If you want to buy school chairs Melbourne, plastic and wood materials are some of the main furniture materials you have to choose from. You will also have to consider other things such as sizes, styles and colours. While it is easy to choose the size and colour of the furniture, choosing between wood and plastic may be difficult because both materials have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Both plastic and wooden furniture can be economical, practical and attractive. To make your selection easy, we made this guide to help you differentiate between the two.

Durability

When you purchase a piece of furniture that needs to be strong for the intended uses and purposes and tough enough to last, you can get a little bit confused. No one wants to buy pieces of furniture that will break in a couple of weeks. The right plastics and resins can be manufactured to bear a lot of weight and be durable. When you choose the right furniture design, there is no reason why plastic will not last.

However, it is important to understand that plastic cannot compete with wood when it comes to durability. Hardly surprising when you consider the age of the trees used to source timber for making furniture. There is a lot of wooden furniture that is several centuries old and still remains in great condition. When protected from water and woodworm, there is no reason why wooden school furniture will not last almost indefinitely.

The cost

When you consider how long wood lasts, it is understandable that it is more expensive compared to plastic. However, as an investment that you expect to last a lifetime, wood furniture will be an economical choice in the long run. If you are looking for educational furniture that has a lower purchasing cost, plastic is perfect. While it may not last for centuries, it will still be durable and if you are not planning on keeping it for a lot of years to come, it is a great pick.

Maintenance

Both wooden and plastic furniture is easy to care for so they both score a big thumbs up. With a quick wipe-over, you will be able to keep your wooden and plastic furniture clean and there is no special care needed.

However, plastic has a slight advantage because if you want to keep wood looking glossy, you will have to polish it properly. You may also need to wax it occasionally over the years to keep it well-protected.

Eco-friendly

If you want an eco-friendly choice, the material of choice depends on the source of the material. A lot of criticism has been surrounding plastic but this criticism only applies to single-use plastics. Plastic can last for years so does not have the same negative effects so it is a purchase you can make. Using wood means cutting down trees but using wood from sustainable sources means that there are no environmental concerns. There are also some plastic school chairs Melbourne made from recycled plastics.