How do you choose a professional desk that’s reliable, robust and repairable?

What is a professional office?

Choosing a professional office is an essential step in ensuring a comfortable and productive working atmosphere and conditions. A sturdy, reliable and durable desk is distinguished by its robust, ergonomic design, the use of resistant materials and the quality of its manufacture. Unlike a home office, a professional office is used every day for several hours a day. It's this heavy workload that separates the professional office from the personal office.

The different types of professional offices :

The market offers a variety of professional desks designed to meet specific user needs. Let's explore a few common types.

Adjustable desks

Adjustable desks are the modern answer to the health problems associated with prolonged sitting. With the ability to change height, these desks encourage movement and help change posture throughout the day. They have been associated with improved blood circulation, reduced back pain, and increased productivity thanks to alternate standing.

Fixed desks

Fixed desks have long been the norm in the workplace. Prized for their solid structure, they are generally sturdy and offer a wide variety of styles and materials. This type of desk is ideal for a dedicated space where no adaptability is required, ensuring a stable surface for a variety of professional tasks.

Modular offices

Perfect for evolving spaces, modular offices offer unrivalled flexibility. They can often be extended with additional elements, adapted for group work, or modified for specific uses. This ability to reconfigure helps companies adapt to changing needs without constantly investing in new furniture.

Comparisons and advantages of each type :

Price

Adjustable desks are often more expensive due to their advanced mechanism, while fixed models are generally more affordable with fewer moving parts.
Modular offices may represent a higher initial investment, but their flexibility makes up for it in the long term, avoiding frequent replacements.

Dimensions

Fixed and modular desks can take up more space, depending on their design.
On the other hand, adjustable desks often require less space, favoring a less cluttered environment, especially useful in co-working spaces or small offices.

Modularity

Modular offices enable customized configurations.
Adjustable desks offer a different kind of modularity, focused on personal ergonomics. Fixed desks lack this flexibility, but can always be complemented by other furniture to increase their functionality.

The main components of a professional office :

The main components of a professional desk include the top, legs and supports, adjustment systems and storage elements.

The set

The top of a professional desk is the central element, and must be both sturdy and functional. Common materials include solid wood, tempered glass, plywood, metal or laminate, each with its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of durability, maintenance and aesthetics.
The size and shape of the tray depends on the specific needs of the user, some preferring a large workspace while others may require compact solutions.
Integrated cable management solutions are essential for maintaining an organized, clutter-free workspace, facilitating cable handling and access, while preserving the aesthetics of the office.

Feet and supports

Feet and supports are to an office what foundations are to a house: essential to guarantee stability and longevity. Typically made of steel or aluminum, these sturdy components are designed to carry the weight of your workspace and everything that goes with it!!!!
Additional supports such as crossbars or side panels reinforce the structure of the desk. They provide better resistance to movement and impact, adding an extra dose of durability.

Adjustment systems

Depending on the user's specific needs, and for desks that allow it, adjustment systems can modulate the height of the tabletop, or even its inclination. This flexibility is excellent for maintaining correct working posture and ensuring optimum comfort throughout the day.
Some desks feature manual height adjustment, often using a crank mechanism. It's a simple and effective solution, although it does require a little physical effort. Other models, a little more upmarket, offer motorized adjustment. At the touch of a button, the desk moves effortlessly and silently from a sitting to a standing position. This is a real asset in modern, dynamic work environments where adaptability is king, but it also makes the design of the desk much more complex, and severely increases its price.

Sustainability criteria for a professional office

Robust, durable materials

The materials chosen at the design stage and used during manufacture will have a major influence on the longevity of a desk. Metal, solid wood and certain composites are known for their strength. It's essential to choose a desk made from materials that won't warp, crumble or wear easily. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages. However, solid hardwood and metal remain robust materials that tick many boxes. On the other hand, we strongly advise against melamine desks, which won't offer satisfactory durability.

Manufacturing quality

Quality manufacturing means that the desk has been precisely designed, with solid joints, perfect finishes and no imperfections that could affect its functionality or durability.
Manufacturing quality is a critical criterion that ensures the desk can withstand years of intensive use.
If possible, get a feel for the quality yourself.
The desk needs to be perfectly stable and the connections between the parts need to be robust, a far cry from the assembly methods of mass-market kit furniture.

Choosing the best desk for your needs

• Working environment
• Ergonomics
• Modularity
• Budget

A graphic designer will have different needs from a doctor or a CFO. The self-assessment will help you choose the most suitable office. In any case, you can also rely on LONGTIME® certified products.

Officed and Work Environment

Your choice will inevitably be influenced by the space available on your premises, but also by your activity. In fact, if you work in environments where hygiene is vital, such as catering or healthcare, we advise against using wooden desks. This is also the case if you work in a demanding environment, such as a garage.
On the other hand, if you're an office worker with no specific environmental requirements, then the wooden office is the right choice for you.

Office ergonomics

The ergonomics of your office will be influenced by the specifics of your activity and the need for space that this suggests. Notaries, architects, secretaries, doctors - despite the advent of digitalization, most of these professions require a large tabletop and plenty of storage space.
If you spend many hours sitting behind your desk, we strongly recommend you purchase an adjustable desk combined with an ergonomic seat. Your back will thank you later!

Performance criteria for professional offices

It may seem strange to talk about performance for a desk, but beyond durability, a desk's performance encompasses its functionality, ergonomics and adaptability.
An ergonomic desk promotes better posture, offers sufficient space for essential equipment, enables efficient organization for maximum productivity and withstands long-term stress.

What budget for a professional office?

The budget for a professional office is necessarily higher than for a simple home office, but the range remains very wide. The median price of a professional desk can vary considerably depending on a number of factors, including quality, size, material, brand and location.
In general, basic business desks can cost a few hundred euros, but higher-end models, made with quality materials and advanced features, can cost much more, ranging from a few thousand euros to several thousand euros.
Between a basic melamine pro desk and a solid wood designer desk, there can be a considerable price difference.
Don't hesitate to check the depreciation of your equipment with your accountant, and think about second-hand desks too. Some companies specialize in reconditioned professional furniture.

Additional features and options

Features such as integrated cable management, storage solutions, or special anti-glare surfaces can greatly enhance your experience. Although often underestimated, these features can make all the difference in terms of day-to-day comfort and work efficiency.

Optimizing workspace layout

Care and maintenance :

Good maintenance is essential to preserve the longevity of your desk. This includes regular cleaning, treatment of the work surface according to the material, periodic checking of adjustable components, and prompt correction of minor damage before it becomes serious.

• Cleaning :

Keeping your desk surface clean is crucial. Use mild, non-abrasive cleaners (on an inconspicuous area first) to avoid damaging the finish. Regular cleaning prevents the accumulation of dust and dirt, which can also improve the aesthetic appearance of the office.

• Surface protection :

The use of coasters, desk mats or mouse pads can help protect the surface from scratches and stains. Avoid cutting or using sharp objects directly on the surface of the desk.

• Component verification :

Check screws, bolts and adjustment mechanisms regularly to make sure they're working properly and tightly.

• Maintenance of moving parts :

If your desk has moving parts, such as drawers or height-adjustment mechanisms, make sure they are well lubricated and operate smoothly.

• Prompt repairs :

In the event of damage, it is advisable to carry out the necessary repairs as soon as possible to prevent problems from worsening. Note that some materials are much more difficult to repair than others, particularly those containing compacted wood.

How to make the most of your office

Making the most of your workspace is crucial to ensuring both comfort and productivity. Let's take a look at how to get the most out of your professional office.

• Compliance with load capacities :

Adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the desk's load capacity to avoid damaging the structure and ensure safe use.

• Avoid sudden movements:

Avoid moving the desk abruptly or applying excessive force to the surface, as this may damage the legs or the structure of the desk.

• Intended use :

Use the desk in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. For example, if it's a sit-stand desk, be sure to adjust the height according to the instructions provided.

• Cleverly accessorized :

Use compatible accessories, such as monitor mounts or storage units, that don't add unwanted stress to the desktop structure.

How to repair a professional office?

Repairing your professional office can help extend its lifespan and maintain a functional, aesthetically pleasing working environment.
In the perfect life, there's never a problem. But in real life, your coffee will end up on your desk and keyboard, or your hip will hit the corner of the desk the day you get a puncture!
Here are a few steps and solutions to common problems you may encounter. In the event of difficulties or major problems, contact your distributor or a carpenter.

Non-reactive sit-stand desk

If you can't move your desk from one position to another, the mechanism (manual or electric) may have a problem.

• Initially, check that the power cable is securely plugged in and that the socket works.
• Reset the system according to the manufacturer's instructions
• Check the connection between the motor and the control panel (only if you have the necessary skills).
• Lubricate the mechanism and check if the system seems operational or if you identify a damaged part.

Drawers jammed

In the event of a jammed drawer, proceed in the following order:

• Check the contents of the drawer to see if anything is blocking the opening. If so, it's time to sort!
• Use constant pressure, trying to pull well along the axis. You can also tap on them at the same time. (Yes, it's a pain!).
• Inspect the rails or slides, and in particular their fastenings
• Check castors for wear or damage. Replace if necessary.
• Lubricate the drawer with a suitable product (dry soap for wood or grease for rails).

If nothing works, you should consider at least partially dismantling the drawer or calling in a professional.

Surface problems :

For light scratches on a wooden surface, you can choose to do nothing if the scratch is not too deep. For more serious scratches or impacts, you can use wood paste.

For laminate, chipboard and laminate surfaces, try using a touch-up pencil or scratch repair product. For metal desks, consider the bodywork touch-up pen.

Structural problems

A wobbly desk is a pain, and can cause major damage to your product. So we need to act fast:

• Check the floor and adjust or wedge the feet
• Adjust the fasteners. Go around all the fasteners and retighten them all.
• Use adjusters if available
• Replace or reinforce structure in case of breakage