Wood Veneers or Solid Wood? Essex Veneers Experts Discuss

WEST HORNDON, U.K. - March 25, 2021 - PRLog -- Wood veneers or solid wood? Essex wood veneering experts Read Veneers explain the pros and cons of each.

Solid wood furniture is durable and easy to refinish and to repair. When stains, watermarks, dents and scratches occur on solid wood, fixing them is as easy as sanding and re-staining.

Veneered furniture can be prone to delamination, blistering or peeling if not treated with care. Preventing such issues is simple, but dealing with them is not so easy.

So, why choose wood veneers over solid wood? Read Veneers' managing director Paul Read starts by explaining what wood veneers are.

"Veneers are thin cuts of wood applied to a substrate material. The veneers seal and stabilise the material, important when crafting furniture or cabinetry that will be subject to movement, such as cupboards and drawers."

"Because solid wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature, veneers help stabilise it. Solid wood however, whilst perfect for static items like tables and chairs, can be subject to warping and splitting along the grain when used for anything involving movement. Whilst oils and waxes help, a lot more maintenance is nvolved."

Paul Read believes wood veneering is misunderstood by furniture buyers.

"There is a belief that veneers are the poor relation," he says. "TV adverts suggest wood veneers are the cheaper option. But in fact, most high end furniture involves a blend of exotic wood veneers and solid wood. As long as the substrate below the veneer is good quality, there should be no question over the excellence of the finished piece."

Paul says the best substrate for veneered furniture is natural wood, although plywood offers more stability.

"Plywood consists of thin laminates of wood glued together in layers at right angles. The process creates stability and provides a good substrate alternative to natural wood. The optimum number of layers for plywood for furniture making is nine.

"Medium density fibreboard (MDF) is powdered wood bonded with glue, pressed into sheets. It's soft and easy to sand and finish, making it a popular base for veneers. Chipboard is similar, although that's made from wood chips, then coated in thin laminate."

So, wood veneers or solid wood for furniture?

Veneered wood furniture will often provide greater stability than solid wood and, with the natural beauty of the timber brought to life with specialist veneer cutting and matching techniques, it also presents an elegant, sought-after finish.

Read Veneers has been providing wood veneering services to joiners and cabinetmakers for almost three decades. To learn more about the services offered, visit https://readveneersltd.co.uk/.