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The Truth about Veneers and
Solid Wood in Fine Furniture
Prepared by: www.furniturebydovetail.com
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Is this furniture solid wood?
It’s one of the most common questions
asked of furniture makers because
somewhere along the line, veneers got a
bad reputation. The popular perception
is that furniture that incorporates
veneers is lower quality than solid
wood pieces. In reality, most fine
furniture is made of a combination of
veneers and solid wood. If you study the
elegant antique furniture showcased in
museums, you will see expertly crafted
veneered furniture that has withstood
the test of time.
Solid woods and veneers are both
excellent materials when used in the
proper place and well-constructed.
This paper will help you discern the
difference between the two materials,
understand their proper usage, and
recognize quality craftsmanship.
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What is veneer?
Wood veneer is a thin slice of wood cut or peeled from a log.
The slice can be as thin as a piece of paper or thick enough
to accommodate sanding and refinishing down the road. The
veneer is adhered to another wood surface. Typically, the outer
layer is made from the most beautiful or exotic woods, while
the substrate is made from utilitarian woods or particle board.
Veneers are not a new invention. Elaborate veneers were
discovered in King Tut’s tomb in Egypt and were used
extensively during the Renaissance. By the 18th century,
veneers had become an art form. Master cabinetmakers such
as Chippendale and Hepplewhite inlaid exotic woods in
intricate patterns to create visual interest in their delicately
crafted furniture.
When fine lumber was scarce during World War II,
veneers became the only way to create furniture affordably.
Unfortunately, a lack of good craftsmen and inadequate
adhesives led to substandard results. Perhaps that is when
veneers gained the reputation for poor quality that they are
still plagued with today.
This commode was believed to have been
handcrafted by Thomas Chippendale around
1778. It is exhibited in the Carnegie Museum
of Art in Pittsburgh, PA.
Why not use solid wood?
Solid wood is essential for posts or legs that support furniture,
for framing, or whenever carving is involved. Because of this,
every piece of fine furniture is comprised of at least some solid
wood. But consider these issues:
• Solid wood bows and warps over time.
• Heat and humidity changes can make solid wood
contract, leading to splits along the grain known as
“season cracks”.
• Woods with the most beautiful natural patterns are
often saved to make veneers as a way to stretch the
value of the lumber.
• Solid wood is expensive.
• Solid wood is heavy.
• Solid wood does not bend easily.
Veneers are simply a better choice when a cabinet maker wants
to incorporate curves, reduce warping or use exotic woods.
In this kitchen island, we used solid wood to
frame the island and create the braces for the
counter top, but used veneer for the curved
insets in the base.
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How Solid Woods and
Veneers Compare
When shopping for furniture, most people are looking for
a combination of beautiful design and materials, durability,
value and, increasingly, environmentally sensitive materials.
Let’s compare solid woods and veneers according to these
criteria:
1. Aesthetics
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you are looking for
the simple lines, plain woods, and solidness of Shaker or
Mission style furniture, solid wood is a great option. If
you want some curves in your furniture, matched grain
patterns, inlaid woods or exotic woods, you’re going to
be drawn to pieces that incorporate veneers.
Veneers offer the following design advantages:
• Finer graining – The best logs are used for veneers
simply because you can stretch the wood much
farther. A single log sliced or peeled into veneer
can provide the material for numerous pieces
of furniture.
We used exotic wood veneers on the headboard of this
bed and table drawer and top to create eye-catching,
distinctive pieces.
• No defects – Defects in the wood are eliminated
during the manufacturing process.
• Great for patterns – Sheets of veneers can be
combined to form interesting designs that would
be impossible to achieve with solid wood
Veneers are often used for stability on surfaces that may
warp if made from solid wood. Panels, sides and fronts
of cases are typically made from veneers. Veneers are
very durable, as illustrated by the many pieces of antique
veneered furniture that are still in use today. However,
since veneers are made up of a thin piece of wood over a
substrate, sometimes deep scratches cannot be sanded out
without exposing the substrate. This limitation makes solid
wood desk and table tops a better choice in settings where
furniture receives heavy use.
2. Durability
Solid wood furniture will last forever if it is made well.
Years of heavy use may lead to dents, dings or scratches,
but the beauty of solid wood is that surface imperfections
may be sanded out and the furniture can be refinished.
On the flip side, solid wood furniture is susceptible to
warping and cracking if proper humidity is not maintained
at all times.
3. Value
Furniture made completely from solid wood is more
expensive than furniture made from a combination of
veneers and solid wood. This stands to reason since more
high-quality lumber is needed. In the case of exotic woods
with limited availability, solid wood options may not even
be available or may be so costly that very few people would
consider a purchase.
• Accommodates curves – Veneers are thin enough
to bend and can be shaped by the cabinet maker.
• Wide range of exotic woods – Exotic woods such
as Tiger Maple, Maple burls, Ebony and others are
often available only as veneers, or are fabulously
expensive if purchased as solid wood.
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When buying furniture, be sure to weigh the use that the
piece will receive against the cost. A desk in a college library
will receive far more use (and abuse) than a desk tucked
in the corner of a family room in a residence. Furniture
components that can be repeatedly sanded and repaired
justify the extra expense of solid wood in the library setting,
but are less important in a home.
4. Environmental Considerations
If conserving natural resources is a priority, then furniture
made of wood veneers is a great choice. The veneering
technology makes it possible to get 15 to 20 tables out of
the same lumber used to create just one solid wood table.
The substrate used as the base for the veneer is an ecofriendly way to use lower-grade lumber or particle board
made up of recycled sawdust.
Proper Usage is Key
Solid woods and veneers are both quality materials for fine furniture, but
they must be used correctly. A craftsman will choose the best material to use
depending upon the application. When you are purchasing fine furniture,
look for solid woods and veneers used in the following ways:
Solid Wood
Wood Veneer
Structural components
•
Framing
•
Turnings
•
Curved pieces
•
•
Panels
•
Exotic woods
•
Matching grains
•
Panels
•
Shelves
•
Table & desk tops
•
•
Drawer facings
•
•
Chair seats
•
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How to Recognize Wood Veneer
High quality wood veneers can be tough to differentiate from
solid wood. In fact, some stores that advertise their furniture as
“solid wood” are actually selling pieces that are a combination
of solid wood and wood veneers. Here’s how you can tell if
furniture incorporates some veneers:
1. Look for banding – Are large surfaces such as table tops
edged with a band of wood or veneer going the opposite
direction from the grain? If so, the banding is probably
covering up the unfinished edge of the veneered wood.
2. Look under and behind – If the underside or backside of
the furniture’s surfaces has a different wood than the top
or front, you know that a veneer was used. You will often
notice a nicer wood on the top and a less attractive wood
on the bottom.
3. Check the grain – If the grain goes all the way through
the top, bottom and sides of the wood surface, you are
looking at solid wood. Otherwise, the piece is made at
least partially from veneer.
Chair seats and framing are typically solid wood.
Pull out a drawer and see if the wood grain goes
all the way from front to back to determine if
veneers are used.
The banding on the top of this reception desk is
a clear indicator that high quality wood veneers
were used to create the desktop surface.
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The Signs of Quality
The local discount furniture store sells furniture made from wood
veneers. So do high-end furniture artisans such as Furniture by
Dovetail. What’s the difference? Here are 5 telltale signs of quality:
1. Thickness of the veneer –Mass produced furniture is
often covered by veneers that are as thin as 1/128th of
an inch. These veneers are too thin to permit sanding or
refinishing. If the surface is damaged, you just dispose of the
furniture and buy a new piece! Hand-crafted furniture will
incorporate veneers that are thicker and can accommodate
light sanding for a lifetime of use and enjoyment.
2. Construction – Wood veneers on inexpensive furniture
are typically fastened together with staples or cheap
nails. Quality furniture will be constructed with veneers
on real wood substrates that are fastened using durable
woodworking techniques such as dovetailing, doweling or
tongue and groove joints.
3. Mix of solid wood and veneer – High quality furniture
uses solid wood in structural elements such as furniture
legs, posts, arms and frames. Less expensive counterparts
will use wood veneers throughout a piece of furniture.
4. Type of wood - Craftsmen use high-end wood veneers for
their superior grains and the ability to use exotic woods that
are unavailable or unstable as solid pieces. Wood veneers
are specified for their exceptional beauty, whereas the local
furniture superstore tends to use more mundane veneers
and apply dark stains to hide defects and as a way to keep
costs to a minimum.
5. Design – While mass furniture makers will use veneers
purely because they are more affordable than solid
wood, craftsmen often employ veneers for specific effects
that would otherwise be extremely difficult to achieve.
Handcrafted furniture will incorporate wood veneers for
curves, patterns and for intricate inlays and detailing.
When evaluating the quality of furniture, the most important
question to ask should not be “Is it solid wood?” Instead, ask:
• Where are wood veneers used on the piece?
• How thick are the veneers?
• What type of wood is used?
• How is the piece constructed?
The answers to these questions will reveal much more about the
true quality of the furniture.
This reception desk at The Hyatt uses wood
veneer to create the curved bands and matched
grains that give the piece its unique character.
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About Furniture by Dovetail
Furniture by Dovetail creates handcrafted furniture for
residences, offices and academic institutions. Since the
company was founded in 1988 by Robert and Annette
Loring, we have remained dedicated to our mission to
create exceptional furniture of unparalleled quality and
lasting beauty. We use hand-selected hardwoods and
wood veneers, time-honored joinery and the most
durable finishes to craft heirloom furniture of distinction.
We offer our own collection of furniture, or we build
custom pieces to meet the specific requirements of
our clients. Our standard collections are available at
our showrooms in Holden and Newton Lower Falls,
Massachusetts or online at www.furniturebydovetail.com.
For more information about wood veneers, solid woods
or Furniture by Dovetail, please contact us at:
Furniture by Dovetail
70 Industrial Drive
Holden, MA 01520
508-829-8947
[email protected]
www.furniturebydovetail.com
furniturebydovetail.com | 508 - 829 - 8947