Wood is one of the oldest materials used in construction due to its high strength, stability and easy availability. However, with increasing deforestation across the world, using solid wood for building applications raises many issues on sustainability. One material that has been helping reduce this deforestation over the last few years is wood veneer. Keep reading to learn all about what wood veneer is, applications of veneer in buildings, types of veneer sheets and the veneer sheets price in India.
What is Wood Veneer?
A wood veneer is a thin slice cut from natural wood to be used in building applications. Veneer slices are 0.1 mm- 3 mm thick and are generally glued onto other thicker surfaces to form rigid panels. Wood veneer panels are an eco-friendly alternative to solid wood and are much more cost-effective, while wood veneer sheets are more flexible and can be used as a finishing layer for curvilinear surfaces.
What is Wood Veneer Used for?
- To Form Panels/ Boards: Wood veneer sheets are used to form the finishing layer of many engineered wood products like plywood, Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard). Veneered plywood and MDF are commonly used to make interior storage cabinets and furniture.
- Walls, Floors and Ceilings: Natural wood veneer can be used as a finishing layer on walls, floors and ceilings. Such sheets mimic solid wood, but are much more affordable. Even exposed structural elements like beams, columns and rafters can be layered with veneer sheets.
- Furniture: Tables, sofa frames, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and other furniture are often made with metal or low-quality wood cores. These furniture products can be coated with a layer of veneer to make them look like solid wood.
Types of Wood Veneer
Types of Wood Veneer Based on Cutting Method
Veneer sheets are made by cutting the wood through different methods. Generally, the tree bark is cut into solid sections called ‘flitches’, which are further sliced to obtain sheets in various sizes.
- Rotary Cut Wood Veneer: In this method, the wood log is mounted on a rotary lathe, which cuts it into slices along lines that are parallel to its circumference. Very wide slices of wood showing all the annual growth rings can be obtained by this process.
- Flat Cut Wood Veneer: The log is cut into half sections and slices are made tangential to the outer circumference. These veneers are also called crown-cut or plain cut and their strength varies across their width.
- Quarter Sliced Wood Veneer: The wood log is cut into four sections and slices are made perpendicular to the growth rings of wood. Vertical grain lines in uniform patterns can generally be observed in these sheets.
- Half Round Sliced Wood Veneer: This is similar to the rotary cut sheets, but a half-cut log instead of a full log section is mounted on the lathe.
- Rift Cut Wood Veneer: In this method, the wood log is cut into four sections and then mounted on a lathe. The lathe slices the flitch at an angle 10-20° away from the line perpendicular to the growth rings. Veneer sheets with very uniform and straight grain patterns are obtained.
Types of Wood Veneer Based on Wood Used
A wood veneer can be procured from different types of wood and trees, such as:
Hardwood Veneer Sheets
Some of the common hardwood trees used to make veneer are:
- Teak Veneer: Generally found in shades of golden-brown colour, with grain patterns that vary between straight, wavy and interlocked, depending on the species.
- Walnut Veneer: Available in dark brown shades ranging from deep tan to dark chocolate, with grain patterns varying between very straight to interlocked. Few defects in timber, such as knots, may sometimes be visible.
- Maple Veneer: Its colours range between shades of soft pink, white, yellow and light brown. Curly or wavy patterns (sometimes with irregular forms like birds’ eye patterns) are usually observed.
- Oak veneer: Generally available in multiple shades of white, red, brown and black and has highly variable patterns depending on the cutting method adopted. White oak veneer and red oak veneer are some of the common types used.
- Rosewood Veneer: These are found in dark reddish to pinkish brown shades with straight or interlocking grain patterns.
Softwood Veneer Sheets
A few commonly available softwood varieties of timber veneer are:
- Pine veneer: Very light shades of white, yellow and cream are typically available with grain patterns like straight and interlocking. Irregularities like knots can sometimes be witnessed in these veneers.
- Douglas Fir Veneer: Its colour ranges from warm yellow to moderately dark brown and its grain pattern is generally straight or slightly wavy.
Types of Veneer Based on Finish
- Dyed Veneer: Natural wood veneers can be dyed with colours like grey, blue, black, white and yellow to produce a uniform colour consistency. The process is carried out by first bleaching the wood to lose its natural colour and then applying dyes to it under high temperature and/or pressure.
- Smoked Veneer: Also called fumed veneers, these sheets are treated with ammonia vapours to obtain a smoky effect. This process is typically done on oak and maple wood varieties.
- Saw Cut Veneer: Unlike other types of veneers (which have a smooth finish), this type has rough-cut edges formed by running a blade roughly over its surface. Such veneer sheets are generally more expensive than other types.
- Textured Veneer: Processes like sanding, pressing and brushing are done on the veneer sheet to obtain specific textures and patterns.
- Matching Veneer: Different veneer sheets are combined together to create panels that have a uniform pattern and consistency.
Veneer Sheets Price
The veneer wood price varies based on several factors like:
- Size and thickness of the sheet
- Uniformity or uniqueness of grain patterns
- Presence of any unique defects or irregularities (such as burl wood veneer)
- Brand, type, location and availability
- Quality and age of wood used
- Method of cutting
The common veneer sheets price per sq ft in India currently are:
| Type of Veneer | Price Per Sq Ft (₹) |
| Teak veneer | 100 – 2,500 |
| Oak veneer | 75 – 2,000 |
| Walnut veneer | 65 – 2,000 |
| Rosewood veneer | 70 – 1,500 |
| Maple veneer | 50 – 500 |
| Pine veneer | 40 – 250 |
These are approximate values. Consult a veneer supplier or manufacturer to get more accurate cost estimates.
Using the Best Wood Veneer in Your Building Project
Since veneer is available in multiple types, designs and qualities, it can be difficult to select the right one for use in buildings. However, Brick & Bolt—a top construction company in India—has over 7 years of experience in selecting and supplying the best materials for use in building projects. 470+ quality tests (QASCON) conducted for every project, combined with the expertise of leading construction professionals, have helped the company complete 7000+ projects. To use the best quality wood veneer panels for walls, ceilings, furniture and other elements in the construction of your new home, reach out to Brick & Bolt today!
Apoorva H P Achar 
Hemali Patel