Engineered wood is a completely different type of wood from the type often used for building with. It’s mostly seen in furniture or flooring projects, and has a much finer grain than mdf. Here’s a helpful visual that may be able to tell you; what kind of wood your piece is made out of.
A Brief History of Engineered Wood
Engineered wood has no natural variations within it so they are the perfect building block. Engineered wood is easy to work with and can be used in a wide variety of applications. In 2009, engineered wood surpassed particleboard as the most common construction material in building.
More Life in Engineered Wood
“Engineered Wood is a type of panel manufactured by the addition of other raw materials; to separate layers of softwood lumber during its manufacture.” Engineered wood’s additional components enhance the material and contribute in improving performance. Engineered Wood is more expensive than MDF; but with high-quality construction it lasts for as long as furniture made with it because of its dense grain. What’s most important about Engineered Wood is that once it is placed together and cured; the entire surface becomes part to create a structure that will not break down over time.
Why Engineered Wood is Popular Option
Engineered Wood is a new, safer product that competes against the old MDF. Unlike traditional MDF or even engineered plywood which can warp or crack over time, the Engineered Wood product can shrink and swell as needed so it doesn’t lose its shape.
Englewood vs MDF
Engineered wood is a type of wood that has a close surface texture which allows for a higher density, and often does not require finishing with Formica. Engineered wood is made from many types of waste materials that would normally be discarded as sawdust, such as recycled fiberboard, particle board, plastic sheets and scraps from sawmill production. MDF stands for Medium Density Fiberboard, which is the most common form of engineered wood. Engineered Wood is made by bonding small mass parts without forming cavities into larger pieces.
MDF: Pros and Cons
If you’re shopping around to build your dream home, make sure to take advantage of these pros and cons of MDF. Engineered Wood: Pros and Cons
Considerations for Using Engineered Wood Over Other Options
Often important when considering new materials for structures, engineered wood has come a long way. Today, the many types of engineered wood include moisture, termite and mold resistant varieties that rival those of mixed-woods. However, some areas are still slower to introduce these woods into construction because price can be a barrier in using them over mdf and other options.
Further References of Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is also know as thermally engineered wood. This is a composite made up of smaller pieces of wood put together in layers with polyethylene, polystyrene and the following resins: methyl methacrylate, polybutyrate valerate, epoxy resin, urea methyl-formal foam. These have all been added to the mixture to produce a finished product that is both strong and lightweight. This helps reduce waste if you are installing this product into existing spaces as you will be able to reuse the old wooden door frames or walls within your property.
Conclusion
Engineered wood is different from MDF. Engineered wood is a composite material that was created to look and feel like lumber, known as long-span engineered wood flooring. The use of MDF is not recommended for use as this has been identified as a cause of significant asthma triggers (as noted in the Journal of Asthma).
