Knowing Folding Tables

The furniture is often the last point in room design, but a major factor in making sure that your guests or clients are welcomed and comfortable. An interesting option for businesses or resorts is to use folding tables as permanent furnishings -- furniture that is flexible, portable, and adaptable for a variety of situations.

Finding the Right Table Design

The first thing about folding tables is to find the ones which meet your specific needs. There are a variety of styles of folding tables, beyond the standard rectangular banquet table, which are designed especially for different corporate and hosting functions:

$ C-leg folding tables have braces under the top of the table and legs at the front, making a shape like the letter C. They are narrower than regular banquet tables, with seating down a single side, which allows people to pull up close to the table to use laptops or take notes and to view presentations easily.

$ Training tables are narrower than standard banquet tables, with 8-inch modesty panels across the front of the table, to provide some privacy. These are used for speakers during presentations or meetings.

$ Standard seminar tables, with T-shaped legs centered on the ends, seat people along both sides of the table. These are deep, so people can have room for plates of food or papers. This kind of folding table is the most common for group seating.

$ Modified seminar tables have either legs built into corners, so the people can sit on ends as well as sides of the table, or round tops, making them easier to move and seating more people.

The Way It's Made

Folding table construction answers two of the primary concerns for folding tables: durability and portability. Folding tables can last for decades with little wear. The materials greatly influence how long the tables last and how easy they are to manage.

$ Look for plywood. Many manufacturers make the tabletop out of particleboard. Particleboard, over time, begins to flake off, even breaking in chunks, so that the edges of tables can break off. The best option is plywood, layers of solid wood, which won't break or chip, doesn't split, and is extremely strong. A thin plywood top -- 5/8 of an inch -- with a good base can hold 3000 pounds, evenly distributed.

$ Make sure it has a solid base. Much of the weight of the table is carried on the base. The legs and chassis should be steel and, ideally, powder-coated so that they won't rust, as well as looking more polished.

$ Consider the surface. Tables can have bare wood, laminate, or thin foam over the tabletop, depending on how the table is used. Banquet tables are frequently bare wood, which is slightly cheaper, since the tables are usually covered. Alternatively, they can have a thin foam veneer, which cuts down on clinks from flatware. Conference tables are generally laminated, since they are almost never covered and require hard surfaces for writing.

$ Look at the edges. The edging on the side can be either aluminum or vinyl. Round tables should seldom have vinyl, which can become pocked or break away entirely when the table is rolled.

Selecting Folding Tables

Folding tables provide flexible and easily arranged options to control the design of your space for changing needs. When choosing a folding table, keep three things in mind:

1. What will the table be used for? There are different designs, sizes, and shapes which can be specialized for any purpose.

2. How is it made? Folding tables can last for years -- with quality materials and thoughtful design.

3. How is it moved and stored? Round tables can be moved by a single person; rectangle tables can be easily stacked and stored. Determine how frequently tables will be moved and where they can be stored to help select the right shape and materials.

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