling screw holes.
- Wide grain variations which can be a pro or con depending on personal preference.
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures: Always use coasters and table mats for hot or cold items
- Colour fading: If exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods the timber stain will likely fade or change
Pine (Pinus Radiata)
Neo Dining
Radiata Pine timber is sourced from sustainable FSC certified local forests. Consistent rainfall, sufficient sunlight, especially during Spring and Summer, and the cool climatic conditions of the West Coast region of New Zealand are the reasons why quality Pine flourishes in this region. The light consistent colour of Radiata Pine readily accepts stains and its general properties make it ideal for producing high-quality furniture.
Pros of Pine Timber
- Affordable: Pine is readily available in New Zealand making it cost-effective and affordable option in comparison to other wood options
- Sustainably: Pine trees have a fast growth period and are sustainably managed in New Zealand ensuring minimal impact on the environment and continuity of supply
- Machines very easily
- Takes stain and paint well
- Lightweight compared to other available timbers
- Locally grown and harvested
Cons of Pine Timber
- Softer timber so more prone to scratches and dents
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures: Always use coasters and table mats for hot or cold items
- Colour fading: If exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods the timber stain will likely fade or change
Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis)
Camille Chair
Rubberwood is medium-density hardwood that is produced by harvesting the Pará rubber tree. These trees mostly grow in parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. Pará rubber trees are cultivated for their latex, and at the end of their useful life are harvested to become rubberwood lumber. In the past, these old trees were burned. However, today most of these older trees are being sawn into lumber instead of being burned, which has resulted in substantial increases in lumber availability. Rubberwood has many favourable properties for furniture making.
Pros of Rubberwood
- Affordable: Rubberwood is a by-product and is readily available and affordably priced
- Machines well with few defects or problems
- Environmentally friendly: Harvesting Rubberwood that would otherwise have been burned reduces the impact on the environment
- Durable: Contrary to its most known name ‘Rubberwood’ it is actually a durable hardwood.
- Takes stains well
Cons of Rubberwood
- Can warp and twist when drying
- Very moisture absorbent making it not suitable for outdoor use
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures: Always use coasters and table mats for hot or cold items
- Colour fading: If exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods the timber stain will likely fade or change
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard)
Eliving Tate Ripple Oval Dining Table by Urban Sales
MDF is engineered wood obtained by breaking down hardwood and softwood composites. The fibres are joined together using wax to produce panels by applying pressure or high temperature. Since an MDF board is made up of small wood fibres, there are no visible wood grains or knots.
Pros of MDF
- Cost-effective furniture: Since MDF furniture is made with waste wood, it’s more economical in comparison to furniture made from solid wood or plywood
- Smooth surface: MDF is pressed extremely compact during the manufacturing process with large steel plates, which makes the overall sheet extremely flat and smooth. This makes MDF ideal for painting, laminating, or attaching veneers. Once sheets are cut to size, the edges remain smooth, whereas on solid wood or plywood, the edges can splinter or have voids due to the natural knots and grain in the wood.
- Strength and density: Without the natural weak points in solid timber like knots and grain, even thin pieces of MDF can be very strong. This is ideal for drawer bases and backs of units.
Cons of MDF
- Not water resistant: If not sealed well, MDF absorbs water and other liquids and swells
- Being made up of fine fibre, it does not hold screws very well
- Contains VOC’s: The glue that holds all the fibres together contains formaldehyde. When it’s cut, sanded, or machined, the dust can cause irritation and be harmful to the lungs and eyes.
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures: Always use coasters and table mats for hot or cold items
- Colour fading: If exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods the timber stain will likely fade or change
Plywood
Plyhome Kids Bedroom
Plywood is an engineered wood, made by binding thin layers of wood veneer together into one solid piece. When gluing, the layers are set at 90-degree angles to one another, thus forming a so-called cross-grain pattern. The way in which the veneers are glued together at 90-degree angles allows for a great deal of both strength and flexibility. The result is a solid board or piece of plywood that can be used for a wide array of applications.
Pros of Plywood
- Strength: Due to the cross-grain pattern created through the manufacturing process, plywood has a surprising amount of strength
- Available in various grades and thicknesses
Cons of Plywood
- Price: Compared to the other engineered wood, plywood is a premium product and is priced accordingly. Its real-wood look brings a lot of appeal and a big jump in price.
- Appearance: The layers of veneers are visible on the edges, however these can be a positive factor as well
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures: Always use coasters and table mats for hot or cold items
- Colour fading: If exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods the timber stain will likely fade or change
There you have it, the pros and cons of all the main timbers used for interior furniture in New Zealand! We hope this has helped enlighten you on what type of timber furniture would be best for you.
At Coastwood Furniture we predominantly used Pine timber and American White Ash. Browse our designs to find a style you like and don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.
