Consumables for making furniture list. What are the materials for making furniture?

Comfort, order tightly entered our lives. We are accustomed to sleeping on comfortable beds, having dinner at the table, storing clothes in a capacious closet. For the manufacture of all these items, special materials are used. They make them not only durable, functional, but also aesthetically attractive. Each type of material has its own characteristics, performance, price. In this publication, we will take a closer look at the main materials for the manufacture of furniture, their brief description.

Functional cabinet furniture, other products are made from such raw materials:

• various types of wood,
• various metal alloys
• plastic,
• organic, real glass,
• waste from wood processing,
• rattan,
• leatherette,
• textile.

The first five types of raw materials are used for the production of ordinary, cabinet furniture. Rattan is used in the process of making wicker items. Usually they are used by designers in the interiors of private houses, summer cottages. Leatherette, textiles are the main elements of frameless products.

Metal

Metal office furniture will add originality to the interior

Durable, stylish, elegant metal furniture products can be found anywhere. They often decorate the interiors of offices, hospitals, banks, restaurants, apartments. Modern manufacturers have learned to make quite compact, lightweight objects out of metal. Previously, they were cumbersome. This was the main reason for the unpopularity.

Unique durable bed with forged elements

Forged, metal tables, benches, chairs, beds have a number of undeniable advantages.

• Damage resistance. In order to break, damage the metal, you need to try hard. For this reason, such furniture is preferred by many owners of cafes, restaurants, where there is always a large flow of people.
• Durability. Products are able to serve for decades, many outlive several generations of their owners.
• Ease of maintenance. For cleaning, it is enough to use simple soapy water, a soft cloth. Corrosion is not to be feared. Modern alloys are quite resistant to moisture.

The main disadvantage of metal furniture items is quite high price. These are stylish, compact products.

Glass

Glass furniture is gaining a lot of popularity among buyers and interior designers.

Relatively recently, glass was used only in the form individual elements in the furniture industry. Shelves, doors, mirrors, doors were made from it. Today, the scope of glass has expanded significantly. From it make full-fledged products for the home. Glass tables, shelves, cabinets have taken their rightful place in home, office, work interiors.

Glass is usually combined with various materials

They have many positive characteristics.

One of them - visual magnification space. This function is especially important when decorating small, irregularly shaped rooms. Another plus is the airiness, lightness of products. They create the effect of weightlessness. Products do not overload the space, let pleasant sunlight pass through them. Glass is strong enough, absolutely safe for health.

Glass furniture - a convenient piece of stylish furnishings

Of course, glass tables, chairs, other items have weaknesses. Their main problem is their resistance to mechanical damage. Heavy load, hard impact, fall from high altitude capable of completely destroying a beautiful structure.

original designer furniture made of impact-resistant frosted glass

Stone

Elegant office table for negotiations from natural stone

This is the brightest, most original of all furniture materials. In production, various artificial species stone. They make excellent benches for summer cottages, stunning countertops, practical bar counters, and reliable window sills.

Folk style marble table with handmade ceramic mosaic

The stone has a number of advantages.

• Health safety. This is a very important criterion when choosing any household items for the home. The stone is non-toxic, does not emit harmful substances to the air.
• High hygiene. The surface of products is always monolithic. It will not absorb dirt, grease, odors. For this reason, stone countertops, bar counters are often purchased for the kitchen, dining room.
• High resistance to mechanical damage. It is difficult to cause significant damage to a stone structure. For this you need to seriously try. If there is a scratch, it is easy to remove.

Gorgeous stone garden furniture

The most significant drawback of the stone is the high price. An ordinary family will not be able to afford stone countertops, garden benches.

Unique coffee table made of stone will add zest to any interior

Plastic

Multi-colored plastic chairs in a modern style

It is an artificial material widely used in the production various items life. Practical, cheap, light furniture comes out of it. Usually it is purchased for use in bathrooms, latrines. Often can be found in cafes, in suburban areas. Everywhere she looks organic.

Plastic garden furniture is affordable and convenient

Plastic chairs, tables are not afraid of harsh weather. They do not lose their original appearance even after frequent exposure to moisture, water. It is easy to build a structure of any shape from plastic. The production process does not require large investments, it is technologically simple.

Lightweight plastic furniture

There are few drawbacks to such a material: it is very fragile, has an unattractive appearance, and does not last long. However, today more perfect species plastic. They do not have the above disadvantages, they are more expensive.

Original plastic chairs for street or home

Forest industry waste

Types of materials used to make furniture

Everyone knows that wood is the best material for the manufacture of cabinet furniture. Solid wood has a number of advantages. It looks amazing, lasts a long time, and has a beneficial effect on people's health. Such products are in great demand, despite the high price. However, time is rapidly passing, the area of ​​​​forests is inexorably becoming smaller. For this reason, forest industry waste has been actively used in the production of furniture structures. From sawdust, shavings, other raw materials make practical, reliable material different qualities. Consider general benefits, shortcomings of the plates in the table.

Features of the use of chipboard

Chipboard sheets for the production of inexpensive furniture

These plates are often used for the production of cabinet furniture of the budget category. Thanks to their appearance, the furniture industry has become accessible to a wide range of consumers. Tables, cabinets made of chipboard are inexpensive, have a fairly attractive design. Another advantage of the plates is the availability of a wide variety of models. This allows you to design rooms in different styles, provides freedom in design, even for small funds. Chipboard boards can last a long time, provided they are properly maintained.

Among the weaknesses of chipboard, experts note their toxicity. It is especially acute in moments of heating. Chipboard structures should not be installed near batteries, any heating devices. Such a mistake would cost too much. When heated, chipboard plates will emit formaldehydes and phenols. They are detrimental to human health. Another significant disadvantage is the impossibility of creating extraordinary, curved parts. This negatively affects the interior, makes it standard.

Chipboard furniture set for the living room

chipboard

Chipboard boards have a wide range of colors and a longer service life

Chipboard boards have shown low resistance to mechanical damage and have an insufficiently stylish appearance. To improve these parameters, the plates were lined with a special coating. The coating allows you to simulate different types of wood. It does finished slabs much more attractive. Also, a special coating made it possible to improve resistance to damage. Such cabinet furniture lasts longer, retains its original appearance throughout the entire period of operation.

Another advantage of laminated chipboard is resistance to temperature extremes. Due to this, the plates are used for the manufacture kitchen sets, cabinets, accessories. Headsets are light, beautiful, relatively inexpensive. There are not so many disadvantages of chipboard, but they are quite significant.

• Impossibility of fine processing. Furniture designs sometimes come out of the same type, have clear boundaries, straight lines (like chipboard). It is impossible to make something unusual from such raw materials. This limits the possibilities in design.
• The presence of harmful resins in the composition. It is not recommended to purchase products from chipboard for a children's room; they cannot be installed next to active heat.

Corner children's wardrobe made of laminated chipboard

Fiberboard: pros, cons

MDF boards are suitable for the back walls of furniture made of chipboard or MDF

Fiberboard is made from wood waste subjected to severe grinding. The manufacturing process is quite simple, does not require sophisticated equipment, investments of huge sums. There are two production methods.

1. Dry. Resins are added in the process, pressing is carried out under the influence of high temperatures.
2. Wet. The process takes place without the addition of additional substances.

Fiberboard can hardly be called a full-fledged raw material for the production of furniture. It's pretty hard to put together. For this reason, fiberboard is used to create the rear walls, bottoms. Usually raw materials are used in combination with chipboard. Then it turns out quite reliable, inexpensive, functional design. Many refer to fiberboard as pressed board. It really does look like cardboard. It is just as cheap.

MDF

MDF panels are used both for the manufacture of furniture and for interior work.

The most practical, good material for furniture production is MDF. It is created from very small chips, sawdust. Its main difference is absolute safety for a person. The composition of raw materials does not contain harmful resins, substances. Lignin acts as a binder. It is a natural substance that is safe for human health. It is found in the intercellular substance of natural wood. It was safety that became the main reason for such a high popularity of MDF.

Another important advantage of MDF is unlimited design possibilities. It is easy to make various forms, form attractive curves. This is important for creating an individual, unique interior of the living space. Water resistance, high strength are another significant advantages of MDF. It will last a long time, can be used in rooms with high humidity. The main disadvantages are the high price, fire hazard, and a ban on partial restoration. Replace damaged part of MDF impossible. Instead, you will have to purchase a new product. It is expensive for a family with a small income.

Beautiful MDF bedroom set

Plywood

Plywood is a safe, inexpensive material for making homemade furniture.

For the manufacture of furniture, basic materials are used (wood, chipboard, etc.), auxiliary. Plywood belongs to the second group. They make of it rear surfaces cabinets, drawer sides, cheap utility shelves. The plywood production process is simple: craftsmen glue several sheets of veneer together. The material comes out durable, easy to process, clean, safe for others. But the properties of plywood are not enough to use it as the main raw material in the furniture industry.

original budget kitchen plywood

Video: Materials for furniture production. Plywood. Chipboard Furniture shield.

Every day is unthinkable without these items. They make our life more comfortable. They are always with us. This pieces of furniture.

What are our constant companions made of?
Let's leave behind the scope of attention accessories, glue and upholstery, as well as glass, metal, fabric, plastic, wicker. In this article I want to introduce you to the materials from which the most of furniture.
Chipboard, chipboard, MDF, laminate, melamine, postforming, solid wood, veneer and other terms can confuse an unprepared buyer when choosing furniture. They seem to be similar, but still have differences in materials. We read everything carefully and go “savvy” to a furniture store!

wood boards

Let's start with furniture made from wood-based panels.
MDF, chipboard, chipboard, fiberboard are materials based on wood. It's just a small tree. In the form of chips, fibers, sawdust.

MDF- a kind of fibreboard, made from small chips (practically from wood flour) by hot pressing. Wood fibers are treated with special binders before pressing. For this, natural products lignin and paraffin are used, which do not emit harmful substances. Moreover, for its gluing, much less adhesive is required than in chipboard, and the environmental friendliness and safety of the MDF material ultimately depends on this.
Another distinguishing feature of MDF is its density, which almost corresponds to the density of natural wood.
MDF is an environmentally friendly, dense and flexible board (despite a decent thickness), which allows you to create curved surfaces, for example, the front part.
It is a material that is easy to process, which is very much appreciated in the manufacture of furniture that requires elegance and fine lines. MDF does not crumble during milling - this allows you to make cutouts for fittings, create patterns and carvings on the surface. Carved cabinets and headboards are all made of MDF.
MDF holds screws and other fasteners well.
Due to the paraffin impregnation of MDF, the board has water-repellent properties, which allows expanding the scope of its application.
Due to the fact that the manufacturing technology of MDF is not cheap, often in the production of furniture from MDF only facades are made, and the walls and internal parts are made from chipboard. Furniture made entirely of MDF is quite expensive.
Also MDF is immune to different kind fungi.
But this material reacts very painfully to temperatures above 70 degrees Celsius. It swells, warps, loses its shape, and the decorative coating bubbles and peels off. That is why MDF furniture is recommended to be protected from heat and not placed near a working stove, oven or other heating devices.

Chipboard- chipboard - consists of pressed and glued by high-temperature pressing with the addition binder resins(phenolic and formaldehyde) woodworking waste, which includes sawdust, large shavings, etc.. Outside, these pressed sawdust can be covered with decorative layers: laminate, melamine, veneer.
Chipboard according to quality characteristics are divided into 3 grades:
1 grade slabs are made from selected sawdust, as a rule, of the same type of wood. Its surface is perfectly smooth, without chips. On both sides, the plate is decorated by applying laminated film or veneer.
2 grade characterized by minor defects on the surface in the form of chips and scratches. Can be with or without lining.
3 grade- these are plates with significant defects on the surface. They do not require cladding and are used only for construction and auxiliary purposes.
Chipboard is afraid of water. Therefore, in conditions of high and constant humidity, chipboard will begin to crumble.
It is also worth noting the fragility of such a plate. Chipboard does not tolerate fine processing, it is difficult to make curly parts from it.

chipboard is an abbreviated name for a laminated chipboard, the surface of which is treated with a special film based on thermosetting polymers (this is a type of paper-resin film). I think everyone has seen laminated paper. The plate is laminated in the same way. Only the plate is thicker than paper, and its ends remain open.
Often such a plate is simply called "laminate". This applies to the name of the popular flooring, and to furniture "from laminate". but laminated chipboard and laminate - not the same thing, these are two different coatings.

The laminating film is made diverse. The surface of the laminated chipboard can be smooth, embossed, wood-like, shagreen. The color palette has no boundaries, because the film can be painted in any color.
Chipboards are divided into several groups:

• smooth solid colors (eg white, yellow, blue);
• textured solid colors (e.g. textured white, aluminium);
• standard wood tones (eg beech, alder, cherry);
• imitation of rare wood species (for example, Winchester Oak, Merano, Cordoba);
• glossy decors;
• veneered decors;
• fantasy tones with drawings and patterns.

Chipboard is present in almost every home, because most often it is used in the manufacture various furniture both economy class and more expensive furniture.
Products made of laminated chipboard are resistant to moisture due to the laminating coating, unlike ordinary wood. Therefore, furniture made from laminated chipboard is well suited for the kitchen, where it will not dry out and crack. Often it can be found even in bathrooms. Moisture-resistant laminated chipboard undergoes a special treatment with a paraffin emulsion, and also incorporates wood fibers with a special impregnation that prevents the composition from swelling under the influence of moisture. However, you should not leave moisture on the surface of the furniture for a long time, as it can flow into the gap between the plate and the edging, and the ingress of water directly under the decor layer (laminating film) will cause swelling and softening inside the plate.
If you buy furniture from laminated chipboard, then you can easily buy it later necessary elements, and they will be exactly the same color, unlike wood, where the shade may vary from lot to lot.

Chipboard has disadvantages, like any other material.
The main negative characteristic of particle boards is the presence of formaldehyde resins in the composition, which, at high concentrations, have a negative impact on human health. That is why it is necessary to ensure that finished product the ends were carefully closed with an edge.
Another significant disadvantage is the susceptibility of chipboard to swelling (with the exception of moisture resistant categories). This problem is eliminated in the same way as the previous one - an edge is applied to all visible ends, protecting internal composition from moisture penetration.
The laminated surface itself, if there are no cuts and chips on it, is moisture resistant.

Wood chip boards are very popular with furniture manufacturers.
Firstly, they have a low cost compared to a high-quality array.
Secondly, they are easy to handle. chipboard is finished material, which only needs to be cut in accordance with the cutting map and applied to the ends of the edge.
Thirdly, wood-based panels are quite strong and durable, they are not subject to drying out or twisting, like natural wood, which requires a long drying time.
Fourthly, laminated chipboards have a wide range of decors. The colors are so diverse that they will perfectly fit into a discreet office interior, and into a bright children's room.
Fifth, chipboard furniture is easy to maintain. But this is more important for us, furniture buyers.

Caring for furniture made of chipboard

When cleaning, furniture made of laminated chipboard can be wiped with a damp cloth, but it is not recommended to use too active detergents, since they are their chemical composition can damage protective layer, which is applied to chipboard. The laminated surface also does not like abrasive substances.
It is also not recommended to apply the load for a long time if it is more than 10 -15 kg. If the load on the shelves is more than this mass, then the deformation of the shelves is possible. If you follow these rules, then furniture made from laminated chipboard will serve you for a very long time.

fiberboard(aka the well-known hardboard) - this material is also made of wood chips, wood dust and chips. It is produced in two ways: when dry, resins are added during hot pressing, when wet, nothing is added. In the people this material is sometimes called "pressed cardboard". The material is cheap and durable, but it is impossible to create furniture from it, primarily because of the difficulties with fastening. Therefore, it serves for the manufacture of the back walls of cabinets and the bottoms of drawers.
The thickness of fiberboard boards, as a rule, does not exceed 4 mm.

As mentioned above, often in the production of MDF furniture only facades are made, and the walls and internal parts are made of laminated chipboard. Furniture made entirely of MDF is quite expensive.
Thus, the classic furniture set is:
front part - from MDF,
case - from chipboard,
the back wall is made of fiberboard.

Is wood-based furniture dangerous?

Production technology board materials implies that MDF contains less harmful substances than chipboard.

MDF - with strict observance of the technology and the implementation of high-quality surface cladding, structures made of it are considered the least dangerous in terms of the release of harmful substances into the surrounding air. High-quality MDF is environmentally friendly.

Chipboard of class E1 - ranks second in terms of safety for the human body (but also only with appropriate surface cladding).
In high-quality chipboard, the adhesive components do not contain phenols, and the proportion of toxic substances is negligible. But it is still not recommended to use a plate without edging. This is due to the safety of the material, which, without end protection, will quickly absorb moisture from the environment and swell.

Chipboard class E2 - emits the largest amount of harmful substances, prohibited for production in foreign countries, and in Russia it is prohibited for the production of furniture and products used inside public and residential premises (GOST 10632-2007).

For the production of furniture, MDF and chipboard (LDSP) of class E1 are allowed (with mandatory surface cladding).

MDF is an environmentally friendly material and has no restrictions on its use, while chipboard is not recommended for use in children's and medical institutions.

Unfortunately, not all manufacturers adhere to norms and standards, and then illiquid assets can be disguised under the usual outer shell, which may be unsuitable for use in the furniture industry.
It is almost impossible to distinguish high-quality chipboard from low-quality chipboard by eye, because. interfere with the decorative coating. chipboard with high content formaldehyde gives off a characteristic odor that intensifies when doors and drawers are opened. Also, the seller or manufacturer of furniture must have certificates for chipboard, which indicate the class of the product.
Remember that quality does not come cheap.
If in this moment there is an opportunity to purchase only very inexpensive furniture, be sure to pay attention to the ends. The ends must be of high quality closed with an edge!

Decorative coatings for wood boards

We examined the plates from which furniture is most often made.
Now let's turn to the decorative coatings of wood-based panels.

Laminating

Let's start from the very simple type furniture coverings - with laminating technology, when ordinary textured paper is used. It is enough to apply a paper sheet on the surface of a chipboard or MDF panel, as the furniture design will already receive its protective covering. Often the paper is varnished or embossed. Despite this, the paper coating is very vulnerable to moisture, scratches quickly and is afraid of shock loads.
Furniture with laminating technology is widely represented in the budget segment. Such furniture sets are quite suitable for bedrooms and living rooms, subject to careful handling. For the arrangement of the kitchen, the use of laminated paper to cover furniture is hardly suitable, since the operating mode there is quite hard and intense, because of which the delicate coating simply cannot withstand the load and quickly deteriorates. Or you must initially rely on a short service life in a "decent" form. Perhaps such furniture fit for the children's room. The child will grow up by the time the coating wears out, and it can be replaced with a more durable one.

Melamine coating

It consists of several layers of paper impregnated with melamine-formaldehyde resins at a temperature of about 180°.
Basically, it is applied to chipboard or MDF, this process is called lamination. It turns out a smooth, resistant to water and mechanical damage, laminated surface. Melamine-based panels are used as kitchen worktops, cabinet and drawer fronts, as well as for the manufacture of other elements of cabinet furniture. This material is also called artificial veneer.
Also, edges for the ends of the plates are made of melamine.

Benefits of melamine coating:

• Low price.
• Resistant to minor mechanical damage.
• Ease of maintenance.
• Resistant to hot dishes.
• The ability to create a surface of any color: plain, with a pattern and even with a photograph.
• Imitation of various textures.

Disadvantages of melamine-based coating:

• Not resistant to some aggressive household chemicals and solvents.
• The surface is easily scratched with a sharp object.
• The coating technology does not allow hermetically sealing the entire slab, therefore, when using it in a humid environment, all seams and joints must be treated with a sealant.

Melamine coated furniture should be treated with sprays or liquids other than those containing abrasive particles. If such products are not at hand, you can wipe the surface first with a damp cloth, and then with a dry one.
It is important to protect the surface of melamine products from sharp objects. Although the melamine coating is hard, strong blows metal objects can damage it.

Laminate

Laminate- an impact-resistant, pressure- and physical impact-resistant film based on thermosetting polymers (melamine resin) with a thickness of 0.5-1.3 mm, which is used to cover chipboard and fiberboard boards.

And although melamine paper is also present in the structure of the laminate, as mentioned above, laminated chipboard and laminate are not the same thing, they are two different coatings. Laminate flooring features a layered plastic structure that has unique quality characteristics and performance properties.

At the same time, the finished coating has class differentiation, depending on the production technology used. There is a CPL class laminate, when the technological process is continuous, its surface is smooth.
There is a HPL class laminate produced under high pressure. Its surface is more corrugated, which is due to the use of pressure pads that allow you to create a stone or wood texture on the surface. High pressure laminate is considered more wear-resistant, however, its price criterion is much higher.
The front surface of the laminate can be very diverse: with a solid color or with a textured pattern that imitates wood texture, stone structure or repeating various patterns.
The characteristics of the laminate also depend on the thickness of the material.
For the manufacture of countertops, it is recommended to use HPL plastic, minimum thickness which is 0.6 millimeters. High pressure laminate is also excellent for the production of furniture facades and decorative panels.

Postforming

Also in the furniture industry there is such an interesting coating as postforming.

Its other name is duroplast. This is a paper-based plastic, the structure of which is enriched with chemical additives - plasticizers, which give the material flexibility when heated. When cooled, it hardens, retaining its curved shape.
This quality of Duroplast allows you to quickly and efficiently bend the ends, gluing their canvas to a horizontal furniture surface. That is, with postforming technology, there is no gap between the upper working surface and butt.

Postforming technology for the formation of a protective coating is widely used in the manufacture of countertops, window sills, furniture facades. The use of postforming allows you to form one or two bending radii, depending on the design of the furniture structure.

With the help of postforming technology, it is possible to “wrap” a furniture board both from one end (by 90 degrees, for countertops) and from both sides (full blockage by 180 degrees, suitable for facades).
As a protection, for example, the edges of the countertop in the kitchen, it is necessary to use a special sizing or groove with protective and water-repellent properties, otherwise the material will absorb moisture into itself, due to which the top coating will simply peel off and fall off the furniture.

Softforming

An alternative postforming technology is softforming, the essence of which is the processing of the ends of parts with a finished protective coating. To do this, the ends are milled and glued using a thin film, which provides high-quality fillets.
Softforming technology is excellent, for example, for the production of furniture boards that act as the basis for countertops. Softforming also finds its application in the production of wardrobes.
Disadvantages of this method:

• Not very aesthetically pleasing, because it is not possible to completely hide the joint between the film on the end. Because of this, differences between the colors of the decorated surface and the protective film are visible.
• The film used during softforming is much weaker in strength compared to laminate and chipboard.

PVC film

The main advantage of such a furniture coating is its plasticity, excellent adhesiveness, moisture resistance, and high wear resistance. It is used, in particular, for processing MDF panels, countertops, any horizontal surfaces. Also, PVC film is often used as a basis for softforming to process the ends of parts, and also as a protective layer for steel and aluminum products, individual parts of structures.

Veneer

The next type of coating is veneer.

Veneer is a thin layer of natural wood obtained by planing or peeling a tree. In German, der Spon means "sliver", "lining".
Veneering is gluing thin sheets of wood with a beautiful structure (actually, veneer) onto wooden base- be it a table, a wall or a door - of lower decorative qualities. It turns out that veneering furniture is dressing it in beautiful clothes. Veneering would be more correct to call "veneering". But it so happened that the word "veneering" is more familiar to the layman's ear than "veneering". Veneer plates are selected by color and texture.

Veneer is sawn, peeled and planed.

Sliced ​​veneer with a thickness of 0.2 to 5 mm, they are made from valuable wood with a beautiful texture: oak, beech, walnut, mahogany, Karelian birch, ash, elm, acacia, yew and others.

Sawn veneer thickness from 1 to 10 mm is made from coniferous wood: fir, cedar, spruce. The production of bent glued furniture parts is unthinkable without sawn veneer.

For production rotary cut veneer 0.1-10 mm thick, alder, birch, pine, aspen, beech, oak and other wood species are used. Peeling is carried out by cutting a thin layer from a rotating log cylinder. The quality of peeled veneer is somewhat lower than that of sawn veneer, but it is also widely used for veneering furniture parts.
There are several basic types of veneer.

• Hot veneer. With this method, the veneer is glued to the base due to adhesive compositions. The easiest method. Moreover, for the connection of MDF, chipboard and veneer, glue based on PVA can be used, it is more environmentally friendly than glue based on synthetic resins. One-sided gluing of precious wood veneer is accompanied by laminating the other side of the MDF and chipboard sheet.
• Cold veneering. Here the veneer is pressed to the base. We are talking about pressing equipment.
• Membrane veneering. An industrial method used for veneering complex surfaces. Membrane veneering is based on vacuum bonding of veneer and plates - both smooth and embossed.

Why veneer furniture?

Wood is considered the most expensive and noble material for making furniture. However, along with the advantages, wood has a number of disadvantages.

1. First, it's relative. high price, inherent in high-quality, well-dried and covered with protective and decorative compositions of wood.
2. Secondly, exposure to high humidity, which limits the use of this material, for example, in bathrooms.
3. Thirdly, over time, with insufficient care, wood can warp, dry out, change its shape and size.

With the help of veneer, you can give the furniture a more expensive noble look of wooden furniture. Unlike solid wood, veneer does not dry out, does not deform, and is not affected by moisture and temperature. That is, as a result of veneering, a material is obtained that is outwardly indistinguishable from natural wood, and at the same time strong, durable, and quite easy to maintain. Furniture made of decorative panels for living rooms, hallways, dining rooms outwardly is not inferior to the same, made of natural wood. At the same time, its service life and resistance to climatic influences will be much higher, and reasonable prices will make furniture for home and office accessible to a wide range of consumers.

What affects the price of furniture?

• production technology (MDF is more expensive than chipboard),
• country of origin (plate materials of foreign European firms will cost more than their Russian counterparts),
• Availability additional properties given to materials during the production process (fire resistance, bioresistance, water resistance),
• availability, quality and durability decorative coating on MDF or chipboard (everything that gives the construction of these materials greater safety and strength costs more),
• the number of intermediaries between the manufacturer and the buyer (the more there are, the more expensive the material will be in the end).

Remember that miracles happen in our lives, but this is hardly the case with furniture pricing. The cheaper, the lower the quality of the materials (let's ignore the cost of the brand, the price of active advertising, etc.).
You can save on buying furniture for the living room or hallway, where you spend not so much time. But as for the bedroom, nursery or kitchen - be careful.

What to look for when choosing furniture?

Unfortunately, often the qualifications of managers furniture stores leaves much to be desired. They can get confused with terminologies. So don't be afraid to ask them for as much information as possible. If the consultant finds it difficult to answer a question, ask him to call the technologist (if this is a production) or the manager (senior salesman, manager), ask how long the person has been working in this salon.
And we try to help ourselves.

Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the edges and the seams between them and the face (board surface). If the seams are not made well enough, then water will get into them over time (for example, when wet cleaning rooms) and MDF (as well as chipboard) will “swell up”. At the same time, chipboard is much less moisture resistant.

But MDF reacts more strongly to high temperatures. MDF furniture should not be placed too close to heating appliances - it can warp.

But, even if all the furniture elements are made with high quality, we should not forget that MDF and chipboard are mass-produced materials that, to one degree or another (according to different characteristics) are inferior to furniture made from properly dried and treated wood. In other words, even the most best furniture from slab materials usually serves no more than 10-25 years (depending on the quality of the raw materials and the accuracy of handling).

Feel free to smell the furniture. Yes, just sniff. Materials made in violation of the technological process smell. It's not about the smell of wood. We are talking about the specific smells of impregnations. Moreover, the smell of the furniture standing at the exhibition should “weather”. If the chemical smell remains, consider whether it is worth the risk. Ask the salon consultant for a certificate, ask him to show what class of chipboard is indicated.

Click on the picture to open in a larger size.

Brief conclusions

• MDF is moisture resistant, but is afraid of high temperatures.
• Chipboard is moisture resistant, subject to the integrity of the surface and high-quality edges.
• If you decide to purchase a set with straight facades, you can buy furniture made of chipboard that does not bend, so you will save. And if you like curved and rounded facades, you need MDF.
• Laminated furniture will last less than laminated board.
• A postformed kitchen worktop will last longer.
• The veneer will give an ordinary wood board noble look of natural wood and will be easier to clean.

Most importantly, whatever furniture you choose, take care of it properly, and it will serve you for a long time!

14.06.16,
Riorda,
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Choice the right furniture- the key to a comfortable home and durable repairs. This selection is especially difficult now because of such an abundance of offers on construction market. This article will help you decide on materials for bathroom furniture, living room and bedroom, nursery, kitchen and bathroom, as well as choose excellent upholstery and fillers for beds, sofas and armchairs.

General requirements for furniture materials

So, what qualities should materials for the manufacture of furniture have:

• Environmental friendliness. In whatever style your interior is made, in any case, natural, environmentally friendly wood and MDF will not spoil it. As for plastic, it can only be safe for humans if it has the appropriate quality certificates. Otherwise, it may be toxic.
• Durability. Furniture is rarely bought for a year or two. Good ones quality materials should serve for decades.
• Wear resistance. Those. resistance to scratches, mechanical damage, dirt. This is especially true for furniture that is subject to the greatest wear and tear. For example, a kitchen countertop or a bed in a bedroom. Ideally, furniture should not lose its appearance and color.
• Water resistance. Especially important for rooms with high humidity - kitchens and bathrooms.
• Resistant to dry cleaning and abrasives. As a result of contamination, which will inevitably appear over time, furniture materials should be easy to clean without losing their appearance. Here it is worth noting another requirement - easy care.
• Safety - this quality is especially true for children's furniture, since low-quality material can harm a child's health.

These are the key requirements that materials and fittings must follow. Now let's take a closer look at what is best to use for each particular room.

Bathroom furniture materials

In addition to the above requirements, materials for the manufacture of bathroom furniture must have at least a minimum protective coating against moisture and temperature changes. Otherwise, after some time, the shelf or cabinet will become covered with mold, crack, swell and begin to rot. It is best to use plastic and glass. Often used painted and impregnated natural wood. In this case, you need to evaluate the quality of the paint so that it does not crack over time.

Also, the surface texture should not collect smudges and drops of water, otherwise you will constantly have to clean it.

Handles, hinges and other fittings are of great importance. They must be moisture resistant and not rust.

Furniture materials for the kitchen

Similar characteristics should have materials for kitchen furniture. In addition to resistance to moisture, corrosion and temperature extremes, they must be invulnerable to mechanical damage, grease, cleaning chemicals. It is especially scrupulous to choose the material for countertops - in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe sink there is a risk of water getting in, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe stove - fat, and out of forgetfulness you can put a hot frying pan on the table without a stand and leave a mark on it.

Furniture materials for the living room and bedroom

Unlike the previous two rooms in the living room, furniture materials do not have such strict requirements. Glass, metal, wood, and chipboard are suitable here, it all depends on the style and design of your apartment. For example, in most styles (modern, classic, provence, loft, chalet, Japanese and many others), the most versatile material is natural wood - solid oak, alder, pine. Plastic is rarely used, except in high-tech interiors. In the same style, a special durable one is often used. But forged metal parts are more applicable for Art Nouveau, Baroque, Art Deco.

It is also important to choose the right fillers for sofas and beds, on which the inhabitants spend a large number of time.

Fillers and upholstery

In addition to the furniture body, the filling, namely its fillers, should be safe and durable.

As for upholstery, well-known materials for furniture upholstery are linen, cotton, natural wool. The first is more often used in its natural form without staining. The second is bleached, covered with special compounds or impregnation to repel moisture, wax, paraffin. Often dyed in different colors. Natural wool is used less often, due to its pricklyness and rapid wear.

Leather and its budget option - leatherette are more popular. Sometimes silk is used, for example, for the upholstery of poufs.

Furniture materials for the nursery

Parents should approach this choice with special responsibility, since often highchairs and cribs are checked by the baby for taste. The best materials for children's furniture are certified plastic, natural wood coated with special impregnation (for example, linseed oil), MDF. Glass and metal surfaces are not recommended due to their unsafety for the child. Chipboard releases toxic fumes over time.

And of course, children's furniture should not have sharp corners, protruding sharp objects, or breakable surfaces.

accessories

What applies to furniture fittings? These are various handles, and wheels, fasteners, retractable systems, accessories. In their choice, it is also worth relying on the authority of the manufacturer, the durability and reliability of materials. Otherwise, you will end up with shaky furniture with creaking doors.

Furniture handles should not only be aesthetically beautiful, but also not get in the way when walking past a closet or chest of drawers and be comfortable to use. Metal and wooden mortise, staples and invisible handles are best suited.

The highest quality hinges are chrome-plated. It is important that they work easily and silently. Some have a built-in closer that allows you to smoothly close the doors.

All sorts of retractable systems are very rich in assortment. The most inexpensive are roller guides that provide smooth extension of the drawers. Ball bearings are more expensive, but durable, and are designed for heavy loads.

Summary

As you can see, the choice of materials today is huge, and a lot of it depends on which room you choose furniture for, what style the interior is made in, and how much you have for repairs. Saving is not the best option to cut costs, because poor quality cheap furniture will serve short term, and in a couple of years you will again have to change it or drag it. natural wood or more budget MDF, high-quality certified plastic, tempered glass, reliable fittings and good upholstery will last you long years and will not lose their appearance even after decades. Choose trusted manufacturers who, in addition to quality, will give you additional guarantees for the use of furniture during the first year or two.

Do-it-yourself cabinet furniture made, for example, for a country house, has recently become very popular in Russia. The fact is that such independent work allows not only to significantly save on the purchase of furniture, but also to take into account as much as possible architectural features one room or another. At the same time, it is quite easy to mount built-in appliances in such furniture, which cannot be done when installing a standard furniture set purchased in a store.

In order to answer the question of how to make cabinet furniture with your own hands, you need to figure out what it is. The main difference between this type of furniture and its other varieties is that it consists of rigid panels, which together form its main part - a box or body. However, it does not have soft parts, such as ottomans or mattresses.

The main difference between this type of furniture and its other varieties is that it consists of rigid panels, which together form its main part - a box or case.

The body of such furniture is assembled from separate vertical and horizontal elements, which, if necessary, can be moved or replaced. As a result, by combining a small number of basic elements, you can assemble a variety of furnishings: chests of drawers, cabinets, walls, kitchens, bedside tables. In addition, the cabinet furniture may also include a built-in Appliances, such as a range hood or microwave oven.

This type of furniture can be not only rectangular, but also have a completely different appearance. So, for example, an experienced craftsman can make the same semicircular cabinet, and the kitchen can generally be wavy. It all depends on the wishes of the customer and the imagination of the designer.

You can assemble and disassemble furniture of this type, if necessary.

Cabinet or, as it is also called, modular furniture has a number of advantages. So, they include:

• a wide range of models;
• unlimited possibilities for the use of various finishing materials;
• acceptable price;
• the possibility of modification depending on the requirements of the interior of a particular room.

For example, you can assemble and disassemble furniture of this type, if necessary, several times. This will come in handy when moving or replacing furniture in another room. At the same time, you will not need to invite specialists for this, since modular furniture is quite easy to assemble on your own.

The cabinet furniture may also include built-in appliances, such as an extractor hood or a microwave oven.

As for the financial side of the issue, the manufactured with my own hands furniture can cost half as much as purchased in a furniture store. This is due to the fact that approximately 50% of the price of the same closet is the cost of work. In addition, by independently selecting the material for cabinet furniture, you can also save about 10% of its price.

As for the scope of modular furniture, they are very extensive. It can be installed in the bedroom, kitchen, living room. There are whole universal sets, allowing you to quickly and tastefully decorate almost any furniture.

The main stages of manufacture

Making cabinet furniture with your own hands begins with preparatory work. So, for starters, it will be necessary to develop its sketches and diagrams, taking into account the size of the room, the specific location of the furniture in it, the color and shape of the future headset. In this case, the project can be completed independently, or you can take it ready by downloading it from the relevant specialized sites.

Drawing of cabinet furniture

If you decide to draw the project yourself, you can use ordinary paper and a design pencil for this, or you can use a special design program, for example, "PRO100". At the same time, it will be necessary to work out the assembly drawings of your product. They can also be performed independently using computer programs such as Compass 3D or AutoCAD, as well as using ready-made ones. Assembly drawings are a kind of map according to which you will assemble ready-made furniture, so you need to be very careful about their compilation or selection.

Since one of the mandatory operations in the manufacture of cabinet furniture will be sawing particle boards, it is imperative that you also have to calculate and detail all the elements of a particular furniture set. It is for them that they will then be cut out in the sawmill. Naturally, mistakes here will be fraught with marriage in the future.

Kitchen furniture layout

In addition, at this stage, the cost of the future headset, kitchen or built-in wardrobe is also calculated. It will need to include the cost of materials, fittings, cutting and gluing work furniture edge. Such a calculation will allow you to plan the work and, if necessary, make the required adjustments to them.

After you have completed all the calculations, you will need to start purchasing materials and tools to create modular furniture. Do-it-yourself cabinet furniture in this case can not be done completely independently. The fact is that some elements may well have to be entrusted to specialists in the field of furniture production. For example, it can be a facade of an original design or shelves of an unusual design.

Selection of tools and accessories

If you are going to make such an interior design element as cabinet furniture with your own hands, be sure to watch the video of this process. The fact is that it is far from always clear why this or that tool is needed. By visualizing the scope of its use, you will quickly make a decision to buy it.

Roulette for taking measurements

As for the class of the purchased tool, then in everyday life a semi-professional one will be quite enough, which is relatively inexpensive and provides an acceptable quality of work performed. By the way, in addition to buying, there is also the option of renting a tool. In this case, in any case, it will be necessary to purchase a screwdriver or drill, without which it is impossible to assemble cabinet furniture.

A set of magnetic bits for working with screws in hard-to-reach places

As for the other tool and accessories for it, then you without fail when performing work you will need:

• three-meter tape measure;
• drills for wood and metal different sizes up to and including the sixteenth;
• a set of magnetic bits for working with screws in hard-to-reach places;
• an awl for punching a hole in a tree;
• set of hex keys;
• screwdriwer set;
• jigsaw.

Many manuals that explain how to assemble cabinet furniture with your own hands recommend purchasing cabinet furniture fittings at the same time as buying a tool. This is due to the fact that many fittings can be installed in place using only special keys. Naturally, it makes sense to purchase such keys in advance.

Awl for punching holes in wood

It should be remembered! Furniture accessories include door handles, hinges, drawer guides, shelf supports and other furniture design elements.

Their main task is to ensure the operation of doors, shelves, drawers and other components of the same wardrobe. At the same time, the better the fittings used, the more convenient it will be to use the furniture.

Drills for wood and metal of various sizes up to and including the sixteenth

When purchasing accessories, it is necessary to give preference to proven European brands. The fact is that Asian companies often use silumin for the production of fittings. As a result, it fails very quickly, which is fraught with loss of efficiency of the same cabinet.

When purchasing accessories, it is necessary to give preference to proven European brands

In any case, these design elements of modular furniture should fit into its design as much as possible. To do this, it is necessary to choose one or another type of fittings at the stage of creating a project. It must be adhered to and replaced only in special cases.

Purchasing material for furniture production

Do-it-yourself cabinet furniture will be of high quality only if you select excellent material for it. So, most types of such furniture are made of wood, although there are options for using metal, glass, artificial and natural stone in its design. The most expensive furniture is made from solid wood such as oak, walnut, beech, ash.

Wooden furniture boards for furniture making

As for other materials used to create cabinet furniture, these are:

• furniture boards;
• chipboard or chipboard;
• fibreboard or fiberboard;
• MDF boards;
• laminates.

To create lower and middle furniture price segment usually use chipboard 1.6 cm thick.

Chipboard for furniture making

This material is made from fine wood shavings mixed with synthetic resins by hot pressing. Since such resins are quite toxic, when choosing chipboard in the manufacture of furniture, it is necessary to carefully monitor that this material has all the necessary permits and certificates.

Chipboard is divided into several classes, while the E1 class plate is used to create furniture. It should be well lined, so when buying, you should strive to ensure that it has as few unprotected areas as possible through which formaldehyde can leak. To do this, all holes are closed with plugs, and the ends of the plate are trimmed with a furniture edge.

Hello, dear site visitors!

We would like to say a few words about the most common materials used for the production of "Rigid" furniture - cabinets (both built-in and cabinet), kitchens, dressing rooms, cabinets, etc.

First of all, it should be said that the main constituent parts furniture can be:

• frame,
• facade,
• countertop,
• accessories.

Housing Materials - Product Basics

Material No. 1 - chipboard

The vast majority of furniture cases in Russia are made of chipboard 16 mm thick, although there are other thicknesses, such as 18.25 mm. Chipboard is Laminated Particle Board(the official abbreviated name is LDStP, the most common abbreviation is LDSP, colloquially - chipboard, in professional slang - firewood). The fundamental device is a chipboard, consisting of a glued high temperature wood shavings, on which a special decorative paper- impregnate. This paper (Impregnate) or imitates various materials- usually a tree various breeds or some other materials, such as titanium metal, or just plain different colors A: white, beige red, blue, etc.

Chipboard not laminated (or polished) is not used for the production of furniture cases.

1 chipboard

2 chipboard

The price of laminated chipboard depends on the Thickness, Color, Texture (the surface may be different to the touch) and the pricing policy of the manufacturer. Prices

In the photo: Chipboard Egger white color with different textures.

For the manufacture of furniture, the laminated chipboard is sawn, and a decorative edge of various THICKNESS is glued to the ends, depending on the purpose.

In the photo: Chipboard 16 mm with PVC edging 2 mm thick

The material from which the edges are now made is plastic (or PVC-Polyvinyl chloride or ABS - Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) with a thickness of 0.4 to 2 mm. Such edges are designed for application on special equipment. The previously common melamine edges, which could be glued with an iron, have practically gone out of use due to their lower consumer qualities.

Material No. 2 - MDF

MDF is, like chipboard, a glued board, only it is glued not from chips, but from wood “dust”.
MDF (MDF) - from English. Medium Density Fibreboard to refer to medium density fibreboard. The most common thicknesses are 16, 19 and 25 mm, as well as gluing from these plates.
Fundamental difference from chipboard - MDF is much more durable and dense - therefore, patterns can be applied to its surface by milling.

In the photo: MDF with milling

MDF is more expensive (more wood base, more binder) than chipboard, and tends to intended for subsequent surface treatment: painting, milling, gluing veneer, plastic, PVC film, etc. For this reason, laminated MDF of any color other than white is a rarity.

There is an opinion that MDF is a more environmentally friendly material than chipboard - this is a delusion.
The environmental characteristics of these materials are very similar: both high-quality chipboard and high-quality MDF corresponding to class E1 have equally low formaldehyde emission rates. To see this - read the Egger environmental brochure - see page 24.

Eco Brochure Egger
Eco Egger.pdf (1.61 MB)

Material No. 3 - furniture board, solid wood, plywood

Furniture panel, solid wood, plywood are also glued wood. In general, furniture made from a single piece of wood is a rarity in modern world. The number one reason for this is that due to changes in humidity, a single piece of wood of a large width (namely, this is what is needed for the production of a cabinet body) is prone to deformation, reason number two is that a solid wood of a large width is very expensive.

Material No. 4 - for the rear walls

For the rear walls, the most common materials are fiberboard, HDF, chipboard and, in the cheapest furniture, fiberboard.

A little more about each of these materials in ascending order of cost.

MDF - Fibreboard is similar in composition to MDF, only the density is lower and the standard thickness is just over 3 mm. This is the cheapest board material known to us, does not have a decorative finish, but often has persistent odor, which has the peculiarity of accumulating inside your closet. This material will suit only the most undemanding consumers.

DVPO - Ennobled Wood-Fiber Board, colloquially - Hardboard. This is fiberboard, one side of which is painted and either imitates wood, or simply solid color. Since the decorative layer of DVPO is applied using a technology fundamentally different from chipboard, their colors are different.

HDF - from the English High Density Fiberboard - high-density fibreboard. Roughly, this is a higher quality DVPO. HDF is produced by the same companies as chipboard, so some of the colors of HDF and chipboard are almost identical, but, alas, not all. Disadvantages of MDF- cost close to chipboard and relative fragility.

Chipboard for rear walls is used in the following cases:

• The rear wall is not covered by a facade and its color must completely match the rest of the body parts. In this case, the thinnest plate, 8 mm, is most often used.
• The product is located in the middle of the room - and its back side is visible. The back wall experiences high loads - in this case, chipboard with a thickness of 16 mm or more is used.

Facade materials

It should be noted that the facades are different according to the type of opening: sliding - for example, compartment doors made of aluminum profile and hinged, which affects their design.

From a structural point of view, facades can consist of a single material and be prefabricated, for example, filling from other materials is inserted into a profile from one material. Common frame materials are aluminum profile, profile made of MDF and wrapped in PVC film.

The materials for the facades, consisting of a single material, and the materials for filling prefabricated facades are basically the same: laminated chipboard, painted MDF, both with and without milling, MDF covered with PVC film, MDF covered with HPL plastics, Mirror and glass, as simple and processed - matte, tinted, dyed, with a pattern, etc., decorative plastics and artificial leather.

• 1) chipboard.
• 2) Transparent glass and silver mirror (i.e. not tinted)
• 3) Glasses with Oracal color films
• 4) Facades made of MDF frame profile
• 5) MDF covered with PVC films
• 6) MDF coated with HPL plastic from Egger, Melaton, Arpa, etc.
• 7) Painted MDF matte
• 8) Painted MDF glossy
• 9) MDF veneered

Variants of materials from which countertops are made

If the furniture is not exposed to moisture, then it is chipboard or MDF, painted or veneered.

If the furniture is exposed to moisture, for example in the kitchen, then this is a countertop based on moisture-resistant chipboard lined with plastic, a countertop made of artificial stone or natural stone.

Our company works with most of the listed materials. You can get more detailed information in the relevant sections of the site or from our employees.

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