Friday, August 10, 2012

Reconstituted Veneer - The Natural Alternative


Written by: Michael Richardson - Marketing

When we think of wood veneer, we mostly default to the standard natural wood products that have proven the test of time. There’s no denying their beauty, versatility and popularity. Some veneer substitutes, laminates for example, have been on the market for years, but they lack the beauty and fascination sought after in natural wood characteristics. But what about an alternative that has the look and feel of nature’s veneer yet still offers some important benefits?  Here at States Industries, we field veneer questions on a regular basis but over the last couple of months, one particular type seems to be on the forefront of customers’ minds: reconstituted or engineered veneers.

What are reconstituted veneers?
Reconstituted veneers are an engineered product using real wood, such as obeche, that is rotary sliced, naturally colored with non-toxic dye, stacked and then cut once more to simulate figure, grain, and color seen in their natural veneer counterparts. The picture below of a reconstituted quarter sawn cherry shows the simulated figure and grain.

What are the benefits of reconstituted veneers versus standard veneer?
One of the major benefits of reconstituted veneer is consistency from one sheet to the next. Since hardwood logs are only so large, there’s a limitation to the amount of matched veneer yielded. With reconstituted veneer you can conceivably get matching veneers regardless of quantity needed for a project. Perfect for a large job when consistency is key.

What about cost? Since its engineered does that mean it’s expensive?
Actually one of the benefits is a more favorable cost. Several kinds of exotic hardwoods such as Teak, Wenge, Ebony, and Zebrawood can be cost prohibitive to many, but their reconstituted counterparts may be significantly less expensive.

What about environmental benefits?
Reconstituted veneers are a sustainable alternative to harvesting natural exotic wood species. Also, several reconstituted veneers are offered FSC certified and can help contribute to multiple LEED credits.

Have you used reconstituted veneers in any of your projects? Let us know your thoughts!