Bunk beds can be made of either wood or metal, or, in some (rare) cases, the combination of the two. Both options have their pros and their cons; wood is definitely a prevalent choice among manufacturers, but that does not mean metal bunk beds don't have their place on the market -- on the contrary.

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Metal bunk beds give out a modern, contemporary look. They can be constructed of steel tubes, metal rods or wrought iron, with tubular design being the most common type found on the market today. Quality metal products are coated with so called powder-coat finish which is considerably tougher than conventional paint and offers a much better resistance toward scratching, chipping, UV damage and rust. It also looks great, although the finish reportedly tends to rub off for a while when the product is new.

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Since metal allows for relatively easy shaping, many modern metal bunk beds feature appealing curvy forms which adds to their attractiveness. They are also priced a little lower, which is due partly to lower production costs, and partly to their simplicity; metal bunk beds generally come with less optional items and additions than their wooden counterparts and that of course shows in the price.

Wooden bunk beds constitute well over three quarters of the bunk bed market today and as a result they come in a larger variety of styles and shapes and arrangements and also offer more in the way of optional items: stairways, ladder types, underbed sleep/storage units, drawers etc.

There are many wood species utilized in bunk bed production -- here are some of the the most common ones.

Maple -- a long time favorite of American furniture makers, and bunk bed manufacturers are no exception. The wood is hard and heavy, with high resistance to abrasion and wear and has a fine, uniform texture. Color ranges from creamy white to dark reddish brown.

Oak -- another hard and heavy wood with medium crushing strength and excellent wear-resistance. The texture is medium to coarse, with pronounced figure. Depending on the species, the color can be white to light brown to pinkish-redish brown.

Cherry -- medium density wood with good bending properties and medium strength and shock resistance. It has a fine, uniform, straight grain, smooth and satiny texture. The heartwood of cherry varies in color from rich red to reddish brown and will darken with age and exposure to light.

Rubberwood -- an increasingly popular Asian hardwood, also known as eco-friendly hardwood, or the Rubber Tree. The wood is appreciated for its dense grain, stability, attractive color and acceptance of different finishes. It is also valued as an "environmentally friendly" wood, since it makes use of trees that have been cut down at the end of their latex-producing life cycle and are always replaced with new seedlings.

Engineered Wood -- manufactured by bonding together wood strands, particles, veneers, lumber or other forms of wood fiber to produce a larger and integral composite unit that is stronger and stiffer than the sum of its parts. The most common types of engineered wood used in furniture manufacture are MDF (medium density fiberboard) and veneer. MDF is made from fine wood dust mixed with a binder (a special sort of glue) and heat-pressed into panels. Veneer refers to thin slices of wood that are glued onto core panels (typically, wood, particle board or medium density fiberboard) to produce flat panels. Veneer can incorporate beautiful symmetric and consistent grain patterns and can be shaped into graceful curves which is not possible with solid wood. It should be mentioned that with today's advanced manufacturing processes composite materials are often even stronger and more durable than their solid counterparts.

In the end, the choice between wood and metal usually comes down to aesthetics and functionality; for some environments, metal bunk beds with their simplicity and contemporary look will just be a natural fit, but for most people bunk beds made of wood are probably the better choice: first, they will better blend in with the rest of the furniture, and second they come in a larger variety of styles and configurations and have a greater assortment of optional items available -- there is something for anyone's taste and budget.

Bunk Bed Materials - Wood Vs Metal

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