When purchasing a desk, the buyer should be aware that there are several options to consider. An office desk can be a single pedestal or double pedestal. A pedestal is comprised of drawers. These drawers can be 3/4 ped or full ped. A 3/4 ped consists of two drawers, and the pedestal reaches 3/4 way down, leaving an open space till the floor. While a full ped consists of three drawers, and the pedestal reaches the floor.
Another consideration is that it may be more beneficial to buy an "L"-shaped desk, which gives the user more desktop while not taking up too much space in the room, since the chair uses the same space as the return. An "L" desk can be bought with a right or left return.
Whether purchasing a single desk or a "U" Station or a complete office suite, a decision must be made about the materials. Would you benefit more from furniture utilizing a wood veneer finish or plastic laminate? Please see future articles describing the difference. The wood veneer finish or the plastic laminate is applied to a particle board. Good quality furniture is made using a dense particle board or plywood. Most of the office furniture sold is not made entirely of solid wood, which is used to provide structural integrity. There are those who claim that using particle board or plywood is even superior to solid wood for the tops and flat panels. The reasoning is that since wood is porous by nature, solid wood has a tendency to expand and contract as the humidity changes, while ground wood and plywood are more stable and less apt to warp or split.
Another very important consideration when purchasing office furniture with drawers--for example a desk, credenza, or lateral file--is to ascertain whether the drawer tracks are of good quality. Better quality will ensure quiet and smooth operation, especially important on file drawers.
