Poly Furniture or Wood Furniture: Which is the Best?
Have you ever wondered which type of furniture is the best for your home? Wood or poly? Do you prefer one over the other? Well, this article will help you decide.
Choosing your next set of furniture can be a challenging task. Manufacturers claim their furniture products meet the highest quality standards. The two most common options are wood and poly. But which one is the best?
These materials offer their own benefits, but they also have some drawbacks. For example, wood is a natural material that can be more durable and attractive than poly, but it’s also much more expensive.
Poly has a few downsides, including that it will show scratches more readily than wood.
Furniture is a complicated thing. Having the right furniture for your rooms can be difficult, even though it would be nice to have it. To make things more complicated, people are often unsure about whether the furniture they want should be wooden or poly-based. You can decide what type of material you would like for your home after reading this guide.
Here you go!
Material Difference of Poly and Wood-Based Furniture
To start, let’s look at what they are both made of. Wood furniture is generally considered more durable than polyurethane-based furniture because it lasts longer and can withstand wear and tear better. So if durability matters to you, wood may be your best bet.
However, we’ll be digging deep into the material differences of both types of furniture.
Poly furniture and wood furniture have some significant differences, and material differences top the list. In comparison to polymers, wood is more durable and has a longer lifespan. But it also means that wood furniture will be more expensive than poly-based furniture.
Polyurethane furniture materials are mainly made of polyurethane foam and polyester fabric. In addition, it has good elasticity, high compressive strength, high rigidity, low water absorption, and low density (1.2 times lighter than wood of the same density).
If you’re looking for beautiful furniture to decorate your house, you should consider both wood and poly furniture before deciding. Nowadays, you can get cheap wooden tables and chairs on the Internet or the local market. In addition, the quality of the wooden furniture is guaranteed. Therefore, you can buy one at a reasonable price to enjoy it at home.
With that said, let’s move toward the next difference…
Durability Differences of Poly and Wooden Furniture
Furniture is an investment. You want your furniture to stay longer with you but it’s hard to know what type of wood makes it more durable or will poly-based furniture be a long-lasting choice.
The polyester fabric is mainly imported from significant polyester exporting countries, like China, Germany, Indonesia, and other countries. As the raw material for polyurethane foam is imported from abroad, the cost of this part is very high. Different people have different choices and personal tastes.
What's your favorite furniture?
Let’s consider your choice. What’s your favorite furniture?
We guess you will answer that it is wooden furniture. However, not all wooden furniture is the same. Most of them are made from natural wood, which may cost you a lot of money.
If you want to find low-cost yet high-quality furniture, choose poly-wood furniture.
Polywood furniture is made from unique plastic material instead of wood. On the other hand, wood furniture refers to the one made from natural woods like teak or oak trees.
More and more materials are being created as a result of technological development. However, no matter what kind of material it is, as long as it is valuable and functional, it can be used in our daily life. And people prefer to choose the new and fashionable things that will bring convenience to them and make their life more colorful. Besides, these materials are often caused by advanced technology.
As far as furniture goes, wood furniture is one of the most popular materials for both commercial and residential uses. But people would like to choose the one with a new style and new material.
Is wooden furniture durable?
Actually, that depends entirely on the quality of the wood and finish.
The top layer of a quality piece of furniture consists of high-quality resin and other compounds designed to safeguard the wood from moisture and damage. While this layer does add some weight to the piece, it ensures a lifetime of durability and prevents the wood from drying out or cracking.
The difference in durability between wood furniture and poly furniture is critical. This is true if you plan to buy a lot of the furniture articles and store them away or if you want to use them indoors or outdoors.
If you are worried about durability, you should consider poly furniture. It is more durable than wood furniture because it won’t discolor, crack, rot or warp. Poly’s durability far exceeds traditional wooden furniture, as does its resistance to stains, fading, and warping. Poly can withstand more than what solid wood can handle. Its only disadvantage would be that it cannot be refinished if it gets scratched or stained. Poly furniture can also be used outside. It is a better choice if you live in an area with inclement weather, as it will not crack in cold temperatures.
Poly vs Wooden Furniture: Maintenance Difference
Looks realistic and easy to keep clean and strong
The most significant difference between poly furniture and wood furniture is how they are built. Polyurethane is a material that is used to make poly furniture. Polyurethane furniture is easy to keep clean and strong.
Poly furniture is sometimes also called synthetic wood or plastic wood. It is easier to use and maintain than the real thing, and it comes in many fine finishes. It comes in many fine finishes, from the look of a knotty pine table to that of an expensive cherry finish. The wood looks so realistic that most people cannot distinguish it from natural wood at first glance. The most significant advantage of poly furniture is its durability and stain resistance.
The polyurethane material is extruded from plastic at high temperatures and is formaldehyde-free. The plastic gives it firmness and durability. It offers several advantages over wood, including:
- Stain-resistance
- Non-toxic
- Pet friendly as it does not scratch or absorb smells
- Easy cleaning, which means you do not have to use harsh chemicals to maintain it
Easy to maintain for long periods
On the other hand, wood is a natural material that requires more attention to stay beautiful.
While poly furniture is easy to maintain and looks great for long periods, wood does not need much attention. You can use a cloth for dusting and wipe it with a damp cloth for spills and stains. In addition, wood does not absorb stains easily and can be polished with different products for a shiny surface. However, your wood furniture will need more care than poly furniture if you want to keep it looking great for long periods. You will have to apply coatings every few years if you like the original look.
Another thing you have to keep in mind about poly furniture is that you have to wipe spills up immediately because the liquid will not absorb into this type of material.
Maintaining the Beauty of Your Poly Outdoor Furniture
Poly furniture has a long history of being used as an industrial material. Poly furniture offers the advantage of requiring little to no maintenance. It also tends to be relatively inexpensive compared to wooden furniture. Nonetheless, you still need to take care of your poly furniture. It is still susceptible to the same kinds of damage and wears and tear as wooden furniture. In addition, it can be more sensitive than wooden furniture because it lacks the natural resistance to moisture and pests that you get with wood.
The major plus point of using polyurethane or plastic outdoor furniture is it can effectively face the UV rays from sunlight. There wouldn’t be any yellowing, cracks, or color fading.
You should clean your patio or outdoor furniture with soapy water and a damp cloth at least once a month. It would also be beneficial to store your plastic patio furniture in the shade during the hottest parts of the day to protect it from direct sunlight. By doing so, you can extend the life of your furniture pieces.
Use quality cushions and pillows made especially for outdoor use so that they can withstand exposure to the sun, rain, snow, and other elements.
As polyester is not made of solid wood, it is easier to clean and maintain polyester than wooden furniture. If you want to remove debris and dirt from the surfaces, you can vacuum them or wipe them with a dry cloth. Wooden furniture needs special care as you cannot use any chemicals on it and cannot use abrasives to clean it.
There are lots of wooden furniture cleaners available, but they do not work well on them and also cause damage to the natural wood of the furnishings.
Color Differences between Poly and Wooden Furniture
Poly furniture is a great idea to spruce up the outdoor space, whether in your backyard or rooftop. The different colors of poly furniture give a variety of looks, with some pieces having more fun and lively feel, while others have a more home and comfy feel. Some even have the look of natural wood but without the worry of repainting every few years.
When you opt for Poly furniture you have a wide variety of color options to choose from. Go neutral, bold, or rich colors, whatever coordinates with your personal style. The colors of poly furniture are the same from the inside out and have the same texture throughout the piece.
Wooden furniture, no doubt has a genuine texture and feel but it is susceptible to moisture and water. So, you will have to take good care of your wooden furniture to last longer. Water exposure can also cause the wood to split.
Wooden furniture looks excellent when appropriately maintained, but you have to invest time, money, and effort if you want it to keep its original look for a more extended period.
Price Differences
The price difference between wood and poly furniture is undeniable.
While it may cost more to buy poly furniture at the outset, that investment will pay off in the long run. Poly furniture is long-lasting and is usually covered by a lifetime warranty. On the other hand, outdoor wood furniture can be a less expensive investment initially, but there will undoubtedly be expenses later on down the road to maintain or replace it.
If you’re looking to save money, opting for a poly furniture piece is a great idea. However, if money isn’t an issue and you’d rather have a high-end product that will last you for decades, then investing in natural wood furniture is the way to go.
Environment Friendliness of Poly and Wood Furniture
Environment friendliness is an aspect that every consumer must consider before purchasing any product. Many people are looking for environmentally friendly products when they buy furniture. However, if we look at the manufacturing phase, both Poly and Wooden Furniture have pros and cons.
Wooden furniture is made of solid wood, which means more trees are cut down to make the furniture.
On the other hand, Poly Furniture is made of polymers mainly derived from petroleum. Hence, in terms of Environmental friendliness, Poly Furniture is much better than wooden furniture.
The polyurethane industry has been around for quite a long time now, and it’s already made a name for itself as an eco-friendly material. However, it has often been criticized as “unnatural”, yet this is far from the truth. Polyurethane combines petroleum and natural gas with other chemicals, then cools down at a shallow temperature to form crystals. Polymerization is used to create polyurethane resin or pellets from the ground of the crystals into a fine powder.
Poly furniture is environmentally friendly. Well, no! Let me explain why.
First, poly furniture is produced through a process called injection molding. This process involves mixing polymers with additives to create a variety of colored polymers. The result is molded into the required shape, and a finishing process is applied to give it its final look. The entire process involves various kinds of equipment and machines that consume energy.
To make wooden furniture, all you need are saws and chisels, which can be made using human power or electricity. All trees used to make wooden furniture are grown naturally in their native habitat, and they decompose to give back to the environment.
So, which way do you want to favor the environment? By saving trees or by saving energy? You decide!
Conclusion:
In the end, the choice between poly and wood furniture depends on you. Perhaps it’s about your budget or how you want to live in the home. Maybe the look you’re going for is rustic, or perhaps a sleek modern look is more your style. In the end, it’s up to you to put together a living space that makes you happy.
Polyresin furniture and wood furniture both have advantages and disadvantages. It depends primarily on your personal preferences whether you choose poly or wood furniture.
When deciding between poly and wood furniture, you must first determine your needs and how each will meet them. While many such as living rooms or conference rooms need heavy-duty construction as they see a lot of use, others such as alcoves may suffice with lighter material that is easier to move around if needed. When observing the wood quality, it should be free from any visible cracks, the finishes should not be peeling off or flaking off, and the edges should be smooth. However, the poly furniture gives you an exemption here. The Poly lumber integrates color throughout its construction. So, you’d only have to watch for the quality because the problems like color fading or the need for repainting won’t exist.
