Disadvantages of wooden furniture

Wooden furniture is still a popular choice for many people. There’s just something very appealing about its natural look. But just like all furniture, wooden pieces aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Wooden furniture can scratch, dent, and scratch. It can be prone to moisture and warping over time, and when exposed directly to sunlight, it can quickly fade to an unappealing shade of brown. So, before you pick up yet another wooden piece, consider the disadvantages of wood.

What are the disadvantages of wood furniture?

Wood can be heavy

It is not everyone has movers available to help transport furniture when moving. Moving wood will be complicated if you do not have help because it’s often heavy. High-quality wooden furniture will bring many benefits, such as strength and stability, but these will often make it very heavy. 

Vulnerable to moisture

Wood is often unable to resist moisture. It is often vulnerable to water when it hasn’t been chemically sealed. Many consumers have seen their wood eaten away by rot caused by water. Once it begins to eat away at the wood, there is often little that you can do to save it. The water molecules penetrate deep into the wood, and over time it can split. These splits become visible as the wood cracks and swells. 

Ultraviolet light can be harmful to the beauty of wood. 

Long-term exposure to sunlight can cause the wooden furniture to fade. This change of color will damage the aesthetic of the natural wood and make it look old. The loss of color means the exterior section of the wood is being damaged. This problem occurs because sunlight has the power to cut through the chemical bonds that bind wood fibers together. It will often take a skilled artisan to repair any lost color and beauty in wood, but this won’t come cheap.

Wood is not scratch resistant.

Paying a high fee for your furniture will often not be able to protect against the everyday blemishes caused by children and pets in the household. It is pretty often wooden furniture that will lose value as the finishes are scratched or damaged. Sharp objects are common offenders, and most topcoats cannot resist intense cutting force, such as a pet scratching the wood. As more scratches accumulate, the wood beneath likely becomes exposed to the elements. 

Costly to repair wood

Any damage sustained during the lifetime of wood requires a high level of skill to repair. Unless you are a craftsman, you will need to hire someone with the appropriate patience and skill. The correct knowledge to handle these situations is often not enough unless you have the accurate touch and tools. Therefore, DIY options might be less appealing to most.

What are the disadvantages of wood as a building material?

Wood is prone to rotting.  

Wood has come a long way in building, and tremendous strides have been made to ensure it can last longer. There are several treatments available to extend its life span. However, these advances have not been able to make it more valuable than concrete. This problem is because it remains highly vulnerable to rot compared to concrete. Mould and mildew are well-known problem causers when it comes to wood. Most types of wood cannot safely defend themselves against moisture. This feature makes building on areas highly subjected to water, such as windows, challenging. 

Structural limitations. 

Traditionally wood has always been an excellent choice for building. Many consumers enjoy the aesthetic presented by wood and therefore purchase it to build their homes. Using wood is quite tricky for modern homes because of the cost involved. It can also not provide the same modern qualities as guaranteed by other options like steel and concrete. For much larger buildings, wood is very limiting structurally. In contemporary homes, wood can provide a natural feeling for the guests, but other materials will be more structurally sound. 

Fire Hazard

Wood homes often suffer from heavy fire damage instead of dwellings made from steel and concrete. There are many things you can add to wood to make it more fire retardant; however, it is impossible to make it 100% fire retardant. This statistic exists even though homeowners make use of defenses such as the installation of sprinkler systems. Fire hazards are most common when construction is still starting. The initial building stages are often characterized by a structure that is not insulated and protected yet and therefore highly vulnerable to fire.

Building code violations. 

It is unfathomable to see a wooden skyscraper, which is good. Many building laws only allow the wood to be used to construct wood structures atop concrete podiums. More significant buildings are often denied permits if the construction involves wood as a primary building material.

What causes damage to wooden furniture?

Water

Wood is highly vulnerable to moisture and, therefore, will damage the wood. Even wood that has been well-sealed and treated will, over time, give in to the water. Outdoor furniture will require continuous yearly maintenance to ensure the seal is firm. Water is penetrative, and therefore even a little bit can cause the pores to swell and crack.  

Humidity

Humidity brings together moisture and heat. These two elements can easily penetrate through wood and cause problems for the consumer. Areas where there is both sun and rain continuously are not suitable for wooden furniture. 

Direct Sunlight

Expensive furniture can look old and tired with just a few months of exposure to UV rays. Direct sunlight will result in wood losing color. You can minimize this problem by adding a UV-resistant varnish coating.   

Sharp Object 

It is difficult to prevent children and pets from damaging wooden furniture. Wood is often not scratch resistant and therefore can be damaged in the home quite easily using sharp objects or teeth. 

Disadvantages of wooden flooring

1. Wood flooring requires a particular application that a costly artisan can only do. Depending on the type of wood you choose, it can cost between $8 – $10 per square meter to install this type of flooring.
2. Wooden flooring is likely to develop squeaks over time because of its vulnerability to humidity. This can lead to wood swelling and cracks developing. 
3.  Wood will wear out quickly if there is a lot of foot traffic.