Aug. 12, 2024
Think about your workstation, and then think about your bed. What are the significant differences between the two pieces of furniture? You probably aren&#;t sleeping at your workstation&#; unless it&#;s lunch. But that&#;s not the only difference between the two items. Your bed is residential-grade furniture, but your workstation is mostly commercial-grade furniture.
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The furniture you find in your office building is drastically different from the furniture you find in your bedroom, kitchen, doctor&#;s office or public parks. We&#;re talking about residential versus commercial-grade furniture.
Commercial-grade furniture doesn&#;t necessarily mean that the furniture is found in public businesses, but rather it is the furniture&#;s quality. There are six significant differences between residential-grade furniture and commercial-grade furniture.
Where you purchase your furniture will directly impact the classification of the furniture you will be receiving. Thousands of different retailers carry different kinds of furniture, and there are various considerations for all. When going into a furniture store or furniture supplier, you expect to be met with a wide variety of options that will suit all of your needs.
Major big box stores like Staples, IKEA, and Walmart all carry a large amount of furniture for your home and office. These stores are found in nearly every town and supply a large part of the population with their day-to-day furniture. These suppliers focus on residential classified furniture. Furniture is available instantly and can be commonly found. These stores often carry a wide variety of products and do not specialize in any one kind.
A furniture dealer like Office Interiors may carry products that look similar to these big box stores, but there are some key differences. Furniture dealers focus on commercial-grade products. These dealerships source their products from higher-end brands, and you will be working with a furniture professional when purchasing the product. When ordering from a furniture dealer, you typically have a dedicated representative who will work with you to ensure you are getting the best product for your needs. Since furniture dealers are more specialized, you will find these are often local to your area and not major corporate brands.
Look around your room and identify all of the different purposes your furniture has. Each piece works together to create a cohesive and productive environment.
Residential furniture is prebuilt or assembled and typically comes in a few varieties. For example, when selecting a new storage piece, you will have limited options with residential furniture.
When going into a residential furniture store, you will have predetermined colour and size options. Typically with storage, you will find basic colours like white, black and grey and limited sizes. These items are grab-and-go, and you will be able to purchase and assemble them that day. Finding a piece that seamlessly works with your existing setup may be difficult because of the options available. While there are usually a wide variety of types of furniture, customization is limited to residential furniture.
A commercial-grade supplier will have access to a large variety of products that are built to work together with the same finish and be sized to fit. Commercial-grade dealers do not have a lot of products in stock because these pieces are made-to-order. Office space is precious, so ensuring that you have the best option of furniture is essential.
Furniture plays a specific function for a room, and their lifespans can significantly vary.
Residential furniture is typically very trendy but has a short lifespan. These products are not made to withstand the test of time, but rather be a trend of the moment. There are ever-evolving trends in the furniture industry, and residential furniture helps you implement those trends quickly. But the quality of these pieces isn&#;t always a priority.
Commercial furniture is designed to last and withstand the wear and tear of everyday use.
This furniture is built with quality being a top priority. Pieces are designed to improve your space and work with the current trends effortlessly. Commercial furniture is made to be used. Most commercial-grade fabric finishes use the double-rub metric &#; this measures exactly how many times the furniture can be sat on before showing wear and tear.
A great example is guest seating in a waiting room. These chairs have an evolving door of people who continually sit in them daily. These chairs need to be aesthetically pleasing but also be able to handle constant use. Commercial-grade guest seating will allow you to have beautiful furniture that can also last in these circumstances.
No matter the quality or the supplier of the furniture, chances are you want it to last. But what happens when there is a defect? These things happen, and you want to be covered. Paying close attention to office furniture warranties can help you choose higher-quality furniture that will last longer.
Residential furniture often comes with a limited warranty. These warranties are typically 30-60 days after purchase and cover manufacturing defects. However, once a piece of furniture is fully assembled or the box is opened, this may automatically void the warranty. Getting a refund can also be a headache, waiting in line for hours only to receive a partial refund. Sometimes extended warranties are available for purchase and can be used to refund or replace defective products.
Commercial-grade furniture comes with different kinds of needs and their warranties fall into three different categories. Limited warranty, full warranty or express warranty.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Commercial Outdoor Furniture Wholesale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
A limited warranty is a time-restricted warranty and is often 10 years to a lifetime, depending on the product. These warranties come with some restrictions and usually cover defects or product breaking, but not due to user neglect.
A full warranty is rare and covers the product forever, no matter what happens. The manufacturer guarantees product performance forever. This is a no-questions-asked kind of warranty.
An express warranty is a guarantee about the product based on its advertised qualities. For example, if a chair is said to withstand 350 lbs by a salesperson, and they write this down on your invoice, your warranty will cover this chair&#;s performance.
What your product is made of will vary based on its classification.
Residential furniture comes in limited finishes and often is made of lower-grade materials. There are typically only a select variety of colours or fabrics available and do not offer customization. If it&#;s laminate or metal, they often come in a few colours and can scuff or dent with constant use. Most furniture will be available in white, black or grey and not protect against stains or continuous use. These items are mass-produced, so they have to appeal to the masses and be quick to market.
Commercial-grade finishes have endless options and customization. This doesn&#;t just include colour and fabric, but there are also options like water resistance or sustainable material. Commercial-grade finishes are high quality and can withstand constant use. Also, since these finishes are available in a wide variety of options, you can match them to any existing furniture you have in the room. Commercial grade furniture is made to order which allows for higher-grade finishes to be used.
You pay for quality, and this is true with residential and commercial-grade furniture.
Residential-grade furniture is typically less expensive than its commercial-grade counterparts. Factors like the quality of materials, the manufacturer and style all play into the price tag. You are paying for ease and convenience with residential-grade furniture, and you are paying for a high-quality product with significant warranties when you choose commercial-grade furniture.
There is no one correct answer to whether you should buy commercial-grade or residential-grade furniture. This will depend on the function of the furniture and what your expectations are.
If you want to talk to a furniture rep to learn more about the commercial-grade furniture available at Office Interiors, reach out to us today and we would be happy to help!
Emily Adams
Digital Content Specialist
Office Interiors
Running and owning your business can be rewarding but also requires hard work and commitment. Getting down to every last detail is paramount to the success and survival of your business. Finding quality commercial furniture is just one of the many puzzle pieces businesses need to put together. It might be more convenient and affordable for you to pick up a few chairs and tables from your local retail store but doing so might cost you in the long run.
When shopping and purchasing furniture for your dining venue or office, it's important to differentiate between residential and commercial furniture. Commercial furniture, also known as contract furniture, is built to handle wear and tear of daily use in high traffic environments whereas residential furniture is not designed to the same stringent requirements because it typically does not experience traffic of a high magnitude. Below are a few parameters which better explain the differences and help you distinguish between the two.
In most parts of the United States for practically all interior woodwork, such as flooring, trim, furniture, etc. a moisture content below 12 percent is recommended. In contract furniture we use hard wood with 6-7% moisture content which adds to the wood's toughness and durability.
Residential furniture is typically made using softer wood types like rubberwood and pine which is one of the more popular woods for residential furniture. While softwood is easier to turn into furniture making it a cheaper material, it is also less scratch resistant. On the other hand, wood table tops and chairs for commercial use are made from resistant hardwoods such as maple, beechwood and oak.
While residential and commercial furniture may look the same there can be vast differences in the durability of the materials used. Commercial furniture manufacturers take into consideration the fact that the furniture, both seating and tables, will be in constant use by different people. This means that the wood is tougher and finished using Polyurethane coatings (also known as P.U. finishing) which help protect the wood from high levels of wear and tear and constant cleaning.
The metal frame is powder coated and baked making it more resistant to rust and flaking. Powder Coating also results in a thick, dense finish with a smoother surface which attracts less dust and allows less dirt to accumulate making it both easier to maintain and more hygienic.
For upholstered furniture the seat is first covered in foam padding which comes in a variety of densities, firmness and fire resistance. Unlike residential furniture contract furniture comes with more stringent safety codes and often, for an additional small fee the most stringent codes such as CAL 133 can be applied.
All foams include both density and firmness measurements and usually the firmer a foam is the higher it's density and weight. While firmer foam is more expensive it is also more comfortable and lasts longer. A density of 2.0-2.5 is the appropriate range for upholstered chairs and booths used in restaurants and other busy venues while the most commonly used foam density for residential furniture sold in the U.S. is 1.8.
For more Outdoor Furniture Supplierinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
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