When it comes to custom made cabinets or doors,you may be confused by the various wood options.If you are looking for wood that is durable but cost-effective,rubberwood might be the suitable option.
In this post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about rubberwood, especially the pros & cons and common finishes of rubberwood cabinets.
What is rubberwood?
Rubberwood,also known as plantation hardwood,is a light-colored medium-density tropical hardwood obtained from the Pará rubber tree.It is fast-growing species and it’s harvested when latex circle ends at 25-30 years.
Since the timber is relatively small size, it is normally finger-jointed to form bigger panels so as to meet various furniture production needs.
Rubberwood comes with light color and fine,dense straight grain which makes it easy to stain and match in woodworking.
Applications of Rubberwood
Rubberwood is durable,stable,affordable and easy to work with.It’s been widely used in various interior decoration.
Custom cabinets in various styles.Below are custom door panels without surface finish.Whether the finger joints will be visible or not depend on the surface finish.
Interior doors:Rubberwood can be used to produce interior wooden doors ranging from modern to classical styles.
Ready-made furniture:dining table,chair,bedroom funiture etc.
Decorative items:trays, ornaments etc.
The Pros and Cons of Rubberwood
Pros of Rubberwood
- High cost-effectiveness
Durable but affordable,suitable for consumers with limited budgets who seek the texture of solid wood.
- Good workability
Easy to cut,sand,and stain, allowing for the creation of furniture in a variety of styles.
- Durable & wear-resistant
Moderate air-dry density and medium hardness, making it resistant to wear and tear during daily use.
- Good Stability
Rubberwood has very little shrinkage, making it one of the stable wood types for furniture, doors, and kitchen accessories.
- Sustainablility
Rubberwood is harvested from rubber tree that have already finished its latex production. So it’s regarded as sustainable resouce and in line with environmental friendly practices.
Cons of Rubberwood
- Ordinary load-bearing performance
Rubberwood finger-jointed panel is made of small pieces joined together and have weaker load-bearing performance compared with hardwood e.g.oak,walnut etc, so it’s not suitable for cabinet structure(especially horizontal shelves) and other large structural components.
- Obvious color difference
Sapwood tends to be white, heartwood tends to be yellow, requiring strict sorting or covering with dark paint.
- Finger-joints
It didn’t have striking veins as oak and other hardwood.What’s more,finger-joints are visible when it’s in clear paint or light-colored finish.
Common finishes of Rubberwood
- Solid color painting
After sanding and other treatments on the surface of rubber wood, various colors of paint are directly applied to create a solid color surface effect, which can cover the natural grain and finger joints of rubber wood. This finish is suitable for various interior design styles such as transitional,classical and modern, and different colors can be customized according to personal preferences.
- Varnish
Applying varnish to the surface of rubberwood preserves natural grain of the wood, making the grain of the rubberwood clearer and more beautiful, while also protecting the wood from warping. However,due to the prominent finger joints in rubberwood, dark-colored varnish generally produces better results, while light-colored varnish may not fully cover the finger joints.
Frequently-Asked Questions
1.Is rubberwood suitable for outdoor use?
Rubberwood absord water and moisture very quick which can result in warping.It’s not suitable for outdoor use.However,it can withstand indoor normal moisture if it’s treated & sealed properly.
2.Is rubberwood toxic?
Rubberwood is non-toxic.It’s safe to use after proper treatedment and processing.
3.Maintainence of rubberwood furniture
Rubberwood furniture does not require special maintainence.Just use soft, dry cloth and mild cleansers to wipe dust and water spills on a regular basis.
4.What’s the standard thickness for rubberwood cabinets and doors?
Usually it’s 20mm thickness for door panels.While for interior doors,it’s 35mm for pocket door,40mm or 45mm for normal interior door.However,it could be customized thicker or thinner according to detailed requirements.
5.What’s the color options for rubberwood?
Rubberwood is light-colored,smooth and easy to paint.TBM(TopBuildingMaterial Co.,ltd) is on the market for custom cabinets and doors,offering various materials and 200+ color options.
Are you looking for timber cabinets for your home decor and not sure which wood is the best fit?Please feel free to Contact us for detailed solutions or FREE SAMPLE.
