By Martin Hart on Thu 05 March 2020
Typically used for decorative purposes, veneer is usually a thin sheet of wood that can help to transform surfaces such as flooring.
From edging to larger and traditional layers, our selection of veneer comes in a great variety of woods. The following woods are only a few of the most popular woods utilised for veneers due to their durability and properties.
Ash
With a medium textured grain, ash wood has a light to medium brown heartwood and a beige to light brown sapwood. This wood stains, glues, and finishes well, being an affordable option for flooring. When ash wood is stained, it can often appear similar to oak wood, although the latter has much wider rays.
Birch
As one of the most commonly used woods for veneer, birch wood can be very economical for flooring. This wood has a low natural lustre and straight or slightly wavy grain with an even texture. Birch turns, finishes, and glues well, being able to be turned into speciality wood items very easily.
Cherry
Whether black cherry or sweet cherry, this wood can easily be used for veneers.Cherry is one of the easiest woods to work with, as it has a straight grain, stability, and ease of being used in machines. When it is being stained, however, it is often required to have a sanding sealer. The wood darkens to a golden brown with age, providing a stunning look.
Maple
Hard maple has stronger, stiffer, denser, and harder wood, and it finishes, glues, and turns well. When staining, some blotches may occur and a toner may be needed to even the colour. This wood’s sapwood, unlike most woods, is more utilised than its heartwood. Colours can range from white, cream, red, or golden.
Oak
Rot-resistant and durable, oak wood is a great option for woodworking and veneer. With a light to medium brown colour, it has a straight grain and an uneven texture. This economical wood is very easy to work with, always producing excellent results. This wood has moderately high shrinkage values and iron might create staining and discolouration. It does, however, finish, stain, and glue very well.
Pine
Easily worked with, it can sustain a wide variety of paints as finishes, and it is easily sliced or peeled. With good elasticity and strength, pine wood typically has great durability. Its heartwood has a reddish-yellow colouring that naturally darkens to a reddish brown, providing a stunning option for veneer.
Walnut
Smooth in texture and easy to work with, walnut is also resilient and durable. It has straightforward finishing and it stains and glues well. Its grain can be straight but irregular with a moderate natural lustre and a medium texture. Walnut has moderate resistance to rot decay, which may be prolonged through specialised treatments.
Our varied options of veneer provide high-quality solutions for your projects, ensuring a reliable and durable veneer solution. Simply get in touch with us on 01702 614044 and we’ll be happy to help you find veneers that fit your projects perfectly.