Why is solid wood furniture so expensive?

Solid wood costs more because it uses premium, slow-grown lumber rather than cheap composites. It also requires skilled craftsmanship to join, finish, and stabilize, unlike mass-produced veneer pieces.

Does solid wood hold its value?

Yes. Unlike veneer or particleboard furniture which often ends up in landfills, well-maintained solid wood furniture can be resold or passed down as an heirloom, retaining significant value.

How long does a solid wood table last?

With proper care, a solid wood table can last for generations (50-100+ years). Durability is its primary advantage over cheaper alternatives that may only last 5-10 years.

Is Solid Wood Furniture Worth It?

When you’re shopping for a dining table, the price difference between “solid wood” and “wood finish” (veneer) can be shocking. You might see a table for $800 and another that looks similar for $3,500.

Is the solid wood piece really worth 4x the price? financially and practically, yes.

Here is the breakdown of why solid wood is an investment, not just an expense.

1. The “Cost Per Use” Equation

Mass-produced furniture (IKEA, Wayfair, etc.) is designed to be disposable. It uses particleboard cores with thin plastic or wood paper on top.

Veneer Table: Costs $800. Lasts 5–7 years before chipping/peeling. Result: You buy 4 tables over 30 years ($3,200).
Solid Wood Table: Costs $3,500. Lasts 50+ years. Result: You buy 1 table ($3,500).

The long-term cost is almost identical, but with solid wood, you enjoy a premium, beautiful piece of nature every single day, rather than a deteriorating fake.

2. Repairability (The Invisible Value)

This is the single biggest difference.

Accidents Happen: A hot pan, a sharp fork, or a marker from a toddler.
On Veneer: If you scratch deep enough to reveal the particleboard underneath, it’s game over. You cannot sand veneer (it’s too thin). You have to live with the damage or throw it out.
On Solid Wood: A scratch is just character. If it bothers you, you can sand it out and re-oil it in 20 minutes. Ideally, you can completely refinish the table in 20 years to make it look brand new.

3. Unfakeable Presence

You can photograph veneer to look like wood, but you can’t fake the feel.

Weight: Solid wood anchors a room. It feels substantial and permanent.
Temperature: Real wood warms to the touch and adapts to the room.
Uniqueness: Every board in a solid wood table has a unique grain fingerprint. Veneer often uses a “repeating pattern” print that the subconscious mind recognizes as artificial.

4. Sustainability

“Fast furniture” is an environmental disaster, filling landfills with glue-heavy composite boards that don’t biodegrade. A solid wood table is carbon sequestration in your dining room. Sourced responsibly (like our Parota and Acacia), it is a renewable resource that stays in your home and out of the trash.

Summary: Who is it for?

Buy Veneer If: You are furnishing a temporary apartment, expecting to move internationally soon, or have an extremely tight budget ($500-800).
Buy Solid Wood If: You are building a home, want furniture that survives family life, or appreciate materials that age gracefully.

Ready to invest?

Written & Verified By

The Urbis Workshop Team

Our guides are written by real woodworkers, not AI. We draw from years of experience sourcing sustainable Parota slabs in Mexico and finishing them in our Toronto workshop. We believe in transparency, craftsmanship, and furniture that lasts generations.