What Is a Laminated Veneer?

Using Laminated Veneer

• Laminated veneer is commonly used as a surface cover for wood projects, furniture and other articles. With the correct adhesive, a veneer sheet can stick to plastic, fiberglass or metal. Most of these sheets come with a layer of special glue and a protective backing sheet, ready to install, even on articles with a curved surface. Depending on the application, though, you can also find laminated veneer without adhesive to use mainly in a shop environment, since they require special tools to apply to the intended surface.

Types of Veneer Sheets

• You can find three basic types of veneer sheets to meet your project needs: Thin, 10-mil paperback veneer sheets are common for commercial use. They are cheap, come without adhesive, and require special presses during the application process. Ready-to-use veneer sheets with phenolic backing are aimed for general use even on projects with an irregular surface. 2- and 3-ply veneer sheets offer the characteristics and relative flexibility of thinner sheets, can be applied to curved surfaces as well, but have the added benefit of a longer service life.

Laminated Veneer Styles

• Laminated veneer sheets come in a variety of grain-pattern styles and colors to match almost any piece of furniture and decorating needs around your home: Soft, hard, mottled and burl grain patterns are mixed with light, brown and dark colors.

Laminated Veneer for Home Projects

• With ready-to-use laminated veneer, you can give almost any look you want to wood projects and unfinished furniture. You can restore cabinets, kitchen tops, doors and other surfaces. Once installed, you can sand, stain, varnish, apply shellac or your favorite finish to veneer just like you would on any other regular wood surface.

Laminated Veneer for Construction

• Laminated veneer, however, is not only a protective, ornamental piece. Several pieces of laminated veneer can be assembled and bonded permanently in a thick piece of wood called laminated veneer lumber to use in building structures. LVL offers several advantages over natural wood: It preserves a natural grain pattern, offers higher strength and stability than regular wood; it resists warping and shrinking, and provides a longer service life. Thus, it can be used in place of steel beams in some cases.