Sustainable Contract Furniture | Wood Materials
All our exposed surfaces are either wood veneers or solid stock, and are kiln dried to a moisture content of 5%-7%. Veneers are hand selected for quality and uniformity of color. Maple veneers are whole piece face, eliminating seams and glue lines. Oak veneers are rift cut sheets. Interior bracing and blocking is made of alder and/or poplar. All legs and moldings are typically made from solid maple unless otherwise noted. We can also provide hardwoods in Cherry, Mahogany, Pine, Walnut, and Oak. Our sustainable contract furniture options are available for quality, durability, and longevity.
Case Construction
Cases are typically constructed using the 32mm European construction with both dowels and screws to join case components. Case panels are either 45# high density particle board, 5 ply veneer core or medium density fiberboard that all meet ANSI and HPVA standards. All cases receive a moisture barrier on the bottom of side panels and the toe kick.
Cases that are wider than 40” have a center divider, reinforced with an under mount center support foot. This prevents sagging of shelves and tops and assures continued smooth operation of drawers and doors. Bottoms of spaces designed for refrigerators have high pressure laminate or Low pressure melamine to prevent moisture damage. The backs of all drawer cavities are sealed with 1⁄4” engineered fiberboard to prevent moisture from entering the wood panels from either the back or the bottom of the case.
Casegoods for Hospitality, Senior Living, Healthcare
Horizontal working surfaces typically receive a standard-grade high-pressure laminate (HPL) top. The HPL is pressed on 45#, high-density particleboard and edged with matching solid wood or matching PVC. Tops can also be constructed using veneer with a solid wood edge and/or solid wood.
Drawers are constructed of five panels, consisting of a box and a drawer face attached with screws. All drawer sides, fronts and backs are constructed using 1⁄2”, 9-ply Baltic birch veneer with a 1⁄4” high density white melamine drawer bottom. For Healthcare Standards, the drawer box is constructed using 1⁄2” white melamine. A metal reinforcement bracket is added to the back of each drawer bottom to eliminate any possible drawer bottom failure.
Either we utilize side mounted heavy-duty 100# ball bearing slides or 100# nylon drawer glides. The side mounted guides are available in either 3⁄4 or full extension. Nylon drawer glides are coated with baked enamel to resist corrosion and capture the bottom edge of the drawer; transferring the entire weight of the drawer and contents to the glide. Metal reinforcement brackets are added to bottom of each drawer to help eliminate damage from heavy objects. Drawer glides provide smooth, consistent operation for years.
Doors and Drawer fronts are constructed of slab veneer or low-pressure melamine over 3⁄4” 45# high-density particleboard. Face applied trim is used as a decorative detail in certain cases, wood tape or PVC edging is applied to all four sides of the door and drawer front. 1/8” reveals are typical with all doors and drawer fronts. Concealed self-closing Salice hinges and hinge plates are used for door hardware.
Northland employs water-based stains and pre-catalyzed lacquers. All of our stains are low VOC and qualify for LEED credits. All exposed tops and edges are sealed using a conversion varnish for protection. Conversion varnish offers a more durable and consistent finish than other finishing methods over the lifetime of the furniture.
Mirror frames are constructed of solid wood which provides increased durability and stability. Glass is scar guarded and backs are coated with an anti-shatter backing for safety. Anti-shatter backing holds the pieces together if a mirror is broken reducing the risk of injury. Concealed security mounting hardware must be appropriate to size of artwork/mirrors and suitable for field and wall conditions. Mirrors shall be fabricated of distortion-free polished plate glass. Packaging, crating, and handling shall be the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure safest delivery.
Leg levelers are used on all cases with doors to provide perfect door alignment and operation. Refrigerator openings incorporate two 3⁄4” x 4” vertical strips in the back of the case to facilitate better ventilation. Microwave openings typically receive a 2” hole in the back panel for cords and venting.