These chairs are very well made and very sturdy.  I have an active household of 5 kids ranging from 20 years to 2 years.  I don't have to worry about the chairs getting damaged or broken because they are so strong!  We've have them for over a year and are in the process of finishing them.  They are made of rubber wood which is where latex comes from, so you do have to take extra care when finishing them.  They turned out great with the black cherry stain we used.