Veneer vs Solid Wood Furniture: Myths, Mistakes & Misconceptions
There are a lot of misconceptions about the use of veneer in modern day furniture making.
In this article we will examine what veneer is, discuss its various advantages and disadvantages when compared to solid wood, and look at how it should and shouldn’t be used in the manufacture of tables, desks, cabinets, bookcases and so on.
We will also investigate how consumers’ misconceptions surrounding veneer has led many furniture manufacturers to employ low quality construction methods in the pursuit of all things solid.
Definitions
Wood Veneer
Let’s be clear from the outset: when we are talking about veneer, we mean wood veneer.
Put simply, wood veneer is a very thin slice of wood cut from the trunk of a tree.
Depending on the type of wood and the grain patterned desired, cuts are either plain (cut all the way across the diameter), quarter (cut in quarter sections from outside to in) or rotary (‘peeled’ as the log is turned).
The thickness of each slice is typically between 0.6mm and 1.2mm.
Veneer can be purchased on its own – usually in individual ‘leaves’ or bundles – or in the form of panels already glued to a substrate such as plywood, MDF or chipboard.
Employed skilfully, a furniture maker can use these panels in a such a way as to give the appearance of an entirely solid wood product, when in reality only the surface is real wood.
Alternatively, a furniture maker can work with the individual leaves directly – for example, gluing ‘leaves’ directly onto drawer carcasses.
Solid Wood
Solid wood, as you would expect, is a material made entirely from the mass of a tree. There is no substrate such as fibre or particle board, therefore it contains no manmade products.
This definition seems unproblematic. But when it comes to ‘solid wood’ furniture, it’s a bit more complicated.
For example, a solid wood dining table is not a piece of furniture hewn from one solid block of wood.
Most obviously, the legs and apron will be made from individual pieces of solid wood glued or screwed together.
Less well known is that a typically tabletop will not be made from one single, solid piece of wood. Instead, it will be made up of individual ‘staves’ glued together.
Laminate
Any discussion about wood veneer should include a section on laminates, as this material – or range of materials – is the one that causes such confusion among consumers.
The misperception is so widespread that many consumers make no distinction whatsoever between wood veneer and laminate wood.
Laminate is a wholly manmade product. It is made by pressing together layers of paper and resin to produce a solid plastic surface.
This surface can then get ‘printed’ with a multitude of decorate effects, in our case a wood grain pattern.
Like its wood veneer relation, the laminate is then bonded to particle or fibreboard. It is used in a variety of applications from worktops, furniture and flooring.
Melamine and Formica are well known examples of laminate.
Pros and cons of wood veneer
Solid wood is not an inherently ‘good’ material, just as wood veneer is not an inherently ‘bad’ one.
In fact, the highest quality furniture will often contain both. But it will certainly not contain laminate.
Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of each material.
The advantages of using wood veneer in furniture making
i. Cost
In most cases, whether residential or commercial, it is much cheaper to use veneered panels than solid wood.
There is a scarcity of hardwoods such as ash, oak and walnut.
With efficient wood veneer production, thousands of MDF-backed veneer panels can be made from a single oak tree.
Milling the equivalent volume in solid wood requires much more material and results in higher levels of wastage.
This makes wood veneer a much more affordable alternative to solid wood.
ii. Creativity in design
For a skilled furniture maker, veneer offers flexibility and scope for creativity that solid wood simply can’t match.
Structurally, furniture designs can be conceived and achieved in shapes and sizes which wouldn’t be possible in solid wood.
Extreme curves, complex workpieces or artistic visions can be realised using sophisticated veneering techniques.
Wood veneers can be bought in bundles or books with a series of veneers cut form the same log, where the grain on each leaf is almost identical.
This allows furniture designers and makers to create ‘book-matched’ doors or panelling, often impossible with solid wood.
Veneering also provides an opportunity to use exotic or rare woods which are either too expensive – e.g. Brazilian rosewood – or too difficult to work with – e.g. burr walnut – in solid wood form.
Finally, labour intensive and elaborate arts like marquetry and parquetry can only be achieved through the cutting and inlaying of veneer into and onto the surfaces of furniture.
iii. Consistent, even look
Because wood veneers are cut from the same log, using them across large pieces of furniture or expansive architectural projects will guarantee a more even grain pattern and appearance.
Similar application of solid wood will inevitably result in quite dramatic differences, even within a single plank or board.
iv. Strength and stability
Through the application of wood veneer to fibre or particle board you increase the strength and stability of each component.
Glue an oak wood veneer to plywood and you have an incredibly strong sheet of material – stronger in fact than an equivalent sheet made from solid oak.
Indeed, the solid oak panel will almost certainly expand or shrink over time, causing warping and cracking as it adjusts to changes in heat and humidity.
The veneer panel will remain stable. This is why even the finest furniture makers will often include the use of veneered panels for the likes of bookcase backboards and cabinet side panels.
v. Environmentally friendly
The use of wood veneer over solid wood helps conserve natural resources; much more of it can be made from a single tree than its solid counterpart.
This is important as hardwoods such as oak and maple are extremely slow growing. And exotic woods such as rosewood and mahogany only grow in a relatively few areas.
Furniture makers who utilise veneer appropriately give these limited natural resources time to renew.
vi. Natural
Wood veneer is a natural product. It is not manmade. It is generally non-toxic.
And given veneers are real wood – albeit only on the surface of a manmade substrate – they still offer some of the biophilic benefits of solid wood.
vii. Weight
Since wood veneer is typically bonded to softwood and resin substrate such as fibre or particle board, it is lighter in weight than solid hardwood counterparts.
This means that furniture constructed from these materials is much easier to move than, say, a solid mahogany wardrobe.
The disadvantages of wood veneer
i. Vulnerable to water damage
Because wood veneer is bonded to a substrate, it is possible for water or moisture to infiltrate between the two layers.
Excessive moisture can result in the veneer bubbling, peeling or chipping. The substrate can also warp, buckle or swell.
Once this damage has occurred it is very difficult to repair and often results in parts of the furniture having to be replaced – or even the entire piece written off.
ii. Harder to repair
Wood veneer tends to be harder than solid wood to repair. The thinness of wood veneer means it can be extremely fragile.
If repairs are possible, they tend to be a much more involved and therefore a more expensive process.
Damage to solid wood furniture – particularly top surfaces – can be easier to repair.
Often surface damage can be rectified by sanding back and refinishing (Note: in the case of antiques and period pieces, this is viewed as bad restoration.)
In short, a solid wood surface is much more robust and gives a furniture restorer or repairer more options.
iii. Weight
While veneered furniture is typically lighter in weight and therefore easier to move, this is not always viewed as a positive by consumers.
Rightly or wrongly, a heavy piece of furniture is often considered of higher quality than a lighter one.
The advantages of using solid wood in furniture making
i. Easier to repair
Solid wood furniture is better to receive screws, nails and glue than the chipboard or mdf which supports much of modern veneered furniture.
Not only are legs, joints and hinges less likely to fail in the first place, they are more easily repaired if this occurs.
The nature of fibreboard means that a screw may only ‘bite’ into the material once or twice.
This means solid wood furniture tends to last longer than its veneered counterpart.
ii. Easier to restore
Solid wood surfaces – such as table tops – are more robust than veneered. Scratches, dents and even gouges have a greater chance of being repaired than veneer.
Water damage, ink stains and other markings can be removed or reduced more readily. Attempting to remove these marks on veneer always risks further damage.
If all else fails, the option always exists in modern solid wood furniture to sand it back and refinish.
iii. More durable
Because solid wood furniture is more durable, both in terms of its surfaces and its structure, it will often last much longer than veneered furniture.
This is one reason solid wood furniture is passed on from generation to generation, often becoming a family heirloom in the process.
iv. Biophilic benefits
There is an increasing amount of evidence demonstrating the positive effects on our health of incorporating wood in homes, workplaces and schools.
Reduced stress, lower blood pressure levels and heart rates, and increases in productivity, creativity and rates of wellbeing are just some of the benefits.
Veneer brings some of these benefits but not to the same extent as solid wood.
The cons of solid wood
i. Cost
As we have outlined above, solid wood is typically more expensive than wood veneer.
ii. Instability
For a furniture maker, instabilty is one of the major drawbacks.
Solid wood is a wholly natural product. It is affected by changes in humidity and temperature.
Over time wood can warp, crack and split, either shrinking or expanding dependent on the environment.
Protective oils and waxes can lessen but not wholly eliminate this effect.
Furniture designers and makers employ a whole range of techniques to allow for ‘movement’ in tables, cabinets and other furniture types, particularly when they include large panels.
This is why, for example, solid wood doors are made up of frames and panels (see illustration above), the latter ‘floating’ freely to accommodate seasonal expansion and contraction.
Because of this, certain furniture designs just aren’t achievable in solid wood alone.
iii. Inconsistent appearance
Unlike a book of veneer leaves, the grain and colour of solid wood can vary dramatically across a single plank.
Some hardwoods, such as oak or sycamore, have less intense variations whereas ash and walnut can have wild contrasts across the smallest of samples.
Attempts to even this out over a large piece such as a dining table can result in large amounts of wastage.
Many buyers of handcrafted bespoke furniture do not view this as a drawback, revelling in the variety and distinctive grain patterns which adds to the furniture’s rarity.
But customers looking for a more uniformed and subtle affect can be turned off.
Attempts to even this out over a large piece such as a dining table can result in large amounts of wastage.
iv. Less sustainable
As we’ve already discussed, wood veneer goes much further than solid wood and therefore helps to conserve the planet’s natural resources.
The pros of laminate wood
i. Cost
On a like-for-like measure, laminate wood is the cheapest material among the three types covered in this article.
This is why it is used extensively in applications such as furniture, kitchen cabinetry and flooring.
ii. Safer
Many laminate wood products are flame retardant, and in some cases antibacterial.
iii. Easy maintenance
Laminate wood is extremely hardwearing. In general, it can be much more stain and scratch resistant. It can cope with harsh cleaning agents much better than real wood products.
The cons of laminate wood
i. Toxic
A lot of laminate wood products, particularly flooring, contain significant number of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
These chemicals enter the atmosphere and have been connected with issues such as respiratory problems, skin conditions and headaches.
ii. Appearance
Despite innovative printing techniques, an essentially plastic manmade material cannot replicate the warmth and beauty of natural wood - whether veneer or solid.
iii. Inflexible
Once the laminate wood product has been made it can’t be altered in appearance through staining or sanding.
iv. Vulnerable edges
While the surface of laminate woods can be extremely hardwearing, the edges can be prone to deterioration. If the happens, repairs can often prove impossible.
3 myths about furniture manufacture today
1. Wood veneer is the same as laminate wood
Nowadays there are a great deal of myths and misunderstanding about the use of wood veneer in furniture making.
Many of these stem from a single phenomenon: most consumers view synthetic wood laminates and actual wood veneer as essentially the same material.
As a result, the word ‘veneer’ has become synonymous with poor quality, badly-made furniture.
But such furniture is almost always made from low-grade laminates made to look like natural wood.
And while they are most common in cheap flatpack furniture, laminate wood has also found a place in higher price point applications, such as premium kitchen cabinetry and flooring.
It can even be found in ‘high-end’ furniture retailers.
The widespread use of laminate wood in mainstream furniture manufacturing has lowered consumers expectations dramatically.
So much so, that many would mistake wood veneer for solid wood if shown, for example, a framed panel of an oak cabinet made by a skilled furniture maker.
2. Veneer is a byword for cheap
Laminate wood’s usurpation of the word ‘veneer’ has made consumers wary of the term – to such an extent that many furniture manufacturers will market their products on the basis they don’t include what they refer to vaguely as ‘veneer’.
But high-end furniture makers employ a variety of veneering techniques to produce stunning, iconic designs which sell for considerable sums and inhabit the world’s most famous museums.
And some of the best furniture ever made – from Egyptian times through to Thomas Chippendale and right up to the most sought after furniture of present day – utilises wood veneer.
You should also bear in mind that a mass manufacturer’s design and production decisions will be driven by cost and a desire to achieve a certain price point.
In contrast, an independent furniture maker will be motivated by a desire to achieve the most beautiful and enduring result, often at the cost of his or her profits.
3. Solid wood is always best
The unfairly tarnished reputation of wood veneer has at the same time created the myth that in almost all circumstances wholly solid wood furniture is better than furniture that utilises wood veneer.
This is simply wrong.
To use solid wood instead of wood veneer for door panels, cabinet backs and drawer bases is not only expensive and unnecessary it is also structurally unsound - it will store up future problems if these components begin to warp or crack.
A quality furniture maker will utilise materials such as mdf, plywood and even particle board. But they will be employed in a way that benefits the look and durability of the furniture.
Thomas Chippendale – one of the most famous furniture makers of all time – used quality veneer on top of cheaper wood substrates. And there is little doubt that if he had had access to plywood or MDF he would have used them.
The rise of whole solid wood designs
The fall of veneer has in turn led to the rise of wholly solid wood furniture.
The desire by many furniture manufacturers to be able to promote their products as being ‘made entirely from solid wood’ has led in recent years to the development of unusual designs and low quality construction techniques.
For example, websites and showrooms are now rife with dining tabletops and sideboard doors made in the same manner as parquet flooring.
In addition, some well-known manufacturers utilise what is in effect ‘off-cuts’ and patch them together with conspicuous finger joints (see below)
This technique, while saving money, can create inherent weakness in the furniture and does nothing for its looks.
Another trend, is for large furniture components - say, kitchen table legs - to consist of four thin pieces of wood (one for each face) glued around a cheaper piece of wood.
These are only a selection of questionable construction techniques.
This solid-wood-at-all-cost approach can result in cumbersome designs and less durable build quality – ones which use high amounts of glue, filler and metal fixings.
Knowledge is power
Lots of factors determine the quality of a piece of furniture - the design, the materials used, the level of craftsmanship.
The presence per se of wood veneer or solid wood does not, by itself, dictate this.
The realisation that a sideboard made entirely from solid wood isn’t necessarily a hallmark of quality should prompt you to dig a little deeper into the materials and methods employed by the manufacturer.
Whether big or small, any furniture maker should be able to talk you through how the product has been constructed and why and where certain materials have been used.
As a consumer, knowing the differences between these materials - and how they are best used - should put you in a stronger position when buying your next piece of furniture.
Richard England, Founder, Glencairn Furniture