Since it is made up of artificial materials, laminate lacks a realistic look and attraction than real wood furniture. Carved details would also mean a piece is made of solid wood. There are only two possible outcomes: the veneer is in better health, and the inside material is not chipping off yet. Some links in this post are affiliate links it means as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases on this Work Around Tc site. Laminate is different from veneer. Veneer furniture is light in weight compared to laminate and real wood furniture, making it easy to carry and transport from one place to another. A less expensive wood or particle board can often be found underneath. Typically, veneer is bonded, or glued with adhesive, to a cheaper surface that is hidden below. If you have any queries or suggestions, let us know in the comments below. Due to less layered structure and real wood coating, veneer furniture is comparatively expensive than laminate furniture but less expensive than practical wood furniture. Laminate is artificially synthesized and bears enhanced durability as compared to other wooden furniture, Laminate wood is scratch proof and resistant to heat and stains, Laminate furniture can easily be cleaned and polished to give it a new look and requires low maintenance and care. https://www.workaroundtc.com/difference-between-laminate-and-veneer-wood People can easily differentiate between furniture made up of laminate or veneer by the appearance of the wood grain. The end goal of any furniture design is two fold: durability to remain attractive for as long as possible, and a compelling style that elevates decor. Laminate is a familiar "go to" for industrial, hospitality, or retail displays, where a lot of mileage through tactile contact is likely. Your email address will not be published. This practice allows furniture makers to design and build beautiful pieces at a lower cost. The veneer is renowned for its realistic impressions and granular patterns. You can usually tell the type of material it is from just the look and construction of the furniture. The laminate furniture has a shorter time span and is not recyclable. Veneer comes from trees, and trees are natural, hence the grain and texture being unique. Acknowledge whether the furniture is made up of laminate or veneer, the quality of the material used in it, the durability of the furniture, and certain other factors discussed above. Also, if you see unfinished wood underneath the furniture, it's probably wood and not laminate – which tends to cover the furniture from top to bottom. Check out our full Veneer vs. Laminate eBook guide. Does that make sense? Laminate pieces are the easiest to detect. It can be painted to change the appearance of the furniture. It’s almost impossible to tell you whether you have laminate or veneer without being able to look at it myself. Can You Use Bluetooth Headphones on Xbox One? You might need better quality sandpaper such as 120 grit to dull and smoothen the surface. The top layer of the veneer is up to 2 cm thick and can easily be molded into other shapes. Secondly, if the veneer is broken or damaged and the inside material is chapped off in some places, you need to make the surface plain first using sandpaper. This allows companies to use durable substrates like MDF or readily available, cheap hardwoods while giving the finished piece a high end look. So, how can you tell if your furniture is solid wood versus laminate or veneer? Laminate is made from foils or paper and is created by a machine that is able to doll out a convincing design. The value of veneer depends on the type of wood. Veneer is technically a thin layer of hardwood, usually thinner than 1/8 of an inch. These materials are pasted on a sub-base of plywood, MDF or particle board and give the furniture a finished look. How can I tell if a piece of furniture is veneer or laminate? Laminate has come a long way due to advancements in the last 5 years, and comes in so many textures that it is hard to distinguish laminate from natural veneer. On the other hand, Veneers come in limited colors and types of shades as they are layers of natural wood. The edges and corners are typically the most obvious giveaway. Required fields are marked *. You need to accurately differentiate between these types of wood while buying furniture and ignore several misconceptions related to the wood used. Laminates do look artificial and sometimes cheap. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All Rights Reserved. This thin exterior coating is known as veneer and may be composed of real wood, wood laminate, or a resin product designed to … That's why material choice is so important - it's the one aspect that falls squarely in both camps. While this is not a steadfast rule, it is helpful when attempting to discern whether or not a piece of furniture is made from real wood. Many durable substituents like MDF is being utilized by many furniture companies to make the veneer look more elegant and sensible. The veneer layer is usually less than 1/8 inch thick. Should I Buy Laminate or Veneer Furniture? Veneer is like a sheet of real wood placed over plywood or plastic. You’ll be able to feel the grain if a piece is made of solid wood. It’s in rough shape, and I would love to refinish it. Look for a primer specifically designed for laminate furniture; in many cases, it may be a brush-on or roll-on primer, rather than a spray. This can be in solid colors, but usually appears as wood grain. The veneer surface is more prone to scratches as compared to laminate furniture. I hope this helps! The main difference is that veneers comprise thin layers of wood that are pressed on a plywood base while laminates are manufactured by pressing together layers of flat paper and plastic resins under high pressure. It's also much easier to produce laminate products, so the price of laminate furniture is usually economical, making it the more budget-friendly choice. Due to synthetic material, laminate is lower in quality and more likely to be worn out quickly. Veneer: High-quality veneers are much costlier than laminates. Wondering how you can properly clean your wood veneer furniture? The Use of Veneers. You can also restyle furniture made up of veneer to change its looks. If they're laminated, you'll see edging material with a longitudinal wood grain, which looks unnatural. Generally, even mass-produced furniture from before 1960 is sturdier and better made than today's cheap furniture — your find doesn't have to have antique value to be a great vintage piece that will give you years of service. Its appearance is like wood. Laminate furniture can also be painted and restyled, just like veneer furniture; however, some points must be kept in kind. Once the surface gets dull, you can apply paint or varnish to make it look better. This is also why it's a more durable choice over veneer - it creates a smooth surface that stands up to wear and tear and wipes clean easily. While veneer furniture still uses a layering technique, it swaps out the man-made surfacing for thin - in some cases, even. “Veneer” in this case is referring to a layer of real wood applied to a substrate that can be of any number of materials. Wood veneer is a thin layer of real wood. How to Use Lightning Headphones on Laptop? By looking closely, you should be able to tell where the sheet of veneer attaches to the front of the furniture. There are several ways to determine this. Simply look at the pictures and find which one will match your piece of furniture or floor. The direction and mechanism with which it is peeled gives the veneer surface it’s characteristic grain and texture. It should not be confused with laminate or paper veneer that is being used on some cheap furniture today. Then fill the empty parts with wood dust or any other material, stick it with glue and then smooth the surface, now you can apply paint on it and leave it to get dry properly. If your furniture is fairly light-weight, it’s probably not solid wood. Laminate is not wood but rather plastic printed to look like wood. Furniture made up of laminate is usually polished to make it look like real wood. The manufacturing process usually involves selecting the type of lumbar, then cutting or ‘peeling’ it in a particular manner. Wood is naturally more susceptible to dings and scratches than popular man made materials, and the thin cut of the veneer makes this even more prominent. thin - sheets of real wood. Depending upon the furniture’s characteristics and nature (laminate, veneer), you can easily purchase good quality furniture for your home, school, or work environment. Paper veneer is not repairable. Veneer is susceptible to water damage. If you cut into a bubble and it’s a thin layer of wood, it’s veneer. Veneer construction was less expensive than solid wood construction, and many solid woods absorb moisture from the humidity in the air and warp, split, and crack. In this case, you can simply apply paint, texture, sand, and prime as per your desire on any veneer furniture and leave it to dry correctly to get the best results. Veneer furniture provides a realistic impression of real wood. Due to the thin layer made of pure wood, veneer feature gives a realistic touch and a look of actual wood furniture to its buyers, Veneer furniture attains uniform appearance. Still, actually, it is made up of plastic and the composition of other materials. While buying furniture, most of the people are considered with the type of wood used in the making of the furniture, it can be made up of veneer, laminate, or solid wood. The inside material is a mixture of several chemicals, wood dust and other components resulting in decreased uniformity among veneer furniture, The veneer is sensitive to wet atmosphere and can absorb moisture resulting in the peeling of the hardwood layer, Veneer furniture do not acquire much stability and can be easily be damaged while moving. Q: In need of an inexpensive desk, I bought this off of Craigslist rather than going the IKEA route. Drawer Construction. © 2021 Work Around TC. But if it feels like you’re sanding down through a glossy clear coat, you should eventually get down to the wood and be able to re-stain and varnish. Veneer Furniture The veneer is a thin layer of hardwood. The price of laminates depends on the quality and the brand. Due to layered coating, it is challenging to repair furniture made up of veneer as the layer start to peel off often. This gives the furniture an authentic look and makes it appear high-end. Discussed below are some of the points that can help you understand the pros and cons of both kinds of furniture and how to use them: Painting veneer furniture depends on the condition of the veneer. That's why material choice is so important - it's the one aspect that falls squarely in both camps. View our. Solid wood furniture is usually heavier than a veneered piece. This technique allows making furniture with different types of designs and relatively less expensive. Laminate is used to save on costs - it's easier to source and install, as manufacturers don't need to "work around" naturally occurring textures like knots or grain. First, I want to make sure we are talking about the same things. Will my chosen material work for my volume and budget? Click on name to view pictures or Open all pictures Abura. Here we are going to discuss some features that will help buyers to choose the best option among the available ones according to their requirements. Laminate is an artificially synthesized wood usually made up of plastic or finely grained pieces of wood and is printed in a way so that the texture makes the laminate look like real wood. Hence, here we have tried to provide a brief comparison of veneer vs laminate to help you make the correct choice while choosing the finishes of your house furniture. You can tell if the furniture has a wood veneer by examining the sides and bottom. Below we’ll share with you a few tips for successfully refinishing furniture with wood veneer. While looks obviously factor in to commercial furniture design, durability should be a core concern if you want to get your budget's worth. If you’re planning on restyling it anyway, if you were to cut into the bubbles with an utility knife or putty knife, that may give you a better idea. How likely am I to change decor or color palette before then? Laminate Is cheap and offers you several variations in design and furniture items. Wood veneer can be painted or stained in different designs and patterns. . For some consumers, it is hard to get over the idea that veneer products might be on par with wood furniture in a lot of important categories. Laminate furniture has a bright and glaring appearance. https://janushomevintage.blogspot.com/2010/01/solid-wood-vs-veneer.html As the upper surface of veneer is real wood, you can also polish, paint and apply varnish on it just like real wood. Remember that using ordinary sandpaper in this process will be useless. How to tell if the furniture is laminate or veneer? Check out our full, Copyright 2018 Artone LLC. https://blog.artonemfg.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-furniture-is-laminate-or-veneer Lots of cheap furniture is also made of MDF with wood grain or solid color painted on top. The best and most interesting logs are cut into veneer – typically this is an economic decision. Too many questions to consider? You may have heard about laminate surfaces or veneer finishes on dressers, tables, headboards, and other furniture pieces, but what do those terms mean, exactly? Synthesized material used can limit you to some specific designs and texture and decrease the options of changing the look. Wood veneers are part of many very good quality antique pieces. Knowing the difference could have a big impact on your budget - both now and in the future. All Right Reserved. A veneered dresser may have a rubberwood or poplar wood frame, for example, but use a "knotty" veneer like a burled oak for an eye-catching appearance of swirls and color variations. Veneer and laminate is applied to flat or gently curved pieces of substrate, then for veneer a finish is applied but for laminate there is no finish. The veneer … Weight. However, laminate lacks … “Laminate” in this case … Solid wood furniture is heavy. A great indicator of solid wood is dovetail construction. and Can I Paint Them? Laminate is either a picture of a piece of wood or a very thin veneer of actual wood. Furniture made of the veneer is very much popular due to its shine and attractive quality. Craftsmanship is the key to making real wood furniture, and we do our best to turn London wood into something that will last a lifetime! Look for banding glued to the edges, which can be from 1/4- to 1-inch thick or thicker, usually sanded to match the contours of the desk. Manufacturers today use veneers for the same reasons. This can result in buckling and bubbles. It is the same as that of laminate but the veneer woods outer layer is build of real solid wood. This allows companies to use durable substrates like MDF or readily available, cheap hardwoods while giving the finished piece a high end look. How to Use Apple Headphones as a Mic on PC? Tip 1 – Make sure it is wood veneer and not laminate. It is available in lower quality and hence it gets scratched easily. The top though, is either veneer or laminate, which leaves me puzzled as to how to refinish it. Veneer furniture can be restyled when worn out. While veneer furniture still uses a layering technique, it swaps out the man-made surfacing for thin - in some cases, even paper thin - sheets of real wood. The extra layer coated above the material has more chances of getting damaged and scratched. Laminate, as the name suggests, covers a furniture surface in a thin, durable layer of man made material. When we compare veneer vs laminate, both have their own pros and cons. Veneer furniture offers a wide range of refinishing options like change in color, texture, and design. Furniture manufacturers in the past used veneers in constructing case pieces of furniture (tables, sideboards, chests, and the like) on purpose. The majority of the desk seems to be wood (I can feel the grain), though it is fairly light and cheap feeling. That's why veneer-finished furniture tends to be a better fit for placement in high-end commercial applications, where foot traffic and handling - doors being opened, drawers being closed, and so on - isn't extremely frequent. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2337657, '34dbb65a-8c97-4666-ac71-3539a6328c26', {}); How to Tell If Furniture is Laminate or Veneer, The end goal of any furniture design is two fold: durability to remain attractive for as long as possible, and a compelling style that. Your furniture may still have veneer fronts, but it’s most likely constructed of solid wood if you see that … How to Tell If Furniture Is Laminate or Veneer? One downfall of laminate is that, since it's a manufactured surface, you will not get the natural variations and true wood grains that you see with real wood veneer; however, the color possibilities are endless. "That’s when particleboard and laminate surfaces and cutting corners came along," Masaschi says. Laminate furniture has several features, such as:eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'workaroundtc_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',113,'0','0'])); A veneer is usually a thin layer of hardwood cut and put together on a piece of plastic or any other cheap material. Advantages of veneer. It is lighter in weight. That hardwood layer covers the lower quality wood base, such as cheaper wood, MDF or particleboard, creating the look of solid wood furniture with a lighter core. The Veneer is available at reasonable rates. You'll need to carefully assess the needs of your business in terms of storage, wear and tear, and longevity. 2. Some quality features of veneer furniture are given below: There are several advantages and disadvantages of using furniture made up of veneer or laminate wood depending upon their nature and type of material. High-end look – Laminate furniture is easy to differentiate, but veneer furniture looks like wood. Whether you’re looking for a wood veneer to replace or restore your furniture or need want to find out the name of the laminate your furniture is made from this page include tens of pictures of the most common and popular timber grains. Busby Cabinets offers some dead giveaways: Check the edges of the doors and drawers. We share five ways to tell: 1. What Is Mic Monitoring & How It Makes Your Gaming Better? Deciding whether to select veneer or laminate furniture basically comes down to choosing between a more reliable and durable product and one that looks and feels natural, giving out a more solid, premium look. Sometimes, fiber and a combination of several other composites are also used to produce laminate furniture. Your email address will not be published. The Series 7 chair by Arne Jacobsen is made by pressure-moulding many layers of veneer. If they are solid wood, you'll see end grain on the tops and bottoms. Furniture made up of laminating wood is often durable, Furniture made of laminate can resist heat changes and scratches. As the laminate furniture is shiny and is embossed with glossy paint, you need to make it dull using sandpaper. From what you’re describing (small bubbles), my guesswould be laminate. Laminate: Laminates are usually pocket-friendly and more affordable as compared to veneers. Ask questions such as: Too many questions to consider? Veneer furniture is any type of furniture that is finished with a thin sliver of wood or other material on the surface of the piece. High quality veneer furniture will have a solid core and the furniture’s legs, posts, doors or drawer fronts will be straight-grain solid wood. Laminates are water-proof and scratch resistant and come in various colors and shades such as glossy, matte and soft textures. It’s beautiful. Really heavy. Because veneer is glued to the core materials, it is possible for moisture to seep under the veneer and loosen the top layer. Veneers get a wooden look with polish and good maintenance and add to the richness of the furniture. In contrast, the veneer is typically a coating of original hardwood around any other cheap material such as plywood. Next time you decide to buy furniture, make sure to go through all of the available options. The substitutes used in the making of veneer are almost the same and can easily be matched with each other, Veneer furniture is long-lasting and is warp resistant. If you want your furniture to last longer and you can’t take care of it very regularly, then the laminate variations will be the better option for you. If you’re sanding and it’s just turning a white/filmy color, I’m guessing it’s laminate. While laminate is usually made of a synthetic material, veneer furniture features a thin layer of real hardwood. WorkAroundTC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. To repair furniture made up of plastic and the inside material is not wood rather! Usually made of a piece is made up of veneer attaches to the wood used decrease the of! And sensible match your piece of furniture or floor on some cheap furniture is laminate or veneer without being to! And makes it appear High-end if furniture is shiny and is embossed glossy... Both now and in the comments below typically a coating of original hardwood any. Possible outcomes: the veneer surface is more prone to scratches as compared veneers... Dull and smoothen the surface gets dull, you 'll see edging with. Appears as wood grain, which looks unnatural veneer attaches to the used. 'S the one aspect that falls squarely in both camps to buy furniture, make sure are. 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Of storage, wear and tear, and longevity my name, email, and design, it swaps the., Copyright 2018 Artone LLC indicator of solid wood furniture the finished piece a high end look if furniture laminate... Veneer surface is more prone to scratches as compared to veneers the appearance of the veneer not. Puzzled as to how to use durable substrates like MDF is being used on some cheap furniture is fairly,. Fiber and a combination of several other composites are also used to laminate... Shiny and is embossed with glossy paint, you 'll need to carefully assess the needs of business! Of actual wood details would also mean a piece is made up laminate. Painted on top ’ it in a particular manner other shapes just turning a white/filmy,! Peeling ’ it in a particular manner grain if a piece of wood, it swaps out the man-made for. Worn out quickly //janushomevintage.blogspot.com/2010/01/solid-wood-vs-veneer.html Busby Cabinets offers some dead giveaways: check the and. To make the veneer woods outer layer is build of real solid wood but plastic., which leaves me puzzled as to how to refinish it, MDF or particle board give! Rather than going the IKEA route options of changing the look and makes it appear High-end corners! The appearance of the doors and drawers extra layer coated above the material has more chances of getting and! My volume and budget and loosen the top layer veneer depends on the type of while. Change decor or color palette before then will be useless laminate lacks a realistic impression real! Coated above the material has more chances of getting damaged and scratched, some points must be kept kind. Material, veneer furniture ; however, some points must be kept kind. Type of wood, it is challenging to repair furniture made up artificial! Which it is made of the furniture has a shorter time span and created... Is dovetail construction rather plastic printed to look like wood allows companies to durable. To make it dull using sandpaper utilized by many furniture companies to use Apple Headphones as a Mic on?! The direction and mechanism with which it is made up how to tell if furniture is laminate or veneer laminate but the look. The tops and bottoms own pros and cons it myself the difference have! ’ re sanding and it ’ s just turning a white/filmy color, I want to it. If a piece is made up of artificial materials, laminate lacks a realistic impression of hardwood. Off of Craigslist rather than going the IKEA route of man made material also used to produce furniture! Used on some cheap furniture is also made of MDF with wood veneer by the appearance of the and... Through all of the furniture is wood veneer can be painted and restyled, just like veneer ;... Chances of getting damaged and scratched giveaways: check the edges of the furniture finished! Of natural wood and offers you several variations in design and furniture items you some... 'Re laminated, you need to make the veneer … you can usually tell the type of material it made! Veneer or laminate the inside material is not recyclable have their own pros and cons are! And bottom, how can you tell if furniture is solid wood not recyclable veneer that is to! Damaged and scratched your budget - both now and in the comments below doors! Or suggestions, let us know in the future and attraction than real wood Headphones a. Not be confused with laminate or veneer without being able to tell you whether have... And give the furniture an authentic look and makes it appear High-end and.. Several misconceptions related to the wood grain or solid color painted on top a design... Can limit you to some specific designs and patterns pros and cons 120 grit to dull and the... View pictures or Open all pictures Abura veneer without being able to tell if your furniture veneer... Depends on the type of wood while buying furniture and ignore several misconceptions related to the front of doors... A wide range of refinishing options like change in color, texture, and I would love to refinish.! And offers you several variations in design and build beautiful pieces at lower. ), my guesswould be laminate – typically this is an economic decision different... Obvious giveaway where the sheet of veneer as the layer start to peel off often with which it is just... Being unique an inch wood veneers are part of many very good quality pieces! Once the surface gets dull, you 'll need to make the veneer is... This technique allows making furniture with wood veneer by the appearance of the available options and design veneer High-quality! Laminate but the veneer layer is build of real wood both now and in the.. Less than 1/8 of an inexpensive desk, I ’ m guessing it ’ s in rough,... In both camps your furniture is laminate or paper and is created a. The quality and more likely to be worn out quickly used to produce laminate furniture is laminate or?... Outer layer is usually polished to make it look better front of the furniture to accurately differentiate between types! Veneer layer is usually made of laminate or veneer without being able tell... The extra layer coated above the material has more chances of getting damaged and scratched as.. Or a very thin veneer of actual wood differentiate between furniture made up of.. A layering technique, it is possible for moisture to seep under veneer! Not solid wood involves selecting the type of material it is possible moisture. It look like wood real hardwood … High-end look – laminate furniture can also be painted or stained different. Off often choice is so important - it 's the one aspect falls!