Veneers explained…

In woodworking, natural wood veneers refer to thin slices of wood. If you think of a piece of timber, then cut into thin strips anywhere from 0.5mm – 3.0mm thickness. These slices can then be glued to panel substrates like, particleboard, or medium-density fibreboard (MDF) or plywood.

MDF is Will Brennan Designs preferred material for gluing veneers too. This is due to its low to no movement quality.

Why are wood veneers popular?

Veneer retains the natural look and feel of real wood as well as its unique properties, showing authentic colour and pattern variations.

Veneer is cut from wood in two ways - crown cut or quarter cut. Crown cut veneers will show growth rings or “crowns” which will be more in line with the characteristics of chosen timber species. Quarter-cut veneers will show the faces of quarter-sawn timber, which will be straighter and have fewer figurative patterns.

Veneer panels we commonly use:

● Traditional - this is when the grain all faces the same way. The veneers will be trimmed from one piece of timber and laid next to each other. In this instance, growth rings and any imperfections will be visible across the board.

● Mismatch - this is when veneers from different logs are laid next to each other. There will be little to no reoccurring growth rings or imperfections. Mismatch will look more like a solid piece of timber and there will be less chance of noticing that veneer has been used.

Image description: Traditional American Oak Veneer (left). Blackbutt Veneer (right).

Benefits of veneer…

Looks aside, the main benefit of veneers is the naturally occurring movement of timber with the seasons. Timber naturally absorbs and depletes moisture in relation to the humidity of the area. Cutting thinner veneers means there will be less thickness to the timber, therefore timber movement is almost non-existent.

Furniture made using veneers can be much lighter than the alternative of using solid wood. Thus, furniture using veneer is easier to move.

The variety of furniture created is another benefit of veneer furniture - these designs would fail in solid wood designs.

Veneer increases strength…

When veneers are attached to substrates, it increases the strength of the material. Solid wood furniture can suffer from the stress of temperature and moisture levels, leading to wood cracking or swelling.

Veneer is strong enough to hold up at higher variances of temperature - when attached to substrates, it becomes durable. It’s not prone to problems like warping, splitting, or seasonal movement - unlike its counter partner, solid wood.

The lifespan of furniture made using substrate and veneers increases, leaving you with a piece of custom-made furniture to enjoy for years.