Wood Veneers — Materials, Types, Applications, Pricing and Maintenance

4 min readJun 1, 2023

--

Wood veneers play a significant role in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of interior spaces. Veneers offer the beauty and warmth of real wood while providing greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness compared to solid wood. They can range from the rich grains of oak and walnut to the delicate figuring of maple and cherry. Each veneer slice has its own distinctive characteristics, making it a versatile material for achieving different design styles, from traditional to contemporary. Whether it’s adding warmth to a modern minimalist space or creating a classic ambiance, wood veneers offer endless possibilities for customization.

Wood veneers offer a balance between natural beauty, versatility, and sustainability in interior design. They provide designers with the opportunity to incorporate the warmth and character of real wood into their projects while offering flexibility in terms of customization and application.

Materials

Veneers are actual thin slices of real wood. The appearance of the grains comes from slicing of the wood through the growth rings of a tree. By using veneers, designers can maximize the use of precious wood resources. A single log can yield multiple veneer slices, making it a sustainable choice compared to solid wood, which requires larger amounts of timber. Additionally, the production of veneers requires less energy and generates fewer carbon emissions compared to other materials used in interior design.

Looks

Veneer Sheets come in a variety of wood grains, patterns and natural colors. Sometimes they are stained and painted to achieve a certain tint. They are called process veneers.

Compared to laminates, naturally, veneers provide more high-end look if you want to achieve the ‘woody look’ for your interiors.

Applications

Veneers are used to provide a ‘real wood; look to the plywood furniture which is a cheaper alternative to wooden furniture. Veneers can be applied to various surfaces, such as furniture, cabinetry, wall paneling, and doors.

Although Veneers can be easily pasted on plywood surfaces, only a skilled and experienced person has to be employed to achieve the flawless application and finish.

Veneers require to be sealed with either polish or clear lamination, which can be gloss or matt depending upon your preference.

One can also choose to buy pre-finished veneers now available in the market to save time and effort of lamination after the application.

Pricing

Veneers are more expensive than laminates. In Indian market you can find a wide range of veneers from Rs. 100/sqft to Rs.250/sqft.

Polish and lamination cost of veneer is an additional expense which can range from Rs.130/sqft to Rs.500/sqft depending upon the kind of polish or lamination you choose.

Thus, the total cost of finished application of veneers may range from Rs.230/sqft to Rs.750/sqft, depending upon the kind of veneer and finish you select.

Maintenance & Care

In terms of maintenance and care, many of the guidelines that apply to wood also apply to the veneers and for this reason veneers can be considered requiring higher maintenance than a laminate.

Wood Veneers — Materials, Types, Applications, Pricing and Maintenance

Written by Luxerior Interior Designs I Mumbai