Solid Wood Vs. Veneer

Veneers are very thin layers of solid wood glued to a substrate. More often than not, the substrate used is a compressed fiber board (think compressed sawdust, wood shavings, and glue). Veneers are used for two main reasons. The first reason is that solid wood is very expensive. A one inch thick section of solid wood can yield over 30 pieces of veneer making it extremely economical. The second reason is that solid wood is difficult to design and build with. Furniture to be made of solid wood must be designed to allow the wood to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. This page highlights the visual differences that can be used to distinguish solid wood from veneer.

Solid Wood

Real Wood

Two sides of each piece have a dark side without clear grain lines.

Real Wood

The ends of the table have dark, end grain sides indicating that it is made of solid wood. 

Veneer

Fake Wood

Cheap, paper-thin veneers cover all six sides of the surface.

Fake Wood

The ends of the table have light sides that match the color and grain structure of the rest of the piece, indicating that it is made from fiber board and veneer.

Fake Wood

Veneered pieces may also be "framed" in solid wood. If a piece of furniture has a banding around the perimeter, the banding is hiding a veneered fiber board panel.