Because even well-seasoned wood can shrink and twist with time, wood veneers are used as an alternative to build sturdy construction at a cost effective price. The depletion of hardwood resources has lead to an upsurge in the popularity of using wood veneers in construction and, as a result, there are many places you can buy your veneer for your business or for your clients.

How veneer will look is based upon the way the log is cut in relation to the annual wood rings in the log. Some questions that you should ask your veneer manufacturers before making a purchase for your business:

1. What are your typical lead times? Some veneer companies may not have all species in stock year round.

2. If the color of your wood veneer is important to you, ask which species will give you the color that you need.

3. Ask which backing material the wood veneer will need for the gluing method you plan on using. Different glues and substrates require different backings for stability and durability.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Request veneer samples

Not sure which wood veneer you should choose? Then you should request veneer samples. Many veneer manufactures and veneer suppliers will send you samples. Some change a small fee, and some actually sell veneer catalogs that include over 40 samples.

I recommend: Visit the Hardwood Plywood Veneer Association (HPVA) as it is chock full of information on veneer suppliers. In addition, they sell many different veneer sample kits. You can order a 41-piece veneer sample book from Veneer Supplies.

Determine what cut and species of veneer you need

The cut and the species of wood you choose will determine your cost and will define how your veneer will look. If you want a cathedral effect in the grain then you should ask for a flat cut. If your customer is looking for a particular color, the only way to guarantee consistency is to buy all of your veneer from the same log.

I recommend: For a great visual explanation of wood cuts visit Formwood. Formwood Industries has a learning library and is a veneer manufacturer. To get an idea of the different matching patterns that you can choose from, look at the visual aid provided by Oakwood Veneer Company. If you want exotic veneers, check out Brookside Veneers and Exotic Hardwoods & Veneers.

Use the right grade of wood veneer for your project

Many people request the highest veneer grade (AA) from a veneer company because they think it is the best, but very few jobs actually require this grade. Hardwood veneer logs produce a small amount of AA grade, so not only will you be paying too much for your veneer, but you could be putting unnecessary strain on our limited hardwood resources.

I recommend: Wood veneers are graded based upon the number of defects and repairs in the wood, with A being the best and D being the worst. You can buy B and C grade veneers from Timeless Timber and architectural grade from Ultra Wood Products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When buying veneer, order extra material when you place your order. If you don't and then run out you risk of extended lead times on replacement material or you may not be able to match existing material in the desired species, size and cut.