The Price of Conference Room Tables
When you start pricing conference room tables, you may be
shocked at the high prices. But before you back away and decide against
purchasing the table that you need for your business, let’s take a look at what
determines the cost of the table first, as well as options that you have to
lower the cost.
The size of the table has a definite impact on the cost. The
larger the table is, the more it will cost. Try to realistically determine how
much space you need for seating and working in your conference room, and go
with the smallest size that you need.
The materials that are used for the conference room tables
that are available also affect the cost. The most expensive woods are walnut,
maple, oak, cherry, birch, and pine. If you go with a composite or a
combination however, you will get a better price – and in most cases, your
clients won’t know the difference if the wood has a nice finish on it.
Composite woods are not grown – they are manufactured.
Composite woods include plywood, particle board, hard board, and medium density
fiberboard. Obviously, particle board should not be a choice, but plywood and
medium density fiberboards can be suitable for your table.
The finish of the table has a very small affect on the
price, in most cases, but some finishes cost more than others. Typically, a
cherry finish is more than an oak finish, but this is just a result of the cost
of the varnish and sealer more than anything else, and again, it doesn’t have a
major impact on the price. In many cases, it has absolutely no affect on the
price.
The way that the conference room tables are designed also
matters. Special shapes, such as figure eights or boat shapes can affect the
cost. Oval and rectangular are the most common shapes for these tables, and if
you go with a common shape, instead of an uncommon or unique shape, you will
usually save some money. Of course, you must also consider any detailed wood
work that the table has, such as woodwork on the legs of the table. All additional
work of this sort will add to the price.
As with anything else, the brand name of the table affects
the price greatly. Your cheapest bet is to find the brand name table that you
want, and then shop for a cheaper knock-off version of the same table. They do
exist, and you will save a great deal of money. Again, in most cases – unless
your clients are in the furniture business or collectors of furnishings, they
won’t know the difference at all.
Of course, while you are considering the cost of the conference
room tables that are available, you must also consider the cost of the chairs
and other furnishings that you need for your conference room. You may discover
that you actually save money all around by going with a complete conference
room ensemble instead of purchasing pieces individually.