With such an abundance of furniture products in our current market, it's hard to know where to begin when shopping for a new piece. As with other things in life, it is important to begin with the basics.
When you purchase one of our Canadian solid wood pieces, you can be assured that it is made by dedicated and experienced craftsmen with high quality materials. Here are few a lesser known benefits you may not realize go into the construction of a quality solid wood piece.
Materials: You can be assured you are receiving a piece of solid wood furniture. Not "wood solids", engineered woods, plywood, or MDF. Additionally, the use of native wood species helps to prevent unsightly warping, splitting, and cracking often seen in tropical woods such as teak, which are unaccustomed to our climate. Our manufactures take the time and effort to kiln dry their wood to industry standards, as well as providing space within construction to accommodate natural expansion and contraction in the wood.
Dovetailing: The English dovetail joint is the strongest method of constructing a drawer, having been used for thousands of years in all types of woodworking - dating all the way back to Ancient Egypt and China.
Mortise & Tenon Joints: The use a mortise and tenon joint where tension is not a factor (i.e. pulling of a drawer) and the joint is not located on a surface, is the preferred method of joinery by master craftsman. In lesser quality pieces, simpler methods such as dowel or biscuit joint may be used, but will not stand up to the test of time nearly as well.
A Complete Finish: Because they aren't usually on display, many lower-quality manufacturers do not finish the insides of drawers or cabinets. This can lead to snags on clothing and other delicate items, as well as eventual degradation or staining of the wood. Our manufacturers take the same care in finishing interiors as they do exteriors, leaving you with a beautiful finish all over.
Other Benefits: Environment & Economy
Sustainable Furnishings: Both of our Ontario solid wood manufacturers are proudly certified Silver Exemplary Status by the Sustainable Furnishings Council. This means that, among other things, a minimum of 25% of their products are made from recycled or bio-based materials.
Reduced Shipping: When your furniture only has to travel a few hours down the road, greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint are greatly reduced.
Health & Safety: As you may imagine, when environmentally friendly practices are put into place, many time they also benefit the health of workers. Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) and water-based paint are just two examples of this. When you purchase from one of our Canadian solid wood suppliers, you can be assured they have taken all the necessary steps to reduce harm to both the environment as well as their employees.
Supports Our Economy: When you buy Canadian - you help Canadians. It's as simple as that. In hard economic times, it is more important than ever to support local business. In most cases, a factory is the main source of employment for the small town in which it is located, and materials are often sourced from small local suppliers.
