Today, we interviewed a long-time customer who is living in it for two years to share his experience of choosing all-aluminum furniture. We'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of all-aluminum furniture.
Advantages of all-aluminum furniture
1. Environmentally friendly and energy-saving: The panels used in all-aluminum furniture are made of aluminum, whose environmental performance is widely recognized, allowing for immediate occupancy after installation. Moreover, aluminum can be recycled and reused, which is a good way to recoup some money after use.
2. Lightweight and high strength: Aluminum alloy is lightweight but has high strength, making all-aluminum decorative structures sturdy and easy to transport and install.
3. Moisture-proof, mildew-proof, and fire-resistant: Aluminum is more resistant to moisture than various boards and wood, is not easily deformed or cracked, and is not moldy or flammable. It can easily last 50 years in the kitchen and bathroom.
4. Insect and termite prevention: Aluminum performs well in terms of density and pressure, which can effectively prevent termite and insect infestation and ensure the durability of furniture.
5. Easy to clean and maintain: The surface of all-aluminum finishes is smooth and does not easily accumulate dust and dirt, making them very easy to clean.
6. Short construction period: Aluminum alloy components can be prefabricated and installed quickly on site, which greatly shortens the decoration period.
7. High durability: All-aluminum furniture is wind-resistant, water-resistant, UV-resistant, acid and alkali-resistant, and is not easily deformed or faded with long-term use, saving maintenance costs.
The issues that everyone is most concerned about:
1. Aesthetic style
Many people worry that all-aluminum furniture, as a metal product, has a relatively straight-line design and shape, and a monotonous style, which may not meet their home decoration style.
All-aluminum furniture surfaces can be finished with various processes such as color, pattern, wood grain, skin texture, frosted, and glossy (mirror) to achieve a variety of home styles, including minimalist, retro, new Chinese, Nordic, and American. The currently popular cream and French styles can also be well presented.
2. Cold to the touch
I was initially worried it would feel cold to the touch, but it's not at all. Modern all-aluminum furniture panels use a coating process or heat transfer technology, so your hands don't directly touch the aluminum surface, and it won't feel cold. Furthermore, it's flame-retardant, insulating, and non-conductive.
3. Noise, sound insulation, and impact issues
These three issues are all related to plate thickness, so I'll discuss them together.
As long as you choose products from reputable brands, the aluminum sheet thickness they use will meet standards, with some even reaching 18mm in thickness and the sheet itself being over 0.8mm thick. Therefore, a minor bump won't produce a clanging noise or cause dents or deformation. The only exception is if you buy from a small manufacturer to save money, as they may use extremely thin aluminum sheets.
In addition, the sound insulation effect of a door depends on two factors: the seal when the door is closed and the quality of the door panel. All-aluminum doors have undergone repeated testing in terms of density, thickness, and strength, and their sound insulation is perfectly adequate. The hinges used nowadays are mostly designed for arbitrary stopping or have built-in damping, so opening and closing the door is also silent.
It's important to note that to avoid bumps and scratches during transportation and installation, choosing reputable brands will make after-sales issues much easier.
4. Price issue
While aluminum is indeed more expensive than ordinary boards, its environmental friendliness and durability far surpass it. Compared to ordinary wooden furniture costing thousands or high-end solid wood furniture costing tens of thousands, all-aluminum furniture still has its advantages. Moreover, the price is not fixed and is affected by factors such as the type of aluminum, craftsmanship, design, brand, and hardware. Additionally, custom-made all-aluminum furniture is more expensive than ready-made aluminum furniture; you can choose according to your needs.
How to choose all-aluminum furniture without making mistakes
1. Selecting the board material
Don't be confused by salespeople's hype about high-polymer, excimer, PET-G honeycomb panels, SPC, all-aluminum, stainless steel, bamboo charcoal fiber... Alva , after ten years of practice and development, has chosen the most robust, durable, and cost-effective configuration :
The cabinet doors are made of all-aluminum honeycomb panels, with aluminum sheets on both sides of the honeycomb.
The aluminum sheet thickness, whether for honeycomb panels or welded whole panels, shall not be less than 0.8 mm.
For all-aluminum honeycomb panels, hot melt adhesive is preferred over cold gel. Hot melt adhesive has a high melting point and does not volatilize except at extremely high temperatures.
The cabinet body is made of a single welded aluminum panel, which is sturdy, durable and has strong nail-holding power. The cabinet doors are made of all-aluminum honeycomb panels, which have better texture and flatness, and the PUR edge banding is more beautiful.
All-aluminum honeycomb panels can be fully machine-processed, resulting in relatively low costs; however, all-aluminum welded panels require manual edge sealing, which is slightly more expensive.
2. Examine the surface finish.
Currently, Alva's all-aluminum custom surface treatment processes typically include the following three:
Wood Grain Heat transfer printing: Truly formaldehyde-free! Longer lifespan and excellent scratch resistance. However, the downside is limited color options, generally focusing on wood grain, and the feel isn't as good as lamination. Recommended for those who want a wood-like effect and style.
Powder Coating: Formaldehyde-free, with excellent antioxidant and corrosion-resistant properties, anti-static treatment, fireproof and moisture-proof, sturdy and durable.
Film Coating: This method covers the metallic feel of aluminum, resulting in a better feel, more texture and color options, and more prominent texture effects, allowing for a wider range of finishes. The downside is that it contains a small amount of adhesive, so it's essential to choose a brand with environmental certification.
3. Examine the edge banding process.
· Custom-made all-aluminum panels are hollow honeycomb panels. Therefore, when sealing the edges, they mainly rely on corner clips. If the quality of the corner connectors or the edge sealing process is poor, the edges are prone to peeling. Alva aluminum honeycomb panels use PUR edge sealing, ensuring a tight and durable seal; welded panels use laser-sealed aluminum strips, which are more durable and aesthetically pleasing.
4. Examine the details of the edges and corners.
· Alva is meticulously crafted, with every edge and corner treated to prevent them from being sharp like blades and cutting your hand.
5. Inspect the hardware and screws.
· The materials used for hardware accessories such as screws, hinges, and edge banding must be durable, moisture-proof, and rust-proof. You can't skimp on these! Alva uses SS304 hardware, which will not rust even in humid tropical regions.
