Wood Veneer FAQs

Getting ready to embark on a wood veneer project with mahogany, teak, zebrawood, or some other exotic?

Get the answers to common questions here first.

Is Veneer Good?

Wood veneer is a good medium to use on a wide variety of projects, especially in situations in which it would be cost prohibitive or impractical to use solid wood.

Is Veneer Real Wood?

Veneer is real wood but it is not solid wood. Rather, wood veneer is made up of a thin slice or “leaf” or wood applied to a backer, most commonly thin paper but also occasionally a synthetic backer (like phenolic) or an adhesive.

Is Veneer Solid Wood?

Veneer is not solid wood. It is a thin slice of real wood applied to a backer.

Is Veneer Durable?

It can be, but it really depends on the species and applications. The veneer made from a specific species usually captures the relative virtues of that species. For instance, pine veneer is soft and easily scratched, cedar veneer is rot-resistant, and mahogany veneer is hard and UV-resistant.

However, since veneer is so thin, we usually recommend against using it in extremely high traffic settings - such as flooring - as it can easily be damaged or worn through.

Is It Toxic?

Wood veneer itself is not inherently toxic, but some adhesives used to apply it might be, as might some solvents and finishes. Also, sawdust, produced by sanding veneer, is not only an irritant but is a carcinogen. If the sawdust is produced from a toxic species, like purpleheart or poplar, then the dust may be considered toxic.

Is It Waterproof?

Wood veneer, like raw wood, is not only not waterproof, it is absorbent. It can, however, be treated with finishes like oil, wax, or lacquer which will make it water-resistant.

Is Wood Veneer Sustainable?

Wood veneer, when ethically harvested and produced, may be considered not only sustainable, but a far better alternative to solid wood. This is because a single log can produce a great volume of veneer sheets and panels.

This makes wood veneer of species like mahogany and teak preferable to solid wood because it places less of a stress on natural stocks.

Moreover, if you buy from a reputable supplier like us, you may be benefiting the environment in other ways. For instance, through our partnership with the National Forest Foundation and the Plant It Forward program, we are committed to planting a tree for each order placed.

Why Use Veneer?

There are a wide range of reasons to use veneer. One of the best is that it is so comparatively much more affordable than solid wood.

Another is that wood veneer is a lot more forgiving, in many ways, than solid wood, making it easier to work with, especially for those not experienced in woodworking.

Veneer is also often more accessible than solid wood, especially among some exotic species.

Is Wood Veneer Expensive?

While you might consider wood veneer objectively expensive, as may be the case with certain exotic species and burl wood veneers, it is often far more affordable than the solid wood alternative.

Which Wood Veneer Is Best?

That depends heavily on the project. If your purpose is to line a storage chest with a wood that will repulse microbial growth and insect attack, then cedar veneer is a choice species.

If your aim is to create a unique aesthetic, perhaps an option like curly maple or a burl wood, like mappa burl or carpathian elm, is the best option.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a hard, dense, strong wood to create a scratch and scuff resistant surface, then durable woods like white oak, ash, hickory, and even mahogany are the best.

Again, it’s all about the project.

Can Wood Veneer Be Refinished?

Veneer can be refinished but it is advisable not to try, and to make the best attempt to finish it properly on the first go around.

The reason for this is that veneer is very thin and any attempts to refinish it that involve sanding may run the risk of  “sand through” an irreversible form of damage that occurs when sanding too deep, exposing the backer.

When this happens, the veneer must be scrapped.

Can It Be Sanded?

Yes, veneer can and should be sanded. However, you must take care not to sand too deeply, exposing the backer, because if you do, the veneer will be ruined.

Best advice is to sand lightly by hand (avoid power tools) and do not use grits that are too aggressive. For most finishing applications, 100 to 220 grit sandpaper will be all that you need.

Can It Be Stained?

Veneer can be stained and finished just like solid wood. It responds equally well to both water and oil-based stains as well as to shellac, lacquer, polyurethane, and penetrating oils.

Can Wood Veneer Be Painted?

Wood veneer can be painted, but there’s no reason to do that, since the whole point of veneer is reaping the aesthetic value of solid wood without the cost or hassle of working with it.

Is Wood Veneer Heat Resistant?

No more than solid wood; however, one advantage of wood veneer is that it, unlike solid wood,  does not warp as dramatically in response to shifts in temperature or humidity. This is one of the reasons that some workers opt for veneer over solid wood. You just have to make sure you use it over an appropriate substrate like MDF, or medium density fiberboard.

Can You Use Wood Veneer Outside?

As a general rule, it is not advisable to use wood veneer outside. Even if you use a rot, insect and UV-resistant veneer like cedar or mahogany, the adhesives used with veneer usually do not respond well to being exposed to humidity and temperature cycles. Save the wood veneer projects for furniture and items that will be kept indoors.

Where to Buy Wood Veneer?

You’re in the right place to buy wood veneer online, and we have plenty of experience with both exotic and domestic veneer sheets and panels as well as edge banding tape.

If you have any questions before starting your project, feel free to get in touch with us at 800-426-6018.