Veneer Versus Solid Wood Furniture: Myths, Mistakes and Misconceptions
Introduction
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 with solid wood, and look at how it should and shouldn’t be used in contemporary furniture making.
We also investigate how misconceptions surrounding veneer among consumers has led many furniture manufacturers to employ low quality construction methods.
But first, let’s define what veneer is.
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 as 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 FormicaÓ are popular examples of laminate.
Pros and cons of wood veneer vs solid wood
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 pros of wood veneer
i. Cost
In most cases, whether residential or commercial, it is much cheaper to use veneered panels rather than solid wood.
There is a scarcity of hardwoods such as ash, oak and walnut.
With efficient wood veneer production, thousands of sheets of veneer glued onto MDF 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 wood which is 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 inlays can only be achieved through the cutting and inlaying of veneering into the surface of the 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 appearance in the grain pattern.
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 in for example 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. They are 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 effects that solid wood does (link to my article).
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 cons 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 more easily repaired.
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 pros of solid wood
i. Easier to repair
Solid wood furniture is better to receive screws, nails and glue than the chipboard or mdf which supports much of 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 lessened more safely. Such marks on veneer always risk damage.
Although antique furniture should never be ‘sanded back’, modern or contemporary solid wood furniture has the advantage of
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. (link)
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, across the same species solid wood is more expensive than wood veneer.
ii. Instability
For a furniture maker, this 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 as it either shrinks or expands in certain environments.
Oils and waxes can lessen but not eliminate this effect.
Furniture designers and makers employ a whole range of techniques to allow or account for ‘movement’ in tables, cabinets and other furniture types which are made up of large panels.
This is why, for example, solid wood doors are made up of frames and panels, 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 books of veneers, 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.
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 covered, 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 we’re discussing.
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.
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.
Myths about solid wood furniture vs wood veneer furniture
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 manmade, synthetic wood laminates and actual wood veneer as one in the same.
Put simply, the word ‘veneer’ has become synonymous with poor quality, badly-made furniture.
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 also be found among high- end department stores.
The widespread use of laminate wood in furniture mass manufacturing has lowered consumers expectations so much that many would mistake real wood veneer for solid wood if, for example, it was used as a panel in a cabinet door.
Veneer is a byword for cheap
Laminate wood’s usurpation of the word ‘veneer’ has made consumers wary of the term – to such a point that many furniture makers will market their products on the basis that they don’t include veneer.
However, some of the best furniture – from Egyptian times through to Thomas Chippendale and right up to the most sought after furniture of present day – utilises wood veneer.
Some exotic woods are so scarce and so expensive that they are affordable only in veneer form.
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.
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 of furniture making, solid wood is better than 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.
Indeed, Thomas Chippendale – perhaps the most famous furniture maker of them all – would use quality veneer on top of a cheaper wood substrate. There is little doubt that if he had had access to plywood or mdf he would have used them.
The rise of wholly solid wood designs
The desire for some furniture manufacturers to be able to promote their products as being ‘made entirely from solid wood’ has led to the development of unusual designs and low quality construction techniques in recent years.
These include dining tabletops and cabinet doors made in the same way as parquet flooring.
Some well-known manufacturers essentially take ‘off-cuts’ – what a quality furniture maker would leave on the workshop floor – and glue them randomly together, sometimes giving a chopping block appearance.
For chunky dining table legs which appear at first glance to be made from a single piece of wood, they are in fact four thin pieces of wood attached around a small central piece of cheap wood.
This solid-wood-at-all-cost approach can result in cumbersome designs and less durable build quality – ones which use high amounts of glue and filler.
Conclusion
Lots of factors determine the quality of a piece of furniture - the design, the materials used, the level of craftsmanship.
The use of wood veneer or solid wood do not, by themselves, dictate this.
But as a consumer, knowing the difference should put you in a stronger position when making your next furniture purchase.
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 or maker.
It is worth noting 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 designer and maker will be motivated by a desire to achieve the most beautiful and enduring result, often at the cost of his or her profits.
Whatever the size, any furniture manufacturer should be able to talk you through how the item of furniture has been constructed and why and where certain materials have been used.
Richard England, Founder, Glencairn Furniture