Solid, Veneer, and Laminate Wood Furniture

The purpose of this technique is to create a balanced or uniform surface design. Thin, consecutive layers from one log can be incorporated into a matching or repeating grain pattern--something inconceivable with solid timber.

Until the 1930s, veneer craftsmanship was undermined by adhesives of the time. Glue was simply not effective enough to compete with the stability of solid wood. But even then, veneers were regarded as more beautiful because of the balance and symmetry they achieved. Few people could afford its uniform beauty before advances during the industrial revolution significantly reduced production costs.

Before the late 19th Century, slicing such thin pieces of material was a costly, labor intensive process that required skilled hands and the most advanced cutting tools of the age. Despite the lower quality of past adhesives, many centuries-old veneer pieces have been preserved in museums and private collections for their beauty and craftsmanship.

Timber layers are placed so that the grain lies at a 90 degree angle to adjacent layers, which means that when the fibers shrink and swell, they do so uniformly in all directions. Solid wood is not as capable of withstanding this natural process, which makes it more prone to splitting and cracking.

When veneer became more affordable with advances in technology, it naturally became more popular. Today, nearly 80 percent of wooden furniture in every price range uses incorporates veneers. As a result of improvements in adhesives over the past few decades, veneers are more refined than ever, resulting in furniture that's even stronger and more durable than that made without any adhesives.

Solid Wood

Unadultered wood imparts its own unique, natural beauty, though it's not as impervious as its name implies. This type of furniture is constructed of narrow planks cut to a desired width and laid side by side. It's simply not cost-feasible to carve an entire piece of furniture out of a single piece of lumber, even if the diameter of the tree used were sufficient.

So which method is better? Today the answer to that age old question is still not definitive. The former can incorporate beautiful symmetrical and consistent grain patterns. It can result in graceful curves and sharp lines not possible without the strategic addition of veneers. The finished piece is strong and durable. But there's something striking, too, about the nostalgic, natural beauty of furnishing made from solid timber. Let your taste be the judge.