Evaluating Furniture

Marks of Quality

Quality……

Like beauty is more than skin deep.

You can always pay less, buy you’ll never get more!

Two Categories of Furniture

Casegoods Upholstered goods

Factors to consider when selecting furniture…

Size of space and scale of furniture Function Economy Durability/construction Maintenance Beauty and character Built-in or modular

Two Categories of Wood

Hardwood: (loose their leaves in the Fall) ash, cherry, maple, oak, pecan, teak, rosewood, walnut, mahogany and poplar.

Softwood: (keep their leaves in the Fall) cedar, cypress, fir, pine and

redwood.

Solid Wood

Very expensive Does not use any plywood, particle

board or veneers Can warp and expand

Veneer Cutting Methods

Wood Veneer

Thin slice of wood adhered to plywood, multi-density plywood (MDF) or craft paper backing.

Dates back to early Egypt and Rome

Used extensively in 17th century by Thomas Chippendale

Allows for intricate designs and more affordable pieces.

Book Match End Match End Match Slip Match Herringbone

Construction Methods

Dovetailed Mortise and Tenon Tongue and

Groove Doweled Mitered

Plywood

Composed of an odd number of sheets of wood glued together at right angles to each other.

Count the number of ply’s. Always look at the thickness

of drawer bottoms Used for large flat surfaces

as solid wood tends to warp. Covered by veneer and trimmed out in solid wood edges.

Reconstituted Wood

MDF, OSB, particleboard Polymer adhesives,

(petroleum based) Ideal for furniture using

laminated surfaces Some lesser quality will

swell and expand if it gets wet.

Melamine and Laminate

Chemicals, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen

White powder condensed with formaldehyde and heated to create a hard surface.

Low pressure (LPL)

High pressure (HPL)

Wood Finishes

Protect and enhance Sanding and filling Staining Transparent film

Types of Finishes Shellac - oldest films that isn't resistant to moisture, alcohol or heat

Varnish - made of oils and resins, varnish is more durable for moisture concerns such as outdoor furniture. Varnish is usually flammable. Typically brushed on.

Polyurethane - synthetic resin that is extremely durable comes in flat, satin and glossy - used by a lot of do-it-yourselfers. Can be oil-based or water-based.

Lacquer - resin, solvent-based finish that is more durable than Varnish. Often comes pigmented and creates a shiny finish. Typically sprayed on. Catalyzed lacquer is a very durable finish used by office furniture manufacturers. It uses chemicals in the drying process vs. evaporation only

Water-based UV coatings are being used in sustainable manufacturing processes. It uses UV radiation as a curing process.

Checklist… Door and drawer fit well Drawers have glides and stops Drawer glides easily when pulled Drawers have dust panels Drawers are lined Drawer sides are finished Drawer interiors are smooth Doors swing open without squeaking No rough edges on hardware Entertainment units have hole (grommet) for electrical cords Wood grain matches on table leaves, drawer to drawer, etc. Distressed finish is random looking No racking or twisting when lifting one edge

Upholstered Goods

Four evaluation points

Fabric Springs Filling-padding Frame

Fabric

Well applied, tightly woven material

Thread should match Small stitches Patterns should match Skirt should lie flat

Springs

Drop-in Coil Sinuous or zig-

zag Eight-way hand ti

ed coil Web

Filling - Padding

Polyurethane Foam Foam Rubber Polyester Fiber fill Down Spring Down

Filling: Polyurethane Foam

Most used today Does a good job in shaping and

stuffing Synthetic Memory

Filling: Foam Rubber

Not used anymore – breaks down over time.

Smells like rubber Replaced by

polyurethane foam

Filling: Polyester Fiber Fill

Used as a batting that wraps around the cushion core

Dacron

Filling: Down

Goose Feathers Most expensive Considered Luxurious Tends to settle and

requires fluffing after each use.

Filling: Spring Down Innerspring coils surrounded by foam,

wrapped in Dacron Polyester.

Frame

Hardwood (elm, poplar, gumwood, birch, ash or oak).

Kiln Dried Legs should be an integral

part of the frame Center leg on long sofas Dowel construction with

corner blocks, glued and screwed together.

Checklist…..

Seats are comfortable Backs are free of bumps and hard spots Frame is sturdy, doesn’t creak or wobble Frame sits squarely on the floor Frame and corners are well padded Corners are braced and glued Seams and welts are straight Patterns and stripes match at seams Cushions fit snugly Buttons are sewn on securely Any moving parts clear fabric to prevent tearing Metal parts are smooth with no sharp edges

Pricing Furniture

Price (wholesale, retail, net, cost) F.O.B Destination F.O.B Factory C.O.M. C.O.L.

Quality Manufacturers

Thomasville Baker Henredon Kincaid Century Sherrill Broyhill Lane La-Z-Boy

Homework due

Visit a furniture store and evaluate two pieces of furniture. See handout posted on website. Worth 25 points. Due on Nov. 3rd.