Types of Building Materials for Wall Units
The term wall unit covers a wide range of different types of furnishings. Wall units also have use in a variety of different settings since they provide functionality both in home and office environments. The kind of building material used for construction of any particular wall unit depends on several considerations including intended function, cost and appearance of the completed wall unit. Example types of wall units include entertainment centers, bookcases and dining room hutches. Does this Spark an idea?
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Wood
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Wood provides an example of a traditional building material for use in a wall unit. Wood, particularly hard woods, provide durability and a classic look for wall units. Maple, oak and cherry woods provide examples of hardwoods sometimes used in building or manufacturing wall units. The built-in type of dishware cabinet found in some vintage homes provides an example of a traditional form of wood-based wall units. Other examples of wood-based wall units include dining room hutches or wooden bookcases. One disadvantage to using a hardwood-based wall unit involves the weight of the unit, particularly in larger wall units or those in which the weight of the unit may get combined with contents that also have considerable weight, such as silverware or hardcover books. Another disadvantage involves that premium hardwood has a greater cost than other building materials. Also, over time, wood doors and drawers may warp.
Metal
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Metal provides another example of a base material for a wall unit. An office environment may make use of metal-based wall units, for example. Office environments may use a blend of wood and metal units depending on the circumstances of different personnel. Executive offices may have wall units made of wood because of the more refined appearance that provides a pleasing ambiance for meeting clients, which helps justify the expense. Wall units in areas where employees do more production types of work, however, may make use of wall units with metal as the primary building material both for cost savings and because the frequency of opening and closing the units may contribute to warping of wood-based units. You can also find or build metal-based wall units such as bookshelves and entertainment centers for home environments as well. As with offices, metal-based wall units in a home environment may come into use either because of cost or functionality considerations.
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Other
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Metal and wood provide examples of the primary building materials for wall units. However, some types of wall units can incorporate other kinds of building materials in conjunction with the primary building material. Some supporting building materials you may find used for wall units include particleboard, glass and laminates such as melamine board and Formica. A metal bookcase, for example, may incorporate particleboard to provide sidings and backing to the shelving. Wall units such as entertainment centers, dining room hutches and bookcases all may include glass-front doors.
Hardware
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Additional building materials you will find in wall units include the hardware. Depending on the type of wall unit and the materials used, the wall unit will require assembly or manufacture that incorporates screws, nails or both. Depending on the design of the wall unit, a specific wall unit may also require hinges, door catches, drawer slides and drawer pulls to complete.
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