Rubber tree wood is a byproduct of rubber production and has been commercially used in Asia since the 1980s. It is very robust, hard, and resistant to moisture, which makes it ideal for furniture production and construction. Rubber is tapped as milky sap from the bark of this tree; the wood is then harvested when old trees no longer produce enough sap and are felled. The wood is also marketed as Rubberwood. Rubberwood is the English term for the wood of the rubber tree, which, of course, has nothing to do with our ornamental plant. Rubberwood is very hard, even harder than oak, and can therefore be processed into thinner panels. The result of this wood production is more delicate furniture pieces that appear elegant and light.
Tables with a naturally curved live edge made of rubberwood, for example, as dining tables or conference room tables, are significantly lighter than a comparable table made of other woods because the tabletop can be thinner.
The wood has a yellowish-white color, is very uniform in structure, and can be easily stained. Furniture made of rubber tree wood is usually lacquered. Lacquering closes the fine pores of the wood, but the wood's structure remains clearly visible, even when colored lacquer is used. Lacquering makes the wood absorb less dust and moisture, making it easy to care for and resistant. In most cases, rubberwood can be cleaned with a damp cotton cloth or simply wiped dry. More intensive care is not necessary under normal use due to the material's robustness.
Due to their brightness and fine grain, rubber furniture appears particularly elegant in larger rooms and can be ideally combined with other light furniture. Visually, a combination with furniture with a lively grain also looks very nice – just like a deliberate light-dark contrast, for example, in a dining set with a light dining table and dark chairs.
Please note that this information is only general information about the wood type.
