Furnierholz

Furnierholz, or veneer wood, is a thin sheet of wood that is bonded to a solid or engineered core to provide the appearance and texture of a high-quality species at a lower cost and with improved dimensional stability. Veneers are commonly used to decorate plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fibreboard (MDF), as well as in furniture, cabinetry, and interior panels.

Veneer production involves peeling or slicing a log to produce sheets that are typically 0.2 to 3 millimeters thick. The most common methods are rotary cutting, plain slicing, and half-round cutting. After production, veneers are dried and sorted by grain, color, and quality. They are then glued to the core using adhesive systems such as urea-formaldehyde or phenol-resin resins and heat-pressed to form a durable composite.

Veneers vary in appearance and may be natural or highly figured. Plain-sliced, rotary-cut, or quarter-sawn veneers create different grain patterns, while bookmatching or slip-mating techniques pair consecutive sheets to produce mirrored designs. Species choices range from common timbers such as oak, walnut, maple, and birch to more exotic woods, often selected for color, figure, and texture.

Key applications include decorative panels for furniture, doors, wall coverings, and interior architecture. Advantages of furnierholz include aesthetic versatility, durable surface finish, and the ability to achieve the look of expensive woods on cheaper substrates. Disadvantages can include susceptibility to delamination if poorly bonded, the need for skilled finishing, and costs tied to high-quality veneers and sustainable sourcing.

Sustainability considerations typically emphasize responsible forestry management and certifications such as FSC or PEFC to assure responsible sourcing of veneer-grade logs.