Everything you need to know about Industrial Wood and Natural Wood
Office Desks, from traditional corner desks to standing desks, come in a whole variety of different shapes, sizes, styles, and designs. All of these are made from different types of materials. So which one is the right for your office? What exactly are the options? Is MDF better than natural wood? What is HPL? Or MFC?
This article will address all of these questions.
You may also like our article: Which office desk style is right for me?
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF)
MDF is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, then forming it into panels by applying high temperature and pressure.
MDF Vs Real Wood
The main difference between real wood and MDF is that MDF is engineered whilst real wood is natural product. You could assume that real wood desks must always be better, but in some situations, MDF can outperform real wood desks. The way MDF is pressed, for example, produces dense sheets that remain stable in most weather conditions. MDF can also withstand changes in humidity and heat better than solid wood (real wood tends to expand and contact when temperatures rise and fall). As a result of all this, cabinets, doors and panels made from real wood require more maintenance and care.
Other MDF Advantages for Offices or Commercial use
- Tends to outperform solid wood in the making of painted cabinet doors.
- Available in larger foot panels, making it a good choice for projects that require large pieces of wood with no joints.
- Can be easy painted or stained. This can be an issue when you use real wood.
- Much cheaper than real wood. It is also widely available.
- Features multiple laminate layers while being protected from harmful elements
- Lightweight design, easily carried around
- Standard MDF can withstand up to 90 kg of weight. That’s why MDF furniture durability is a top advantage compared to solid wood.
Here some of our real veneers desks from our website:
Different type of Natural Woods
Wood actually has its pros and cons. While it is usually reliable and comes in a variety of shapes and colours, it also requires proper care and, in some cases, can be really expensive, but if you are looking for a Wood Office Desk for your office or Home Office you should consider the following timber options: Oak, Walnut, Cherry, Pine and Maple are some of the most common ones. Let’s see them in more detail.
OAK
Oak is know as one of the most popular hardwoods for computer desks. It is a beautiful, hard and durable kind of wood. It has excellent finish properties, and it can be stained to fit any range of home office styles. With proper maintenance, it has a long lifetime, and is fire resistant. The downside is that it can be moderately expensive; cracks can occur with poor maintenance and the stain can get a bit darker overtime.
Walnut
Probably one of the more expensive types of wood, but one of the most beautiful in terms of grain, color and pattern. this type of wood has a great performance, and you can be sure that your desk will last for very long time. It is environmentally friendly, water and mould resistant. Regarding cons, it can quite easily get damaged and scratched, and it will need proper care to extend its lifetime.
Pine
It is very different than oak. It may not last quite as long as oak, but it is a strong, shock-resistant material suitable for furniture, particularly if you like the rustic or country styles. It is easy to paint and stain, in order to get your preferred colour. It is also environmentally friendly. Pine Wood is low-cost compared to other types of wood.
Cherry
Cherry has a beautiful texture and a is a white to reddish-brown colour. A cherry Desk can add a dramatic look to your home office. Finishing properties are great, and it is excellent for nailing, gluing, screwing, and polishing. It can be expensive and is not war or scratch resistant.
Maple
Maple is one of the best woods for a computer desk because it is very durable and easily affordable choice. It is incredibly strong, looks great, and stains nicely. It is also lightweight and has impressive durability, making it a great choice for woodworkers. Regarding cons, it is not good for heavy use. Also it can be easily damaged from insects. It must be sealed.
HPL Plywood or High-Pressure Laminates
HPL are created by combining multiple layers of the cellulosic fibres extracted from the young wood variants. These fibres are then bonded with the use of phenolic resin. Plywood has better water resistance than MFD and MFC, and is therefore used in a variety of areas as a building material, both indoors and outdoors. Plywood is also used for furniture sets, cabinets and tables. In general, it can be said that due to its high strength values, plywood is used wherever high stability is required.
Other HPL advantages for offices or commercial use
- Resistant to scratching and impact issues
- A natural coating of wood making it ideal for a unique look
- Resistant to water infiltration with minimal moisture and water absorption
- Hygienic material that doesn’t serve as a breeding ground for bacteria
- Stain and heat resistant with anti-static design
MFC (Melamine Faced Chipboard)
MFC is made of wood chips from short-lived forest trees, such as eucalyptus, acacia, and rubber. These chips are formed into particleboard then bonded to melamine resin impregnated paper. The melamine layer helps to waterproof the material, make it scratch-resistant, as well as increasing the aesthetics of the surface. Chipboards with a high-quality melamine surface give a wood-like texture and a beautiful visual touch. MFC comes in a variety of colours. It is lightweight and easy to construct. It is water resistance and suitable for home and office furniture.
Other MDF Advantages for Offices or Commercial use
- Heat and stain resistant
- Stand up for heavy use
- Strong and long lasting
MFC is one of the most sustainable wood based products. The bulk of the wood chips in MFC come from trees grown in managed forests, and because the trees are chipped there is very little wastage.
Here some examples of MFC Desks from our website:
BT Office Furniture
At BT Office we have some beautiful office desks made from some of the industrial wood materials discussed, materials widely used in office furniture nowadays. Our range of contemporary quality office desks & modern office desks covers all of your office workstation needs, including 120 degree desks, corner office desks, d-end desks, radial office workstations, executive desks, collaborative desks, L Shaped Desks, Wave Desks, and Glass desks. Stylish options, or desk-to-a -budget. Talk to our team of experts today.