When it comes to wooden furniture, a common misconception most people have is that solid wood is the ideal material of choice over veneer because it is superior in many ways. This is not entirely true. Below, we have listed some of veneer’s advantages over solid wood.
5 Advantages of Wood Veneer on Furniture and Panels
1. Its Aesthetic Appeal.
Contrary to what most people think, wood veneer is not cheap nor is it cheap looking. You can have the most interesting species of timber and log in your home via veneer sheets without any of its negative drawbacks.
Different types of wood found in different parts of the world are now within reach because of suppliers of wood veneer sheets in NZ. There are hundreds of beautiful outstanding species of wood to choose from which offer a more luxurious vibe to your furniture’s design.
2. It’s Green.
In producing a solid wood, timber is typically sawed into 1”-thick boards. This process produces sawdust from the kerf about ¼” thick of the board.
Veneer, on the other hand, is “peeled” off the wood to make 1/32”-thick sheets. That’s already 32 slices of veneer sheets to a single board. As veneer isn’t cut like one, it does not produce any sawdust which gives you another eight sheets where the saw blade would have gone.
Wood veneer sheets keep the dust down. Unlike a hardwood that warps, veneer is warp-resistant making it less prone to replacements. Veneer also fully utilizes every section of a tree, unlike its counterpart. In the long run, it is much more sustainable.
3. It’s Versatile.
Unlike solid wood, veneer is a flexible material that works well even on curved and rounded surfaces. It bends easily and takes after any form or shape the maker wills it to be without any problems.
Another thing to consider is certain species of lumber are harder to come by. Wood veneer sheets address this design and aesthetic concern by using a solid wood frame topped with a veneer sheet of the species of your choice.
For example, you want a Brazilian rosewood dining table but can’t afford one given that it is an endangered tree that is hard to get and expensive. A good solution to this is having a woodwork frame using more common and cheaper lumber and overlaying it with a Brazilian rosewood veneer sheet.
4. It’s Economical.
As mentioned, there is less waste produced in wood veneer production. It can utilize each and every section of the timber, especially those parts that cannot be turned into boards. Veneer makers and sellers have better returns with veneer production. Installing wood veneer is also less expensive as it can cover more area. You save up on the cost of materials and labor.
5. Its Stability.
Wood, even those kiln-dried, react to changes in temperature. They expand in the winter and contract during the summer which makes them unstable and prone to warping. Thin sheets of veneer are glued onto substrates to provide warp-free surfaces, unlike its solid wood counterpart.
The bottom line is veneer is not cheap when it is anything but nor is it not durable because it gives your furniture greater longevity and sustainability. It is a concept that has been around for over 200 years and will continue to live on.
