Key Considerations Before Sourcing Wood Veneers for Your Project

Wood Veneers have a range of applications but are most often used for interior fit-outs and furniture manufacture. If you source a professional, experienced wood veneer supplier then they should have a range of standardised, pre-manufactured panels for you to choose from. Sometimes custom projects may require detailed interaction with the veneer supplier in order to detail the perfect final material based on cutting and joining requirements. This hands-on approach often results in higher costs but there will be the advantage of the specifier having more control over the final project.

Different veneer patterns form not only from how the panels are cut but also from the how they are joined. Different joining techniques make it possible to use even small pieces of veneer and many wood veneer suppliers would be able to provide discounted smaller packets of sequence matched veneers which are ideal for smaller projects or for projects that require initial experimentation. Buying plywood or similar materials that are laminated with decorative veneers can also bring down the cost of a project but care needs to be taken not to accept shoddily manufactured goods which will have a short lifespan.

Aesthetic issues such as colour and wood grain will always be important but if the wood veneers are intended to be darkly tinted then they have less of an impact on the final look. In such cases it is a good idea to prioritise longevity or price over grain and colour.

Veneers also happen to be a great way of maximising output from rare and more coveted species of wood. Creating a few small solid wood components from one tree makes less sense than utilising many thin panels of wood veneer to integrate with other more common materials. Some of these panels (also known are flitches) can be sawed as thinly as one fortieth of an inch thick. This provides a much better overall output than solid wood panels which are often cut to a minimum size of one and an eighth inches.

While on the topic of responsible resourcing it is also a good idea to look into your wood veneer supplier's credentials, trademark associations as well as their policy toward accountable sourcing of wood products. The Forest Stewardship Council provides certification to member companies to ensure that wood and forest products are responsibly harvested from a verifiable source. This is known as FSC certified wood and the association strives to outline managerial principles as well as environmental and social ones for a well rounded approach to sustainable business practice.

Common sense dictates that you cannot purchase a product based solely on good environmental practise. A balance needs to be found between quantity available, quality in terms of potential longevity, aesthetics, traceable sources, delivery times and the quality of advice that the wood veneer supplier can provide. Considering each of these aspects will allow you to make the best informed decision and to backup your supply decision to any other persons that may be involved in your project.