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Custom Architectural Woodwork & Specialty Finishes
Custom Architectural Woodwork & Specialty Finishes
Wood veneers are thin slices of wood adhered to a substrate and is not only beautiful it is also efficient. Wood veneer is sliced to a thickness of 1/52” using a blade or knife and rather than sawn cut, reduces waste caused by the kerf of the saw blade. Most wood veneer comes in lengths of 10-12 feet. Did you know that while ancient Egyptians were known for stone monuments, they were also master carpenters? Some of the furnishings in King Tut’s tomb was wood veneered. Wood veneer was also used for the skin of early aircraft to keep weight down. Today wood veneer in commercial construction is used in many applications such as wall panels, doors, casework, and more.
Because of the hydroscopic nature of wood, it absorbs moisture and releases moisture. See our article about moisture and wood here. This makes wood veneer panels more stable than solid wood because most substrates are resistant to swings in moisture and temperature. When expensive woods are desired for grain and color wood veneer provides a more cost-effective solution. While bending solid wood can be done it is time consuming making it expensive and is still less stable. Using veneers can provide flexibility (pun intended) when it comes to radius wood products. Did you know that the Architectural Woodwork Institute standard AWI300 states that panel direction is indicated by size listing? It is always the second dimension. For example, if the size listing is 48” X 96” the grain will run with the 96” direction. While wood veneer is an excellent option for most commercial spaces, there are times when solid wood is preferred. For heavy use surfaces solid woods may be preferable because they can be repaired easily. If your project requires a wood product that is durable, then solid wood might be the choice for you.
Rift cut veneers are achieved when one quarter of a log is cut in a manner that produces long straight grain that are the growth rings of the tree. Rotary cut veneer is achieved when the whole log is attached to a lathe and turned against a sharp blade. The result is usually wide grain and can produce an entire sheet of veneer. Quarter sliced veneer is achieved when a quarter of the log is sliced parallel to the radius of the log. The grain will be straight in most wood species but can also have “flake” in the grain. Plain or flat cutting is done by cutting a half log parallel to the line through the center. This produces a “cathedral” effect.
Book matching is commonly used with wood veneer. Book matched is achieved by flipped open like the pages in a book creating a mirror effect. End match is achieved when veneer is book matched and the flipped on the end. End match makes good use of smaller slices of veneer. Slip matched veneer is produced when the veneer moved across the first piece and joined side by side. This will produce a repeat grain pattern. Random match is achieved when the veneer is positioned randomly. Random match highlights the color and grain of the wood species.
There are many options when choosing wood veneers. The most important choice you can make when selecting wood veneers is the millworker. Make sure that the millwork company has at least 10 years of experience with wood veneer production and installation. This will ensure that your project will keep the design intent and last for generations.
At Giffin Interior we have been producing wood veneer products since 1980.
Contact Giffin Interior to discuss your next large millwork project. sales@giffininterior.com
