There are several of ways that veneer can be cut from a log, each producing its own effects in the grain. Whether you are looking for a dramatic cathedral grain or a minimalist stripe, it is all in the cut.
Character marks are part of the dappled beauty and authenticity of natural materials that are unrepeatable in man-made surfaces. Often, marks highly desired by some are considered defects by others. For many designers the natural appeal of veneer is in its irregularity— the marks that tell the tree's unique history over decades.
Figure is the surface effect of grain and color patterns produced by the natural patterns of growth or biological "defects" in the tree. Not all species produce figured wood, and the effects vary from log to log. Logs with strong, consistent figure often price higher. Some, like burls or bird's eye, are rare and are cut from a small part of the log which increases cost.
Grain is formed by the tree's annual growth rings—it's tight in slow growing trees, widely spaced in fast growth, and variably spaced in trees that grow differently at different times of the year. In veneer, grain appears as the long lines that typically run parallel to each other down the length of the leaf or panel. Grain varies based on the specie, the way it's cut, and whether or not the veneer is figured.
Wood veneer is sliced from the log in various methods, dried and used as a natural and sustainable product in a wide array of industries. Only logs with specific characteristics are selected to produce veneer–it is estimated that less than 5% of all logs harvested are of veneer quality. Raw veneer can be used and finished in many different ways to provide a unique natural effect. Veneer can also be processed and treated to provide additional unique features.
Maintaining the exact sequence of veneer leaves is critical to producing high-quality panels for architectural use. A sequence is a set of veneer leaves that have been stacked in the order in which they were cut from the log. The number of leaves in a sequence varies by species, cut, grain, and yield of the log. Leaves that are out of sequence can produce an irregular pattern and color variance that becomes very apparent on the finished product.
Reference guide of terms used throughout this website and the wood veneer industry; i.e. Bee’s Wing, Book Matching, Cluster, Controlled Wood, Face, Flitch, Fumed, Mottle, Panel Matching, Pecky, Slip Matching, Specification, etc.
Our inventory includes over seventy species, each with unique characteristics and a wide array of variation. The selection process can often be overwhelming and consideration should be given to the following when selecting veneer:
Veneer color tone can vary greatly by species and within the species depending on its cut, preparation and the natural growth process. The spectrum below gives a general visual of this variance and can be used to assist in the veneer search.
Dooge Veneers provides robust support to assist you in project planning with veneer. Since our inception in 1977, we have successfully supplied veneer for thousands of design projects and woodworking industry manufacturers. Our investment in support is on-going and includes:
Dooge Veneers believes in ensuring long-term preservation of the world’s forests through supporting responsible production and market distribution. We believe sustainability occurs when government policy-makers, universally approved stewardship and conservation organizations, and the global forestry industry work together responsibly. That’s why we support and promote the work of organizations committed to finding collaborative, responsible solutions to the problems of deforestation–organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council, the Hardwood Forestry Fund, and the U.S.
Assisting you in achieving LEED certification with wood veneers is a service we provide every day. Our Sales team has the most experience in the industry and we take an active role in assisting you with sustainable design processes from beginning to end. When using wood veneer we recommend the following approach in LEED certified projects:
Dooge Veneers is committed to helping our customers achieve LEED certification for their projects. With an extensive history of sourcing veneers from around the world, our inventory of certified and controlled veneers is among the largest in the market.
Dooge Veneers believes in ensuring long-term preservation of the world’s forests through supporting responsible production and market distribution. We believe sustainability occurs when government policy-makers, universally approved stewardship and conservation organizations, and the global forestry industry work together responsibly.
