Veneer
“Veneer” refers to thin slices of wood that are glued onto particle board or another substrate at right angles to produce smooth, consistent decorative panels for cabinets, doors, wall paneling, and other casework and millwork applications. Only the best, most unique logs are cut into veneer. The appearance of grain and figure in the wood comes from slicing through the growth rings of the log at different, interesting angles. Each slice produces a distinct pattern, and each wood species has its own unique grain, color and texture.
The veneering process is not a recent development. The craft dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who first mastered the technique and art of veneering and matching. Throughout the ages, the industry has perfected veneering and shaped it into the craft it is today: economical, environmentally friendly, beautiful and stable architectural wood design.
Veneer is cut very thin, normally thinner than 1/16 inch; this is not only an economic decision — it allows for near-unlimited design possibilities. Because the wood is cut so thin, veneers can be arranged and matched according to the designer’s requested specifications. Veneers are glued with a durable, waterproof adhesive to plywood and composite substrates, producing a stable panel not prone to warping, splitting or seasonal swelling.
When your project calls for intricate, expansive, precise veneers, our team of experienced veneering craftsmen can make it a reality. We provide precision color and grain matching according to the project specifications, creating any aesthetic the architect or designer desires. All of our veneering is done entirely in-house, allowing us to closely oversee every step of the matching, design and finishing processes, ensuring the consistency and beauty of the final product.
Matching Options
In veneering, matching refers to the arrangement, or “pattern,” of the grain on the substrate. Our experienced veneering craftsmen are able to match veneers according to any arrangement requested by the architect or designer. There are a number of possible veneer matching options, but here are some more common arrangements:
BOOK MATCHING
Book Matching, a popular arrangement choice in high-end architectural millwork, refers to successive pieces of veneer arranged side by side that, when done properly, creates a design in which each leaf of veneer will resemble a mirror image of the previous leaf, like the pages of a book. The result is a dramatic design effect that showcases the rich, unique wood grain and color. This matching practice is usually reserved for ornate designs, such as elegant furniture, casework and millwork. One of the most recognizable examples of bookmatching is evident in the backs of deluxe violins and guitars.
SLIP MATCHING
Slip Matching is a method of matching veneers whereby consecutive sheets of veneer are laid out side by side, in contrast to turning them over for book matching, and joined together with a repetition of the same grain appearance.
REVERSE SLIP MATCHING
Reverse Slip Matching is a variation from slip matching in that every other piece of veneer in the face is reversed, end for end, with the adjoining sheet that “balances” the characteristics of the pieces of veneer in the face.
END MATCHING
End Matching consists of opening two matching pieces of veneer endwise rather than edgewise (book match). This may be done to make a balanced face (e.g., for a top) or if long panels are required beyond the limits of the veneer length.
PLANK MATCHING
Plank Matching, or random matching, is a specification that indicates when veneers are put together randomly for the face of a piece of plywood, with no matching grain character in the same face.
Of course, veneers can be arranged in a vast number of patterns, including special (submitted sketch) match, diamond match, box match, checkerboard, herringbone, and a host of others.
