How to Choose Your Wooden Credenza?

Contents

Advantages and disadvantages of a wooden credenza

How to choose your wooden credenza?

Installation and maintenance of a wooden credenza

What exactly is the purpose of a credenza?

A credenza is a cabinet-style piece of furniture usually found in a dining room, with no (or very short) legs and sliding doors that open to reveal storage space for dishware and other dining items.

Even so, it’s easy to get things muddled up with seemingly indistinguishable phrases like sideboard and buffet. Although the variations between these objects are minor, understanding what distinguishes one from the next might be beneficial.

Wooden credenzas are aesthetically pleasing and easy to install but require regular and appropriate maintenance. So, before choosing it for its warmth, it is advisable to carefully weigh up the pros and cons! It cannot be placed just anywhere.

Advantages and disadvantages of wooden credenzas

Advantages

The wooden credenza is ideally suited to a Scandinavian or mountain-inspired kitchen. In people’s minds, wood remains a noble, natural and warm material popular in home renovation. It acquires a nice patina over time.

Disadvantages

Wood is sensitive to heat and humidity and is not scratch-resistant. Therefore, you cannot install your wooden credenza behind the sink or the hob.

How to choose your wooden credenza?

Wood types

Wooden credenzas come in many different types of wood:

For a pale or honey colour, choose European woods such as beech, pine, birch, oak or elm;

Choose exotic woods such as teak, Zebrano, ipe, Merbau or iroko for a darker look.

Good to know: exotic woods are rot-proof, i.e. they do not rot.

Types of wood

There are four types of wood.

1. Solid wood is obtained from a trunk without being processed. It is a natural product par excellence and is very elegant.

2. Veneered wood results from several sheets of wood glued together. It has the appearance of precious wood but at a lower price.

3. Multi-ply wood is obtained by superimposing glued and hot-pressed sheets. It is solid and resistant to bending.

4. Glued laminated timber is a material made from parallel glued strips. It is more robust than solid wood and is used, for example, in carpentry.

Installation and maintenance of a wooden credenza

Installation tips

Installing a wooden splashback is extremely simple:

Apply several streams of wood glue with a spray gun. Make sure that the surface is sound, flat and dry.
Press for about ten seconds with a cloth. Place the credenza gradually, starting at the bottom and working your way up.
Leave to dry for 48 hours.
Seal the joints with transparent silicone.

Treatment

You must varnish or oil your wooden credenza when you install it and then treat it at least twice a year. A high gloss marine or exterior treatment is required.

On raw wood, a varnish or wood oil allows you to choose:

stain the wood with dyes or pigments;
apply a gloss, satin or matt finish.

Sanding veneer, multi-ply and glued laminate can be tricky when the top layer of wood is fragile.

Caution: if you wish to change the colour or finish later, you must strip and sand the entire surface, if its thickness allows it, and then treat it again. Proceed manually with very fine sandpaper and great care.

Maintenance

Once treated, your wooden credenza can be cleaned with a soft cloth and lukewarm water. You cannot use abrasive sponges, such as steel wool or strong detergents.

Where to buy it?

Wooden credenzas are sold in DIY shops, large home improvement stores and specialist wood shops. Prices vary according to the type and type of wood used.