When you're browsing for a new dining desk and keep seeing a specific content label, you're likely requesting what is rubberwood for furniture and exactly how it piles facing the classics like oak or maple. It's a single of those components that's suddenly everywhere, but it nevertheless feels a little bit mysterious to a lot of customers. People hear the particular word "rubber" plus immediately think associated with something bouncy or even flexible, but that couldn't be further from the truth whenever it comes to the particular wood used in your home.
In reality, rubberwood is a solid hardwood that's used the furniture business by storm over the last handful of decades. It's affordable, surprisingly tough, and it has a back tale that makes this one of the most eco-friendly options on the market. Let's dive directly into what makes this wood tick and why it might—or might not—be the right choice for your next room makeover.
Where does it actually come from?
To comprehend what is rubberwood for furniture , you have to look at the Hevea brasiliensis tree, commonly known as the Para rubber forest. These trees are grown in massive plantations across Southeast Asia, Brazil, plus parts of The african continent, primarily for their own sap. That systems applications and products is latex, which usually is the uncooked material for from surgical gloves to car tires.
For about 25 to 30 yrs, these trees are usually "tapped" for their particular latex. Once the particular tree ages, the latex production falls off significantly, plus it's no longer in a commercial sense viable for the rubber industry. In the past, these "retired" trees had been simply chopped lower and burned in order to make room for new saplings. It was a large waste of completely good timber.
Thankfully, somebody noticed that once a person stop looking at it as a sap producer and begin looking at it since a lumber resource, you've got a goldmine. Now, those trees are collected for their wooden instead of becoming burned. This "upcycling" is why rubberwood is often called "plantation hardwood" or "environmentally friendly wood. "
Is it actually really hard?
One of the greatest misguided beliefs is that rubberwood is soft or even spongy. Due to the title, people expect this to seem like the pencil eraser. In reality, rubberwood is a hardwood . Within the Janka hardness scale (the standard for measuring wood durability), it sits about the same level as Black Walnut or Indian Cherry. It's actually more difficult than many varieties of pine and also some varieties associated with cedar.
It has a thick grain that makes it quite stable. One of the best points about it—and some thing furniture makers love—is that it offers hardly any "movement. " All wood grows and contracts with changes in moisture, which could cause splits or warping. Rubberwood is remarkably steady in this regard, meaning this stays true to its shape better than many even more expensive timbers.
How it appears in your home
In case you would be to look at an uncooked piece of rubberwood, you'd notice this has a mild, creamy, or straw-colored color. It's got the relatively straight wheat with some minor "flecking" here and there. To the untrained eye, this can look the lot like oak, though it's usually a bit more uniform and has a softer texture.
Mainly because it starts along with such a lighting base color, it's an overall total chameleon. Manufacturers like it because this takes stains incredibly well. You can find rubberwood furniture stained in order to look like darkish mahogany, warm walnut, or even a modern "driftwood" grey.
Nevertheless, a little term of warning: in case you're DIY-ing task management with unfinished rubberwood, it can occasionally be a bit "thirsty. " Since it's a porous wood, it can soak upward stain unevenly when you don't work with a wood conditioner very first. But once it's finished properly, it looks high-end more than enough that most individuals wouldn't know this was an "affordable" wood until you told them.
The particular big benefits of rubberwood
The reason why are so many big-name retailers using it? It's not just in regards to the eco-friendly label.
1. It's easier on the wallet
Considering that rubberwood is basically a byproduct of the latex market, the raw material costs much less compared to timber grown specifically for lumber (like oak or cherry). These savings get passed down to you. You can frequently get a wood dining set made of rubberwood for the same price you'd pay for a cheap MDF or particleboard established elsewhere.
2. Durability for the daily grind
For those who have kids or pets, you understand the struggle. A person don't want a desk that's going to damage every time someone drops a shell. Rubberwood is challenging enough to manage everyday life. It's scratch-resistant and doesn't ding easily. While it's not invincible, it's a great deal heartier compared to the softwoods frequently found in spending budget furniture.
several. Sustainability points
We touched about this, but it's well worth repeating. Buying rubberwood doesn't contribute in order to the deforestation associated with natural jungles. You're utilizing a tree that will was already produced for another purpose and was destined for the scrap heap. It's a single of the several "guilt-free" hardwoods out there.
Are there any downsides?
Nothing at all is perfect, best? While what is rubberwood for furniture is mostly a positive tale, there are a few things in order to keep in thoughts.
- Dampness Sensitivity: While it's steady in terms of warping, rubberwood doesn't love becoming soaking wet. It's not a great choice for outdoor furniture unless it's been specifically treated along with heavy-duty weatherproofing. In the event that you leave it in a damp garage or out there on a patio, it can get rotten faster than something like teak or cedar.
- The particular "Rubber" Allergy: This is a rare a single, but worth mentioning. Some people with severe latex allergies have got reported reactions in order to unfinished rubberwood. As soon as the wood is sealed and completed with lacquer or even paint, the chance is nearly zero, but it's something to become aware of in case you have intense sensitivities.
- Perception: Some "wood snobs" might look straight down on it because it's seen as a budget material. If you're looking for the piece of furniture which will appreciate in value like an antique mahogany desk, rubberwood probably isn't the investment you're looking for. It's a workhorse, not really necessarily an art gallery piece.
Tips on how to take care associated with it
Maintaining your rubberwood furniture isn't any tougher than caring for any other wood piece. The main rule is to avoid harsh chemicals. A simple wipe-down with a wet cloth and a few mild soap is usually all it needs.
Since it's an all natural product, it doesn't love extreme high temperature. Don't put the boiling pot directly on a rubberwood table—but then again, you shouldn't do that with an oak table either! Use coasters and placemats, and it'll probably look great for decades.
Is it right for you?
In the end associated with the day, if you ask what is rubberwood for furniture , you're really asking when it's worth your cash. If you desire the look plus feel of solid wood without the heart-attack-inducing price tag of heirloom oak, it's the fantastic choice. It's sturdy, it's better for the planet than many options, and it also fits directly into nearly every design style due to how well it will take finishes.
It offers bridged the gap between "cheap disposable furniture" plus "luxury timber. " The majority of us just want a nice-looking home that doesn't drop apart after two years, and rubberwood provides on that promise better than almost anything else within its price bracket. So, next time you see it upon a furniture label, don't allow title throw you away from. It's just a strong, dependable wood that's done its time in the rubber fields and is ready to begin a second life in your living room.