Understanding the Materials in Your Walker Edison FurnitureUpdated 12 days ago

At Walker Edison, we use a variety of high-quality materials to create furniture that is both stylish and built to last. Below is a guide to help you understand the materials used and what makes each one unique.

🪵 What types of materials do you use?

We primarily use:

• Laminate

• Veneer

• Solid wood (like pine, rubberwood, and eucalyptus)

🌳 What is laminate?

Laminate is a durable material made by adhering a printed wood-look surface to MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard).
It’s:

• Affordable and widely used in ready-to-assemble furniture

• Resistant to cracking or splitting

• Available in many finishes and colors

🌲 What is veneer?

Veneer is made by gluing a thin layer of real wood to MDF.
It offers:

• The natural look of wood with added stability

• Less risk of warping or splitting compared to solid wood

• Natural variation in grain and tone (no two pieces are exactly alike)

🌼 What kind of solid wood is used?

We frequently use pine for its beauty and affordability. We also use rubberwood and eucalyptus in trim and leg components.
Genuine wood will have natural characteristics—like knots or grain variations—which make every piece unique.

🤔 Isn’t pine too soft for furniture?

Pine has been used in furniture-making for centuries. To improve durability, we use finger-jointing, a method that increases strength and reduces warping.
You may notice a zig-zag pattern on some surfaces—that’s the finger-joint design working to reinforce the wood.

🔍 Why does the website say “Coastal Oak” or “Carmel” if it’s MDF?

Those terms describe the look of the finish—not the material.

• For laminate furniture, a printed image is applied to MDF.

• For veneer, a thin slice of real wood is applied.

Material details may vary by retailer and can usually be found in the product description.

🛠️ Can I refinish my furniture?

• Laminate: Not recommended for refinishing.

• Veneer: Can be lightly sanded, but the surface layer is very thin (1/16”). Deep damage may not be repairable.

• Solid wood (like pine): Ideal if you plan to refinish, as it can be sanded multiple times.

🌎 Is your furniture sustainable?

Yes! Most of our MDF is made from recycled wood fibers and meets CARB Phase 2 certification.
All solid wood is plantation-grown, not sourced from natural forests or rainforests. We're proud of our responsible sourcing practices.

❓ My product has knots, but the photo didn’t. Is this a defect?

Not at all.
Knots, wood grain variations, and slight tone differences are natural in solid wood and veneer. These are not defects—they’re part of the beauty and uniqueness of real wood furniture.

Still have questions?
Our team is happy to help—reach out to Customer Support anytime!