- Veneer refers to a thin sheet of wood, typically glued onto core panels to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and furniture parts.
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Manufacturing of veneer
Methods of veneer cutting
1. Rotary Cut Veneer:
Method: The log is rotated around its axis.
Visual effect: Bold, variegated grain pattern.
2. Crown Cut or Plain or Flat cut Veneer :
Method: It is sliced parallel to a line through its centre of the half log.
Visual effect: Light, uniform, variegated pattern with dome shaped cathedrals
3. Quarter Normal Cut Veneer:
Method: The quarter log is mounted on the flitch table such that the log?s growth rings hit the blade at straight angles.
Visual effect: Series of straight lines, striped, straight or variegated pattern.
4. Quarter Rift Cut Veneer:
Method: The cut is done at an oblique angle from the position of the quarter log.
Visual effect: Comb or rift grain effect.
5. Half-round Cut Veneer:
Method: A log is halved and cut on an arc, parallel to its centre.
Visual effect: Cathedrals usually have rounded tops.
Types of veneer matching
Matching can be classified into three categories, each containing several sub-categories:
a. Matching Between Adjacent Veneer Leaves
- According to this, individual veneer leaves will be joined together on the face of the panel.
1. Book Matched Veneer
Match: In book matched veneer, alternating pieces of veneer are placed in a fashion that they face each other like the pages in a book.
Visual effect: Balanced, symmetrical pattern.
2. Slip Matched Veneer
Match: Veneer slices are faced in sequence without flipping the pattern.
Visual effect: The joints are not visible if the grain is straight.
3. Random Matched Veneer
Visual effect: Veneer leaves are placed next to each other in an arbitrary manner. Veneer leaves which are matched by color but not by grain pattern are Pleasing matched veneers.
Visual effect: Inconsistent, abstract pattern.
b. Matching Within Individual Panel Faces
- According to this, veneer face is positioned differently.
1. Running Matched Veneer
Match: Each face is assembled from different veneer pieces of unequal widths.
Visual effect:Asymmetrical appearance
2. Balance Matched Veneer
Match: Each face is formed out of even or odd number of pieces of uniform width before trimming.
Visual effect: Balanced, symmetrical appearance.
3. Special Matches
Match: Special matches feature names such as box, diamond, basket weave, sunburst, reverse diamond, reverse box and checkerboard match.
Visual effect: Abstract, balanced appearance
c. Matching Between Panels (Matching Architectural Panels)
- It involves the orientation of finished panels during the construction.
1. Architectural End Match
Match: Leaves are vertically flipped and then horizontally booked or slipped.
Visual effect: Regular grain line continuity
2. Continuous End Matched Veneer
Match: Multiple panels end matched for length using a single length of veneer. This style is used to extend the apparent length of available veneer.
Visual effect: Continuous grain pattern
3. Panel End Matched Veneer
Match: This match has leaves are book or slip matched on panel assemblies.Then the assemblies are broken into sub-assemblies and stacked in an end match.
Visual effect:Pleasing, blended appearance and grain continuity
Properties of veneer
1. Sound Insulation
- Veneers are thin slices with minimal thickness and have negligible effect on the acoustic properties of materials.
- To increase the absorption capacity, holes or slots are made and distributed over the surface area.
2. Moisture Resistance
- Veneers are vulnerable to moisture in outdoors, there are ways to improve moisture resistance and dimensional stability.
- Treat veneers with a solution which results in cross linking of cellulose fibres.
- Thermal treatment is another way to produce moisture resistant veneers.
3. Electrical Conductivity
- Application of oil or wax on wooden flooring ensures that it remains antistatic.
4. Recyclability & Renewability:
- Veneer is a recyclable, renewable material with the lowest impact on energy use and pollution.
- It uses 70% less energy compared to other building materials.
5. Sustainability
- Using veneer over timber extends the use.
General uses of veneer
1. Interiors
- Veneer is primarily a material used to enhance aesthetics of interiors.
- It provides the rich look of solid wood to floor, walls, ceiling and other building elements like doors and windows.
2. Furniture
- It is suitable for furniture decoration in residential and commercial spaces.
3. Artworks
- It can be used to create wooden instruments as well as decorative items.
4. Luxury products
- It is suitable for bespoke products such as wines and chocolate boxes, luxury soap boxes, etc.
5. Miscellaneous
- Its use also diversifies into processed forms such as veneer parquet, wood veneer boards, etc.
Types of veneers
a. General Classification:
1. Raw veneer
2. Flexible veneer
b. Based on Wood Species
1. Light: Maple, Birch, Ash and Alder
2. Reddish: Beech, Cherry, Wild Service Tree and Mahogany
3. Brown: Oak, Teak and Walnut
4. Dark: Wenge, Bog Oak and Macassar
c. Based on Backing:
1. Paper-Backed
- These are veneers that are permanently bonded to a paper backing.
- It is available in large sizes in the form of sheets, as otherwise, smaller pieces are bonded together before adding the backing.
- It is less likely to crack when being applied on curves.
2. Phenolic-Backed
- It is a less commonly used plastic, water resistant resin bonded to the back of a sheet of wood veneer.
- Like the paper-backed veneers, it also has the advantage of being available in sheets, and is also less likely to crack when being applied on curves.
3. Laid up
- Raw veneer that has been bonded together to produce larger pieces.
- It can be laid up to any size, shape or design can be selected.
Available sizes and thickness of veneer
Sizes:
Veneer size in sq.ft |
Veneer size in mm |
| 8×4 | 2449 x 1219 |
| 10×4 | 3048 x 1219 |
| 12×4 | 3658 x 1219 |
Thickness:
- The thickness of the veneer determines its durability.
- The standard thickness of wood veneer measures between 0.5mm and 4mm.
Price range of veneer
Type of Woods |
Prices |
| Teakwood | Rs.120/sq. ft. |
| Oak | Rs. 140 /sq. ft. |
| Beech Wood | Rs.90/sq. ft. |
| Maple | Rs.70/sq. ft. |
Type of Finishes/Polishes |
Prices |
| Mat | Rs.70/sq. ft. ? Rs.80/sq. ft. |
| PU (Poly urethane) | Rs.150/sq. ft. ? Rs.175/sq. ft. |
| Lamination | Rs.350/sq. ft. ? Rs.400/sq. ft. |
Defects in veneer
1. Discoloration
- Dark, mostly due to water drops that condense on iron parts (iron tannate staining).
2. Burls (burrs)
- Small, round or oval buds.
3. Gum
- It is the occurrence of tiny black dots or striations between the annual rings, caused by resin inclusion.
4. Fiddleback (wavy figure
- These are rays or striations running across the grain at a uniform distance.
- This defect can be seen in Walnut, Cherry, Beech, Ash, Maple, Mahogany, Walnut, and Teak.
5. Flashes:
- Striations and rays are observed running in the direction of growth.
6. Silver figure (flake):
- Light-coloured, slightly iridescent dots, caused by cutting across wood (xylem) rays.
7. Blisters:
- Light-coloured round or oval spots.
8. Resin pockets:
- Identified by dark dots and striations running along the annual rings, formed as result of rein deposits.
Advantages of veneer
1. Aesthetics like Natural Wood at Lower Costs
- Wood veneers are excellent alternatives to natural wood. They imitate the appearance of natural wood, but at much lower costs.
2. Flexibility in Design
- Each wood veneer sheet is distinctive as each tree is unique.
- This makes for endless design possibilities with furniture and interior elements.
3. Increased Strength and Durability
- Application of wood veneer sheets to engineered woods strengthens and increases their durability
- Veneers resist warping and fragmentation and last longer than laminates
4. Eco-Friendly
- It is a natural, environment friendly material which can easily be recycled.
- Wood veneers help in better utilization of wood, since very thin layers of wood are used for decorative purposes.
5. Non-toxic
- Veneers are generally non-toxic.
Disadvantages of veneer
1. Vulnerable to Water Damage
- Prolonged exposure to water can damage veneers.
- Application of a sealant over the veneer protects its surface from wet conditions.
2. More Maintenance
- Wood veneers require more maintenance and they need to be polished periodically.
3. Cannot be Repaired
- Once damaged, wood veneer cannot be repaired, unlike natural wood furniture which can be easily repaired by sanding several times.
4. Formation of Cracks
- Wood veneer is laid on MDF or plywood which has a different expansion and contraction rate than the veneer itself.
- This uneven expansion and contraction results in the formation of cracks.