All Wood Construction
All wood construction simply means that all parts are made of wood. However, the piece of furniture may include some combination of solid wood and engineered wood.
Artificial Laminate
An artificially laminated surface consists of plastic, foil, or paper that is printed with a wood grain pattern. This is then bonded to a composite such as particleboard or medium density fiberboard.
Engineered Wood
There are two kinds of engineered wood: plywood and particleboard, which is also called fiberboard. When wood is engineered from slices of lumber it is called plywood. Plywood can have 3 to 5 thin slices of wood glued together under high pressure. When chips and fibers that remain after a tree is milled into lumber are combined and glued together it is called particleboard or fiberboard. Medium density fiberboard is made by breaking down wood chips into fibers, mixing the fibers with glue, and fusing the resulting mixture under heat and pressure to produce a board.
Hardwoods
Wood from broad-leafed trees that lose their leaves in winter, such as oak, ash, cherry, maple, walnut, and poplar is known as hardwood. Hardwood is generally considered better for furniture construction than softwood as it has strength and stability. Conversely, it can present difficulties in carving or detailing. There are many tropical hardwoods that come from tropical forests, such as mahogany, teak, and ipe.
Inlay
Inlay is a decorative technique that is used to create designs in wood by placing pieces of contrasting wood into a surface, usually at the same level, to form a design. A design or pattern created by using this technique is also known as inlay.
KD or RTA
This term is used for furniture that is sold unassembled or partially assembled which is known as “Knocked Down” furniture. It is also called often referred to as RTA furniture which stands for “Ready to Assemble” furniture.
Kiln Dried
Kilns are large ovens or in which wood is dried or cured through carefully controlled heat and humidity. Kiln drying removes about 93% of the moisture from the wood. Wood that has been kiln dried resists warping splitting and cracking.
Softwoods
Softwood comes from needle-bearing trees that remain green in the winter, such as pine or cedar. These are fast-growing trees and have a loose grain. These woods are easily carved or worked. Because the wood surface is often quite soft, they are more susceptible to damage such as marks and dents, which may not guarantee a very long life for your furniture.
Solid Wood
Solid wood can mean that all exposed pieces of the piece are solid, but areas hidden from view may be another material. There can be one single board or plank of wood, or also several wood boards or blocks that are glued together.
Veneer
To veneer is to apply thin sheets of better quality wood to a core, usually of less expensive material, which could be solid wood or engineered wood, for decorative effect. The thin sheets are also known as veneer. Veneers make it possible to match grain patterns or create designs. Wood veneers should not be confused with faux veneers that are basically reproductions and may lack the individuality and beauty of real wood veneers.
