From Kitchen Refacing to Wood Veneer: 1986
Oakwood Veneer Company began in 1986 when founder Peter Rodgers was operating Evergreen Kitchen Refacing, Inc., serving customers in the Metro Detroit area. Peter purchased flexible wood veneer sheets in bulk for his kitchen-refacing projects and began selling the extra sheets to other local businesses, including competitors with whom he had built friendly relationships.
What started as an economical way to buy veneer soon became a business of its own. The early inventory was stored at the Rodgers family home, where delivery trucks would arrive with new shipments. As demand increased, Oakwood moved into a 3,000-square-foot facility on Rochester Road in Clawson, Michigan.
Growing Our Selection in Berkley
In 1994, Oakwood moved to a 14,000-square-foot building on Eleven Mile Road in Berkley, Michigan. The additional space helped the company expand from a few dozen wood veneer species to more than 70 and offer more backing choices, including 10-mil, phenolic, and no-black-line (NBL) options. In 1998, Oakwood introduced its popular 22-mil Bubble-Free™ three-ply veneer.
Manufacturing Wood Veneer in Troy
Oakwood's next major step came in 2007, when the company moved to its approximately 44,000-square-foot facility in Troy, Michigan. That same year, Peter invested in machinery to manufacture flexible wood veneer sheets in-house from raw wood flitches. Becoming a manufacturer as well as a wholesaler gave Oakwood greater control over product quality and production timing.
Over the years, the company also expanded its ability to handle special orders. Today, woodworkers, cabinetmakers, furniture builders, and architects can work with our team to select wood species, figures, sizes, and backing options for projects ranging from custom furniture to commercial interiors.
Oakwood Veneer Today
Oakwood celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026. From its beginnings at the Rodgers family home, the company has grown to offer more than 400 types of flexible wood veneer. Peter Rodgers continues to lead the business, with Ted Rodgers serving as general manager and Denise Rodgers as financial manager.
In January 2026, Oakwood shared plans to expand the Troy facility by more than 10,000 square feet to support additional manufacturing and warehousing capacity. Throughout that growth, our goal remains the same: provide quality wood veneer, a broad selection, and attentive service whether a customer needs a single sheet or a large order.
Our Troy facility supports production, inventory, and order fulfillment. It also includes a showroom where visitors can view hundreds of samples. If you're unsure which veneer will work best for your project, our experienced team can walk you through the options and help you make the right choice.
For local customers, our staff can prepare an order for pickup so you can get back to your workshop. If you're ordering by phone or online, we'll give your project the same attention. In-stock items ship the same business day when you call us by 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Orders placed later in the afternoon or online overnight ship the next business day.
Take a Virtual Tour of Oakwood Veneer
Want to see where it all happens? Take a behind-the-scenes look inside our Troy, Michigan facility and discover what makes Oakwood Veneer special.
Explore our extensive inventory of domestic and exotic wood veneers, get a closer look at our manufacturing process, and see the care and craftsmanship that go into preparing quality veneer for your next project.
▶ Watch Our Virtual Facility Tour
We're here to serve you in any way possible. We want you to be a happy, long-term customer, and we'll work to earn your trust every time we're in touch. Call us with technical veneering questions or to place an order. We'll help you get your woodworking project done—and done right.
See More of Our Story
Watch our company video for another look at Oakwood Veneer's facility.