Evaluating Furniture

1. Evaluating Furniture • Marks of Quality

2. Quality…… • Like beauty is more than skin deep. • You can always pay less, buy you’ll never get more!

3. Two Categories of Furniture • Casegoods • Upholstered goods

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Solid Wood • Very expensive • Does not use any plywood, particle board or veneers • Can warp and expand

7. Veneer Cutting Methods

8. 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

9. Construction Methods • Dovetailed • Mortise and Tenon • Tongue and Groove • Doweled • Mitered

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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)

13. Wood Finishes • Protect and enhance • Sanding and filling • Staining • Transparent film

14. 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 int he drying process vs. evaporation only • Water-based UV coatings are being used in sustainable manufacturing processes. It uses UV radiation as a curing process.

15. 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

16. Upholstered Goods

17. Four evaluation points • Fabric • Springs • Filling-padding • Frame

18. Fabric • Well applied, tightly woven material • Thread should match • Small stitches • Patterns should match • Skirt should lie flat

19. Springs • Drop-in Coil • Sinuous or zig-zag • Eight-way hand tied coil • Web http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auXP3L1Toac&feature=youtube_gdata_player

20. Filling - Padding • Polyurethane Foam • Foam Rubber • Polyester Fiber fill • Down • Spring Down

21. Filling: Polyurethane Foam • Most used today • Does a good job in shaping and stuffing • Synthetic • Memory

22. Filling: Foam Rubber • Not used anymore – breaks down over time. • Smells like rubber • Replaced by polyurethane foam

23. Filling: Polyester Fiber Fill • Used as a batting that wraps around the cushion core • Dacron

24. Filling: Down • Goose Feathers • Most expensive • Considered Luxurious • Tends to settle and requires fluffing after each use.

25. Filling: Spring Down • Innerspring coils surrounded by foam, wrapped in Dacron Polyester.

26. 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.

27. 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

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

29. Quality Manufacturers • Thomasville • Baker • Henredon • Kincaid • Century • Sherrill • Broyhill • Lane • La-Z-Boy

30. Homework due on 19th • Visit a furniture store and evaluate two pieces of furniture. See handout posted on website. Worth 25 points.