Veneer is a thin coating used to cover the surface of a solid material. Made from real wood we carry veneer in all the same species of our stair treads. Veneer can be used for a larger variety of projects such as furniture making, cabinet refacing, architectural panels, marine and aircraft interiors, and nearly any material that needs extra flare and beauty. Veneer can drastically alter the appearance of any kitchen, dinning room, or just about any other room in your home. Wood veneer can also be used for refacing stair risers but cannot be used on the surface of a stair tread. For the appropriate materials needed for installing over stair treads check out our retro fit stair tread page by clicking here.Wood veneer comes in a variety of flexibilities and strengths. Veneer's flexibility is determined by the backer used. A backer is a thin layer of paper based material that is on the underside of the wood surface. The varieties of backers available on our website are:
10 mil Paperbacked Veneer: Recommended for use with a vacuum press, hot or cold hydraulic press or ironing with wood glue. This is our most flexible veneer and it is capable of bending with the direction of the grain to a 1/2" radius. Available in all species.
22 mil Bubble Free Veneer: A superior quality flexible wood veneer. Bubble free veneer is composed of five layers
Your veneer
Melamine/resin acrylic
Center paper
Melamine/resin acrylic
Bottom paper
Each layer adds stability to the veneer without sacrificing flexibility. This backer is both flexible and sandable and can be used to cover underlying imperfections and its multiple layers block moisture interaction. This backer can be applied with contact cement for those who do not have pressing capabilities. Bubble free veneer is a little more stiff than our 10 mil paperback veneer but is still capable of bending in the direction of the grain to a 1/2" radius.
Phenolic Backed Veneer: Ideal usage with surfaces that are less than perfect or used in circumstances when extra durability and stability are required. Phenolic backing is of the same quality sheet veneers as our 10 mil and 22 mil paperback veneers with a durable resin saturated paper backing. It is a stiffer backing however and can bend at approximately a 1 1/2" radius. Available in most species.
3-ply Wood-On-Wood Veneer: Very good durability and hiding characteristics, much the same as the phenolic, but its flexibility rivals that of the paper backed veneers. Ideal for curved or radius work. Containing a paperback layer in the middle and a flexible wood backer. Our 3-ply wood-on-wood veneer will conform to a 3/4" radius.
Keep in mind that the terms 10 mil and 22 mil refer to the thickness of the backer only and not the overall thickness of the sheet. Thickness of the actual sheet varies from species to species.
Veneer can be stained and sanded like any other wood product. For staining veneer two-part polyurethanes, pre-mixed polyurethanes, acrylic urethanes, natural oil finishes, and shellac seem to yield the best results.
When it comes to installation we recommend the following glues and adhesives:
Urea formaldehyde
White or yellow PVA (wood glue)
Epoxy
It is important to remember that these glues require consistent pressure applied to the surface during cure time. Pressing in a hydraulic or vacuum press are the most effective way to properly install veneer. Although a hydraulic or vacuum press is the preferred method of installation similar results can be achieved with clamping.
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