Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Finding A Dining Table That Will Last

With all the options available to us in different styles and types of dining furniture, it's hard to sort through what's quality and will last, and what will not. Many companies make products that look nice, but when it comes down to the construction and durability, it's merely lipstick on a pig.

Here are several key things you should look for when purchasing a dining room table, whether it's for everyday use or for entertaining:

Is It Solid Wood?
I am not saying all veneers are bad, what is important is the wood species (oak, maple, cherry, hickory, etc) and where the wood was harvested. Oak and Maple tend to me the most common woods used for dining because of their density and hardness.

Quality Joinery
Screws and glue just don't cut it anymore. If you want a dining table and chairs to last, it needs to have fundamentally good construction. Here are examples of what to look for:

Mortise and Tenon - a connection point where two pieces connect, locking the pieces together and creating the strongest joint possible.

Interlocking Corner Joints - offer a solid framework for the leg to attach to the table

Durable Finish
Catalyzed varnish is the most durable finish available, allowing you to simply take a damp cloth with water to clean up spills. It also resists UV rays which helps your table look new for a longer period of time.

These are just a few things to look for when looking at dining furniture. It's an excellent starting point for finding a table and chairs that will be durable and hold up the wear and tear of your family.

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