Wood Veneers

Do you wish you could have gorgeous hardwood floors or walls, but can’t afford to have them installed? Do you want to have a decorative kitchen island with several different types of beautiful exotic woods creating a lovely pattern? If this sounds like you, wood veneers may be a suitable alternative.

Veneering is the act of purchasing thin planks of exotic surfaces and gluing them over a base. This is usually made of plywood or particleboard, though it’s not unusual to use less valuable wood as a base as well. While you may not get all of the benefits of having solid hardwood floors or walls, if beauty is your gain, this is a fast, affordable way to achieve just that.

Why are wood veneers an ideal option? For one, you don’t have to go through the usual process of purchasing lumber, drying it, and cutting joints into the end for fitting. Instead, most veneers already come in the size you’re looking for, though you can always cut it into smaller squares or different shapes as aesthetic demands.

Wood veneers also allow you to have hardwood floors in areas where solid wood floors would be impossible due to humidity or location. You can also experiment with a wider range of exotic wood species without fear of wasting the wood. If you’re covering large surfaces, you can purchase your wood veneers in larger sheets as well.

When choosing veneers, there are several different types to choose from, all of which depend on how the wood was cut and what patterns they’re arranged in. The method in which the wood is sliced from the tree has a noticeable effect on how the grain is then displayed.

Some veneers, for example, are sliced in straight vertical planks. This is a technique used largely for mass production purposes, as it doesn’t create a very aesthetically pleasing wood. However, wood veneers cut at an angle to catch the aging rings within the wood tend to be much prettier, as you can see visible patterns and swirls in the wood’s grain.

Raw veneers are common, though you can also find veneers backed with surfaces such as paper or phenol as well for easier installation. While raw wood allows you to choose which side of the wood you wish to display, backed wood veneers allow you to install large sheets of veneer without hassle.

Of course, wood veneers are good for more than just renovating your home. You can add a unique touch to your favorite box or create a beautiful mosaic tiled look with a drab bowl. Regardless of what you decide to do with your wood veneers, you will be creating a beautiful, remarkable effect at a fraction of the price of solid lumber projects.