Wood or metal frame? Which chair is right for you?

Most of us have been in a healthcare environment that uses a mixture of wooden frame and metal frame chairs, but is there any difference between them, other than appearance?

We delve into the differences and explore whether wood or metal frame chairs are more beneficial to the space you’re in. 

Using our 6E’s ethos, we analyse whether wood or metal prevails in a healthcare setting. Throughout each section we’ll be scoring wood vs metal for the ultimate decider. 

Let’s get started with our first ​‘e’, ​‘easy’…

Are wood or metal frame chairs easy to use?

This may seem like a strange question to start with as chairs are simple to use, right? But let’s think about those that will be working around this item of furniture.

In between patients, staff and visitors sitting on the chair, they’re being cleaned constantly. When you think about the continuous work cleaners in healthcare spaces go through, it’s vital that the chair is easy to move. Both wood and metal frame chairs can have housekeeping wheels added to the legs to ensure it is easy to move for cleaning. This also makes sure the person moving the chair isn’t doing any heavy lifting.

Another factor to consider when it comes to cleaning is dirt traps. Due to the construction required with wooden frames it is difficult to incorporate a removable seat option to aid easy cleaning, without creating a form of double seat. With metal it is possible to allow for a removable seat without a solid base design to ensure a quick clean. This also means no dirt traps and no backing material on display that is not antibacterial.

It’s a close one but for us, metal chairs take the win in this round.

Wood 0 – 1 Metal

Which chair frame is more efficient? Wood or metal?

Following on from ​‘easy’, the chair frame material you choose needs to be ​‘efficient’. The chair needs to perform and function in the best possible manner. It also needs to be long lasting and enhance the user’s day-to-day efficiency too.

We understand that admin isn’t top of the priority list when it comes to your workload, so the thought of reordering chair after chair can be unmotivating.

Did you know that metal chairs tend to have a longer lasting frame compared to wood? When you compare the Arvada’s 25-year warranty with the 7‑year warranty of the Shuna, it’s a no-brainer. Longer lasting material = less re-ordering of tired frames, reducing the amount of admin. Who knew that the humble metal frame chair could reduce your admin?

This looks like another win for metal chairs!

Wood 0 – 2 Metal

Are wood frame chairs more ergonomic than metal frame chairs?

The dictionary definition of ergonomic is ​‘designed to be comfortable, safe, and efficient to use, especially in or as a work environment’, so when it comes to staff, patient and visitor seating in hospitals, comfort is key. Both metal and wood frames have their pros and cons, but how do we decide?

A crucial part of comfort is the armrest, which is often needed for treatments, diagnosis, and simply getting in and out of the chair. Armrests take a lot of pressure, and they need to be sturdy and easy to see, especially for those with limited movement or sight. Wooden armrests can wear down over time, exposing the wood underneath and raising concerns about infection control.

Upholstering the armrest can help, but it might not be as durable. Our solution? A custom armrest made from antibacterial, antimicrobial polyurethane. This material, combined with a metal frame, offers a much stronger and more reliable connection than wood.

For heavier chairs, adding small wheels to the rear legs makes moving them easier, and metal frames handle this better than wood. Plus, metal frames are stronger and more durable over time, with fewer weak spots compared to wood.

In short, while both materials have their place, metal frames tend to have better ergonomically designed features for a hospital setting.

It’s another close one, but metal chairs just edge the win in this round.

Wood 0 – 3 Metal

I need the chair frame to last. Which is more economic? Wood or metal?

Let’s dive deeper into the topic of keeping chairs clean. In healthcare settings, maintaining cleanliness is critical, and the cleaning agents often used — like bleach or alcohol — can be quite harsh on materials. Wood, in particular, can suffer from this. Over time, these strong substances can wear down the protective AC lacquer on wooden frames, making the wood more vulnerable to damage and harder to keep sanitary.

On the other hand, metal frames are much more resilient in this regard. They’re coated with an anti-microbial paint additive, which not only makes them easier to clean but also helps in preventing the spread of infections, making them ideal for healthcare environments.

Now, let’s think about the long-term costs. How long will the chair last? Will you need to keep replacing it? Our metal frame chair, the Arvada, comes with a ​“Frame for Life” 25-year warranty. This means that even if the seat or back pads wear out, you can easily replace just those parts, keeping the chair in service for decades. In contrast, if a wooden chair frame gets damaged, you’ll likely need to replace the whole chair, which can add up over time.

So, from both a cleanliness and an economic standpoint, metal frames offer clear advantages, providing durability, ease of maintenance, and a better return on investment.

Sorry wooden frames, but metal takes this round.

Wood 0 – 4 Metal

Do metal frame chairs offer better equality vs wood frame chairs?

To offer equality, the chair needs to be adaptable to suit the user’s needs. This usually means you need to ask, ​‘Can it be adjusted to suit their height, size, and age?’.

As we’ve already covered, both wood and metal frame chairs can be height-adjusted and include padded cushions for comfort and ease. But do both materials really work for all types of users? Wooden frames cannot be adjusted in the same way as metal chairs as the wood fixings can pull out the timber when placed under stress.

We understand that users vary across wards and locations, so another factor to consider is how do bariatric seating designs work in both wood and metal. To make a cost-effective design in wood for a standard chair and bariatric design was nearly impossible. To design a solution in metal where both designs looked the same and provided equality for both user groups was simple.

Various group testing led to a metal-to-metal fixing solution, on the height-adjustable armrests, which allowed for a more supportive chair frame. In addition, this enables wheelchair users to transfer easily offering more equality for users in metal chairs.

Once again metal prevails!

Wood 0 – 5 Metal

Which chair frame is more environmentally friendly? Wood or metal?

Lastly, it’s time to discuss which chair frame is better for the environment. As most will know, both wood and metal have their advantages when it comes to being good for the environment. Both materials can be reused and recycled, which helps with its sustainable impact. Although wood is a renewable, sustainable material, metal is often used more sustainably. Many metal products are made with up to 90% recycled steel, while wooden products often end up discarded or burned. It is also worth being aware that wood treated with lacquer is very difficult to recycle. 

In terms of wear and tear, metal will last longer than wood allowing for less replacement over time. This ensures less products are produced, which also lessens other factors like carbon production. As mentioned, the Arvada chair offers a Frame for Life 25-year warranty offering peace of mind, which in turn minimises the impact on the environment by replacing a metal chair less often than a wooden one.

Sorry, wood, metal wins (again!).

Wood 0 – 6 Metal

There you have it, it’s conclusive that metal frame chairs are easier to use, more ergonomic, economical, efficient, environmentally friendly and offer equality for all.

Browse our full section of metal chairs, or chat to the team for more information:

• https://​ocu​ra​.co​.uk/​m​e​t​a​l​?​f​i​l​t​e​r​s​=​&​p​age=1
• 01732 367 777
• enquiries@​ocura.​co.​uk