Carpentry works in Singapore are becoming more and more popular among homeowners. It’s a choice for homeowners time and time again because it’s chic and timeless to have in any home. But how do you know your piece of carpentry work is of excellent quality? Can you tell the difference between good and bad quality?
Here are 7 telltale signs of excellent quality carpentry work.
It’s made from good quality solid hardwood
Know your wood types. The material is one of the biggest defining factors of a carpentry work’s quality. It determines heftiness, durability, sturdiness and looks.
To be able to spot great carpentry works, learn your wood types. Know the differences between solid wood, hardwood, softwood, veneers, plywood and particle board. And, know how to identify each type by eye.
The best carpentry works are of solid hardwood. Hardwood is a hallmark of excellent carpentry. Hardwoods are of superior quality and have a more elegant look. The most quality carpentry works in Singapore have at least 1-inch thick wood pieces.
Softwoods are more prone to denting, scratching, ringing and bending. Besides that, veneers are an inferior wood coated in a more expensive one. And, plywood is layers of wood glued together. Veneers and plywood are prone to splitting. Whereas, particleboard bends easily and lacks durability. Avoid veneer, plywood and particle board furniture.
However, if you insist on plywood carpentry, accept pieces made with plywood that has 9 or more layers. At least 9 layers will provide enough strength and sturdiness.
The most crucial thing to want in wood is scratch and dent resistance. This ensures your carpentry works in Singapore will stand the test of time.
So, for excellent quality carpentry works in Singapore look for solid hardwood.
Quality carpentry works in Singapore have weight to it
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Check its weight. Weight is usually an indicator of heftiness in a piece of carpentry and woodwork. In pieces you can lift, like tables, sofas or chairs, always check their weight.
Weight is good. It indicates a strong and good timber frame. The heftiness also indicates a piece is of better quality wood. Harder woods and stronger materials generally weigh more.
If you can’t tell by eye, weight is an alternative indicator. This way you’re sure to be able to identify better quality mahogany or maple over a pine or birch one.
A piece of furniture that is light usually lacks strength and durability. So, excellent carpentry works in Singapore should have some weight to it.
It has a beautiful, smooth finish
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Check the finish. The finish is one of the easiest ways to identify excellent carpentry works in Singapore. The finish is often a dead giveaway of imperfections. Beautiful, painstakingly crafted pieces have that unmistakable smoothness and sheen.
The color of the stain and finish on the woodwork should be uniform throughout the piece. There should be no darker or lighter spots. The finish should not be too thick. And, it should serve to enhance the look of wood and not obscure its grain.
In your carpentry piece, look for cracks and knots. Cracks are a foreboding sign of splitting and knots are a defect to strength.
Besides that, look especially for signs of wear. This is anything from scratches, to dents and bulges. These are indicators of the level of care and detail the carpenter invested in your piece. If adequate care wasn’t taken while making your piece there will be a lot of imperfections. These diminish the value of the woodwork.
Excellent quality woodwork should be scratch and dent resistant. Test the wood by running your fingernail across the wood surface. If it forms a small scratch or a dent, the wood is of inferior quality.
This is also how you check for hardness and solidness of the wood as well as finish quality. The best wood finish is standard catalyzed varnish. Excellent carpentry works in Singapore should not have easily tarnished surfaces.
Feel the wood surface too. Look for dents, chips, raw edges and scratches. The wood should be very well sanded and uniformly finished for a very smooth surface.
It has sturdy, functional drawers and cabinets
Individually inspect all the drawers and cabinets. Ensure the drawers pull all the way out smoothly, latch properly, and then shut evenly. Drawers should fit well in their frames. They should also have an automatic stop for when drawers close.
In drawer sliders, always look for and choose metal sliders. Avoid wood sliders. Metal sliders last longer and slide smoother. Drawer bottoms should be thick and strong so they don’t bend and deform over time.
In cabinets, check if the doors open all the way. And, when open, should remain open. Besides that, cabinet doors should also have automatic stops or door dampers. This prevents door slamming.
Always have handles and knobs in your carpentry pieces checked. All handles and knobs should well screwed. They should not turn or jiggle. A great carpenter would have checked to ensure even the handles are of good quality and secured.
Excellent carpentry works in Singapore not only look and feel good. They should also function well and smoothly.
Passes your tests
Always test your furniture and carpentry works before purchasing or paying for it. Know your rights to quality goods as the consumer.
Check and test out the furniture and woodwork. Does it wobble when you sit on it? Is it leveled with the floor? Does it have any shorter legs that make it unstable? These are all factors that are crucial to quality carpentry work. They determine the durability, life, and quality.
The devil is in the details. Check every little detail. Check the surface, look, feel, and stability. If it’s a chair or sofa, check if it has adequate cushioning. An excellent carpenter accounts for comfort in all his designs. Excellent carpentry covers all bases.
Check the shape of the seat, and the foam, if it has cushioning. Is the foam covered? Is it thick? Will it likely disintegrate after time? Comfort and fit should trump look. Always be sure to check for comfort level.
It’s aptly joined for added strength
Check the furniture piece for its joinery and seamlessness. Wood joinery is another giveaway for excellent carpentry works in Singapore. Inferior carpentry work is often poorly joined. This is because the carpenter uses the easiest and quickest joining methods. Hence, joinery is a great indication of quality as it reflects the attention to detail.
Learn how to identify joints and be able to assess your furniture. Know what joints to steer clear of. Weaker joints are those held together by glue, staples or nails. Single dowel joined furniture is weak. Also, avoid furniture assembled at butt joints. All these are weak grip joints and come apart easily.
Handcrafted joinery wins in look and strength. The best woodwork joints are the dovetail, multiple dowel and mortise and tenon joints. These can indicate the level of skill your carpenter has. These joints take time to make and get reinforced with glue. Screwed woodwork is relatively strong too if it’s reinforced with glue.
Check your woodwork pieces if their corners have corner blocks for added reinforcement. Quality work is always made to account for added strength. Added reinforcement is a great indication of the detail and attention. It shows your carpenter pays attention to detail and prioritizes durability.
Quality carpentry works in Singapore all have strong, crafted joints. Mass produced, inferior furniture does not have the same attention to detail.
It has the right price tag
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Check the price. Sometimes the truth is in the numbers. If the price seems to good to be true, it most probably is. If the price or cost of your carpentry piece seems oddly low, it probably isn’t of that great quality. The furniture piece may be of inferior wood or assembled poorly.
Excellent quality woodwork takes time and detail to put together. The material also plays part in overall quality. Therefore, it gets factored into the final price of the wood piece.
Your furniture piece doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. It should just be reasonably priced.
Now, never get cheated by sellers again. Have the ability to spot excellent quality carpentry work and know what you’re paying for.
If you’re looking for excellent quality carpentry work, Gold Pines Pte Ltd is a renowned custom carpentry expert. Check them out if you’re looking for a contractor to get excellent carpentry works in Singapore.