What are the most common materials used – cubicles office?
It’s 2024. Things just move so fast. And you may be planning of making your work area bigger.
When you look at your existing office layout, you may have noticed that several office tables, desks, and filing cabinets are not in the proper locations or order. Currently, most of them are merely placed in unused spaces.
You may have come up with a lot of ways to make your office bigger. Now if you planned for office partitions and cubicles, you’re on the right direction.
Cubicles office are among the top priorities of many companies that are trying to upgrade or expand their workspaces.
And among the basis of your choice in the purchase of these cubicles should be the right materials. Yes, the materials can make a lot of difference in how your office looks. It’s like giving your workspace a whole new personality.
Now, there are a bunch of options to consider. There may be a dozen of reasons, but it’s all about finding that right balance. The right balance where style and your preferences meet your budget.
But hey, in business undertakings, the budget almost always take precedence.
Let’s leave the budget issues a while and talk about materials.
Always remember that your choice of materials, especially your office furniture, can greatly affect the ambience of your office.
The sleek, modern look of glass and metal can promote a sense of openness and collaboration, while the warmth of wooden cubicles can give you a more cozy and traditional vibe.
Now if you are into one of these save the trees movement or you just care about mother earth, then remember this is also doable with eco-friendly materials such as recycled wood or long lasting plastics.
But it’s not just about how it looks; it’s also a question of how long the material will last and how good it is in blocking noise.
There are some businesses who are into online tutorials so noise reduction is important for them.
Workzone has worked with clients helping students from some Asian countries who’d like to learn the English language. In these cases, the panels involved in the set-up of the cubicles are soundproof. Also added are more sound absorbing furniture, rugs, and carpets.
Now you may be wondering what are office cubicles made of? Well, they are a combination of wood, metal connectors, laminates, fabric, aluminum, PVC, and glass, But I’ll discuss below the 5 most common materials used in the assembly of the partition panels used in the cubicles.
1. Fabric – for sound absorbing
I talk about fabric first. Yes, fabric is versatile and hands down the most common material used in office cubicles. It is, most of the time, the material used for creating the walls and dividers of cubicles.
If you haven’t heard of fabric cubicles before, well, they are panels connected by metal connectors. The frame consists mostly of wood, with thin plywood forming the front and back panels. We then glue the fabric cloth to the thin plywood on both the front and back panels.
Fabric panels have good sound-absorbing properties. The textured surface of fabric helps reduce noise levels within the office. As you may know there are offices that need a quiet environment.
In fact according to a survey , 58% of productive employees say they need more quiet work spaces. It is easier to concentrate and get work done in a quiet environment.
Aside from its sound absorbing qualities, fabric panels come in many colors, patterns, and textures. You can customize it to match the overall office decor and theme, including office chairs, tables and cabinets. This makes fabric even a more popular choice, not counting budget concerns.
Fabric is also quite easy to clean. Smudges and dirt can quickly be cleaned up by simply using soap and water together with a toothbrush. Dark colored fabric may also be your choice if your office experiences heavy foot traffic of customers and visitors.
Stains and dirt would not be easily noticeable. If you want to keep things simple and with less maintenance, then dark-colored fabrics are a good choice.
2. Wood is time-tested
Wood is a classic. It is the most practical material that is often used to make cubicles office. In remote regions of the Philippines, wood is the most used material for panels and dividers.
Wood is all-around. It can be used for so many things, from structural parts like frames and support elements.
Wood is naturally beautiful. Most of our high-end clients even prefer office tables made of wood over high-pressure laminates (HPL) and medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which is very common.
Now here’s the thing, wood as a partition panel or divider could be quite expensive. The time to build or assemble the panels and dividers could even take much longer. Well, a well planned office may not worry about it taking longer as they may have factored it in in their installation time frame.
Good-quality wood cubicles can stand up to the wear and tear of day-to-day use. Also, wood is a green and environmentally friendly option, in line with some modern business practices that promote caring for the environment.
3. Perforated Aluminum – office with a sense of modernity
Perforated aluminum panels are known for their smooth and modern aesthetic. These panels are made from aluminum sheets with holes or perforations. This material balances privacy with an open, airy feel.
The holes allow for better airflow within cubicles, creating a more comfy and well-ventilated area of work. Also the holes’ transparent appearance create a sense of space, making the perforated aluminum the ideal if not the best choice for tech-oriented or industrial-themed office settings.
The clean lines and metallic coating of the perforated aluminum would provide your office a sense of modernity.
Plus, cubicles made of aluminum will be able to stand day-to-day use without losing their stylish appeal.
4. Glass cubicles
Glass is a common material to add quality and visibility to place of work. Natural light can enter the work area through glass panels making it brighter and more open.
This increase in natural light could improve employee morale and overall health, creating a more cheerful work environment. The glass cubicles also provide a certain level of sound and visual privacy, which makes them great for all kinds of work environments, especially modern offices.
Glass is transparent. It encourages teamwork and openness in your office. It lets your staff engage with one another, even when working in different cubicles.
Glass cubicles work well for situations where team members need to share information constantly. Glass is also easy to clean and maintain. This ensures that your cubicles preserve their original appearance over time.
Some executive offices would prefer glass partitions just to match their tables and executive chairs.
5. Laminate partitions
Laminate may be your easiest choice. High-class and easy to clean. It is resistant to stains. It gives your office a fresh and tidy appearance. It’s almost always maintenance-free.
You just need a little piece of cloth to wipe the panels clean. Since it is easy to clean, we always suggest it to clients whose cubicles have high foot traffic. Well, these laminates would cost like 20-30 percent higher than the fabric types.
While the color choices may not be as many as that of the fabric cubicles, laminates have also a wide variety of finishes and colors. You can customize your cubicle design with the overall office decor.
Another good thing about laminates is that they are resistant to moisture, which is way good especially in this country, The Philippines where humidity could get as high as 90%.
Its resistance to moisture prevents it from warping or bulging, which is a common weakness of cubicles made of wood.
One last thing, laminates are relatively easy to install. You can shorten the lead time to get your almost perfect office done.
Now go ahead!