How Technology is Making Millwork Cheaper and Better
There was a time when millwork typically defined architectural spaces occupied by the wealthy. This was because elements like crown moldings, wainscoting and decorative balusters on stairways were often painstakingly crafted in mills by highly skilled artisans. However, innovations in materials and production are happening every day that allow manufacturers to offer superior quality, frequently at increasingly lower cost. These industry changes may even account for some of the rising demand in commercial spaces.
New Materials
Although natural wood is still an important material, synthetics are now a big share of the market. Urethanes and PVC are used to produce beautiful trims, molding, column wraps and more, with the added advantage of being mold and bug resistant, durable and environmentally friendly. They are also usually more cost effective than wood. Engineered woods can be scratched and nicked without showing damage because they’re colored all the way through. Other materials have made entirely new millwork products possible. For example, resin-saturated wood veneers can now be used to make stylish bathtubs.
New Methods
CNC milling, short for computer numeric control milling, allows a computer to control how a material is cut in multiple dimensions. This results in consistently high quality, and also allows every custom made-to-order piece to have the same excellent quality as pieces that are mass produced. CNC milling also allows companies to increase production and cut down on waste, which saves them money. These savings can translate into lower costs for the consumer.
The integration of technology into actual elements is also increasing their functionality. For example, the incorporation of hidden sensors into milled ceilings is enabling businesses to track how much foot traffic they receive.
Once the work of craftsman and available only to the lucky few, millwork production is faster, cheaper and better than it’s ever been. It’s no wonder demand continues to increase in private and commercial architecture.