What To Know Before Using Rubberwood: Pros and Cons of Rubberwood

Last Updated on June 18, 2021 by woodcutter

Rubberwood is a good furniture-building material that is well-suited to make a wide array of wood furniture. Therefore, if you are in the market to build a new house or remodel the one you’re in and you are wondering if rubberwood is good for countertops. The answer is yes!

You should consider countertops with rubberwood. Not only is rubberwood a good building material for countertops, but it is also ideal to use in furniture as it takes stains and finishes well. In addition to that rubberwood is a good option if you are a cost-conscious consumer as rubberwood is rather budget-friendly. Without much further ado, in the article am going to look at rubberwood vis-à-vis other types of woods.

What is rubberwood vs. solid wood?

Rubberwood is a type of wood that is used to make furniture. It comes from a rubber tree that produces latex which is processed to make rubber wood. Rubber tree goes by many names some call it parawood, Asian hardwood, Malaysian oak, plantation hardwood, while some call it white teak or Hevea brasiliensis. Rubberwood falls under the hardwood category. Even though rubberwood comes from a rubber tree, the wood is not rubbery. Rubberwood is actually medium-textured, straight-grained, and moderately hard.

This type of wood is a popular option for building furniture due to its beautiful light color which is light blonde to medium tan. Rubberwood can be used for medium density fiberboard, veneer, and particleboard. Thus, due to its versatility, rubberwood is the ideal type of wood to use if you are planning to do a wide array of timber projects and woodworking.

On the other hand, solid wood is also undoubtedly one of the best materials that you can also use to manufacture wood furniture products. Just like rubberwood, solid wood falls under the hardwood category. The good thing about, solid wood is that it is highly durable and can easily be maintained, unlike rubberwood which weathers easily.

If any damage occurs it can easily be restored. It is also more resistant to fire. However, to ensure its longevity, you have to avoid and protect it from moisture. Unlike rubberwood or any other type of furniture building wood, solid wood is quite flexible. You can easily use the wood to mold it into any kind of furniture you want. Just like rubberwood, solid wood is ideal for use on indoor furniture only.

Is rubberwood good quality?

The answer to the question of whether rubberwood is of good quality is absolute yes! The furniture that is made with rubberwood is quite outstanding. It is no wonder, furniture made with rubberwood is actually becoming such a global trend. As a result of its good quality, rubberwood is gaining momentum and replacing more traditional hardwoods in the market. Here is why rubberwood is considered to be good quality wood.

• Sturdiness and stability

Rubberwood is quite robust as compared to any other type of wood. Its robustness is what makes it good quality wood. Due to its robustness and stability, chances of rubberwood bending or shrinking when put close to an electric component are pretty slim. Rubberwood is stable enough that you can use it to construct furniture for homes and offices.

• Longevity

Rubberwood undoubtedly falls underwood that has passed the test of time. It is considerably durable and strong. You can be guaranteed that if you purchase furniture that is constructed using rubberwood it will last you for a very long time especially if you maintain it well.

• Fire-Resistant

One thing that makes rubberwood outstanding is the fact that is it is resistant to burns. You could mistakenly drop a lit cigarette and it would not burn. That is just how burn-resistant rubberwood is. Rubberwood can easily resist burns especially when it comes in contact with any source of heat. Moreover, rubberwood is non-toxic as such when it comes in contact with fire it does not release any dangerous toxic fumes. Thus, not only is rubberwood burn resistant but it is much safer to use as compared to other types of woods.

• Low Maintenance

The level of maintenance that one puts in while using certain types of furniture also determines the quality of the wood material. When it comes to rubberwood you don’t have to hassle just trying to maintain it as it is low maintenance. In addition to that, it is stain resistant as such you don’t have to spend a lot on maintenance.

What are the pros and cons of rubberwood?

Just like any other type of wood, rubberwood has its pros and cons. Here are some of the pros of rubberwood:

Pros

• Unlike many other kinds of hardwoods, rubberwood timber is considered more environmentally friendly.
• Whether you’re using power tools or you are using your hands, rubberwood is easy to work with.
• Rubberwood is budget-friendly as a result rubberwood finished furniture pieces are also more affordable than other hardwood options on the market.
• Rubberwood is more stable and considerably durable as a result you can easily manipulate it into any variety of furniture you want.
• Due to its workability and compatibility, rubber wood also works well with other finishes, and easily stains together with glue.
• You can create a number of exceptional materials with rubberwood. You can use it to make novelty items, for paneling, flooring, cabinet-making and furniture parts, etc.
• It is light enough to take on a variety of stains and finishes.

However, even though rubberwood is one of the most cost-effective and durable types of wood it is not without its flaws. Here are some of the it’s cons;

Cons

• Rubberwood is prone to insect infestations and fungus. To protect it, in most instances, rubberwood is usually coated with antifungal insecticide chemicals. If you are not keen on having harsh chemicals used during the rubberwood processing, rubberwood may not be the type of wood for you.
• Rubberwood doesn’t work well for outdoor surroundings as it doesn’t weather well.
• It is not ideal for people with rubber or latex allergies. If you suffer from allergies, it is not highly recommended that you work with rubberwood as you might react to it.
• Rubberwood can have some distortion in the wood before it fully dries as a result rubberwood tends to warp and twist whilst it is still drying up.

Is rubberwood better than pine?

Rubberwood and pine wood vary greatly, as such there are more dissimilarities between them rather than similarities. The first difference between rubberwood is that rubberwood is classified under hardwood whilst pine wood falls under soft wood due to the fact that it is a native resinous

Pine wood is more versatile you can use it to make both exterior and interior furniture whilst rubberwood you can only use to make interior furniture. Rubberwood is more ideal for construction materials on furniture, kitchen accessories, and toys. Pinewood is the best type of wood to use if you want to construct wall panels, cabinets, and floors, etc.

However, even though rubberwood is affordable, pine wood is actually way cheaper than rubber wood. While pine wood is only good for high-value carpentry items only, rubberwood is more ideal for a wide assortment of timber projects and woodworking.

Which is better pine or rubberwood?

When it comes to the question of which one is better between pine wood and rubber wood, pinewood definitely takes the prize. With its versatility, you use pine wood on the interior and exterior furniture. Compared to rubberwood, pinewood is more ideal as you can use it to make a wide variety of furniture material especially bedroom equipment like wardrobes, beds, etc.

Another reason why pine wood is better than rubberwood is that you don’t have to break the bank just trying to purchase pine wood. Pine wood is more affordable than rubber wood.  Furthermore, furniture that is made of pine wood is more eye-pleasing. Pine wood naturally has good natural alluring patterns as a result it creates well designs. Last but not least, pinewood has a high tolerance and endurance levels. Thus, it is an excellent choice for use on the deck or patio and flooring.

Final Verdict

In summation, rubberwood is the best option if you are considering purchasing new wood furniture or you what to do some woodwork projects. Even though it is not the cheapest wood on the market, it is one of the best types of wood you will ever find in the market.  Unlike other types of wood, rubberwood is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Whenever you acquire rubberwood you can be sure that you are not harming the ecosystem.

Not only is rubberwood robust, stable and fire-resistant but it also requires low maintenance. Furniture fitted using rubberwood is guaranteed to last you for a very long time. After all, is said and done, rubberwood is definitely worth the investment. I hope this article provided you with the much-needed information on rubberwood. I also hope that after going through this article you will be able to find the best wood that will suit your taste and expectations.