Understanding the Differences Between Veneered and Laminated Wood

Before getting into laminated
and veneered wood, let us
first understand industrial
timber and its types.

The timber which is prepared scientifically in a factory is termed
as the industrial timber and such timber possesses desired
shape, appearance, strength etc.
Now let us learn about some varieties of industrial timber:
•These are thin sheets or slices of wood of
superior quality. The thickness of veneer varies
from 0.40 mm to 6 mm or more.
•They are obtained by rotating a log of wood
against a sharp knife of rotary cutter or saw.
•The veneers after being removed are
dried in kilns to remove moisture.
•The Indian timbers which are suitable
for veneers are mahogany, oak,
rosewood, sissoo, teak, etc.

•The veneers may be glued with suitable adhesives on the surface of inferior
wood. The appearance of inferior wood is then considerably improved.
< Fibreboards applied
with veneer on the
surfaces
The most common trees used for obtaining decorative veneers are teak, walnut,
mahogany, maple, oak, cherry, ash, birch, cedar, fir, pine, poplar etc.

•The meaning of the term ply is a thin
layer.
•The plywoods are boards which are
prepared from thin layers of wood or
veneers.
•The three or more veneers in odd
numbers are placed one above the
other with the direction of grains of
successive layers at right angle to
each other.
•They are held in position by
application of suitable adhesives.
•The placing of veneers normal to
each other increases the longitudinal
and transverse strength of plywoods.

•The plywoods are used for various purposes such as ceilings, doors, furniture,
partitions, panelling walls, packing cases, railway coaches, formwork for concrete,
etc.
•The plywoods however are not suitable in situations subjected to direct shocks or
impacts.
•The use of plywood has become very common at present.
•The plywoods are available in different commercial forms such as batten board,
lamin board, multiply (has many layers), three-ply (has three layers), veneered
plywood, etc.

Batten board Multiply Plywood Lamin board
< Veneered Plywood

•These are rigid boards and they are also known as the pressed wood or
reconstructed wood. The thickness varies from 3 mm to 12 mm. They are
available in lengths varying from 3 m to 4.50 m and in widths varying from 1.2 m
to 1.8 m.
•For making these boards, the pieces of wood, cane or other vegetable fibres and
chippings are used.
•Depending upon their form and composition, the Fibre boards are classified as
particle boards, insulating boards, medium density fibreboards, hard boards,
super hard boards etc.
Particle boards or chip boards: These boards
which are also known as low density fibreboards
are made of wood particles or rice husk or
bagasse (remains of sugarcane after crushing),
embedded in resins and subjected to heat with
pressure.
As particle boards provide broad and stable panels
of reasonable strength, they can be sawn like
wood and are mainly used for furniture making.
These are cheapest of LDF, MDF and HDF.

Particleboard is less expensive, denser and more uniform than the usual wood and
plywood and is substituted for them when appearance and durability are less important
than cost.
Insulating Board: Insulation boards (also known as standard boards)
are wooden fibreboards that are designed to offer additional
insulation, sound muting and increase in constructional rigidity in
constructions of interior walls, ceilings and floors.
Advantages of Insulating board:
•100% natural wood fibres
•Additional thermal insulation
•Good sound insulation material
•Supports insulation materials like loose and
blown wool
•Easy to process and install
•Natural and breathable material
•Possible to plaster (board with thickness 25
mm)

MDF Vs Plywood:
•MDF is generally cheaper than plywood.
•Like particle board, MDF will soak up water and other liquids like a sponge and swell
unless it’s very well sealed on all sides and edges. Plywood won’t soak up water and liquids
as quickly or easily as MDF does so it’s less susceptible to water damage.
•The consistency and smoothness of MDF allow for easy cutting of detailed designs which
is why it is ideal where cutting is required. It’s more difficult to cut detailed designs into
plywood (scrolled, scalloped, etc.) because the edges will splinter and the edges that show
layers may have voids in some places.
•MDF is not as strong as plywood and bends or sags under weight.
Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF): MDF is an
engineered wood composite similar to particle
board but much denser and stronger than particle
board. It is made with sawdust and shavings—all
the little bits and pieces of wood that are created
as a byproduct of industrial milling, combining it
with wax and a resin binder and applying high
temperature and pressure to create compressed
rigid panels which are then sanded down by
machines giving them a silky smooth finish.
MDF contains carcinogenic VOCs (eg. urea-
formaldehyde) so care needs to be taken while
cutting and sanding to avoid inhalation of the
particles.

HDF (High Density Fibreboard / Hardboard): HDF is
like MDF in that it is a man-made or engineered wood
composite product that is manufactured from
compressed wood fibres or wood waste from industrial
milling. However, it is a stronger, harder product than
MDF with a typical density of up to 900kg/m³.
•HDF is predominantly used in laminate flooring products
where this density is required, though other uses include
door skins and underlayment.
•HDF is a very thin board, with a typical thickness of
3mm-8mm
•A HDF for flooring cannot be used outside because it
absorbs water. A tempered form of hardboard can resist
moisture and is more durable. It is made by adding oil
that becomes a polymer when the board is formed under
high temperature and pressure. This tempered hardboard
is used in construction siding.

•The Fibre boards form an ideal base for practically all types of decorative
finishes such as distemper, oil paint etc. The hard boards are also suitable for
polish and varnish.
•Several patterns of fibre boards with pre-decorated surfaces are available in the
market and thus the necessity of treating them after fixing in position is
eliminated.
•Among other things, they are used for internal finish of rooms such as wall
panelling, suspended ceilings, etc.
Furniture made from MDF Boards

Now let us learn more about veneered
wood and laminated wood so you can
decide which one you can use in your
home. Then we’ll see what are the
various types of laminates. Amazing
isn’t it how wood can be used as a
building material to construct a house as
well as to furnish its interior?

•Laminates and veneers are the most common finishing materials for furniture
from MDF, particle board, plywood or solid wood.
Now let us look at characteristics of both individually.
As explained before in this
presentation, veneer is
technically a thin layer of
actual wood which is stuck
with adhesive, to a surface
hidden below (substrate)
which may be MDF, particle
board, plywood or solid wood.
Laminate is made by pressing
together thin layers of flat paper and
plastic resins. The upper layer is
printed with a decorative pattern or
colour. It is like a picture of wood that
is bonded on a less expensive wood-
composite usually MDF, particle
board, plywood or solid wood.

Veneers Laminate
Since veneer is a natural material, it
is available in limited number of
shades.
Veneer furniture looks like wood. Its
use gives the furniture aesthetic look
and makes it appear high-end.
In comparison to laminates, veneers
require more maintenance. You should
polish veneer surfaces from time to
time to maintain the look.
A veneer is susceptible to damage in
the presence of water, as water is
known to damage the polish and
eventually the wood surface.
Available in numerous colors and
shades, these can be broadly
classified into textured, high gloss,
soft and matte. Comparatively,
textured laminates replicate the feel of
materials like wood or stone.
There is a synthetic feel attached to
laminates and it lacks the natural feel
and variation of synthetic wood.
Laminates are definitely easier to
maintain. They are not only scratch-
resistant but also retain their look for
years.
Laminates can resist water up to a
certain extent.

Veneers Laminates
If timely polishing and proper care
are taken, veneer can last longer than
laminates.
A veneer can be used in conference
room, luxurious home interiors etc.
since they add aesthetic value and a
distinctive look.
Laminates last only till the top layer is
not damaged. Once the top layer is
worn out, the entire surface has to be
replaced.
Laminates are better choice for
kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, table top,
office furniture, doors and other
frequently used furniture and floorings.

Veneers Laminates
Veneers are a renewable resource
and they go a long way in
economically replacing solid wood
applications.
A veneer can be recycled.
Veneers have less resistance to
abrasion (erosion, corrosion) and
scratches as compared to laminates.
A veneer is a natural material and it
is non toxic.
In case of veneer, depending upon
the polish applied, the surface can be
sanded or repainted to cover warps
and tears.
Laminate sheets contain plastics and
resins. Some resins give off harmful
gases.
Laminates cannot be recycled.
Compared to veneers, the surface of
laminate is hard and resistant to
abrasion and scratches.
Laminates can be toxic as they are
known to emit VOC (Volatile organic
compounds). VOCs have been known
to be carcinogenic or causing cancer.
Laminates cannot be painted or re-
polished.

Veneers Laminates
Veneer sheets are exclusive. Once
the sheet is damaged, similar
replacement is never available.
Veneered wood can be a cheaper
alternative to real wood while still
providing aesthetics of real wood.
The thickness available is 0.4 to 0.6
mm.
Veneers are usually priced higher
than laminates and their maintenance
cost is also higher than laminates.
In case of laminates, similar looking
sheets can be manufactured if needed.
Laminates can’t provide the feel or
aesthetics of a real wood like veneers
do.
 Laminates are available from 0.6
mm to 18 mm.
Laminates are usually pocket friendly
and more affordable as compared to
veneers. The price of laminates
depends upon the quality and brand.
The maintenance cost of laminate is
negligible.

Some images to help the reader understand how veneer or laminate is joined with
the below substrate like plywood, MDF etc. in things like furniture or flooring.

Anatomy of Veneer faced substrate used for veneer faced furniture/flooring
Some images to help the reader understand how veneer or laminate is joined with
the below substrate like plywood, MDF etc. in things like furniture or flooring.

Anatomy of Laminate faced substrate used for laminate faced furniture or flooring
Dear reader, you
can find more such
helpful images by
searching
‘anatomy of
engineered wood’
or ‘anatomy of
laminate floor’ on
google.

The new desk I purchase
will be a veneer finished
one. I want it to look
natural and luxurious. I will
take care of maintenance.
I’ll use most of my saved
money.
I see..
The new desk I purchase
will be a laminate finished
one. I can select from a
variety of colours, don’t
have to maintain it much
and can save most of my
saved money too!
I see..

Whether its furniture or kitchen cabinet shutters, wall panels or flooring materials,
laminates can be used. Laminate is that finishing layer with which people have
been carefully covering their furnishings for dozens of years. This versatile material
comes in multiple types and is widely preferred for both residential and commercial
projects. No matter what one’s project’s interior design needs are, there is always a
laminate to match.
Generally, laminates are classified based on the following:
Usage
Surface Finish
Manufacturing Process
Advanced Properties
Thickness

1. Decorative Laminates: As the name says,
these laminates are purely for decorative
purposes. Available in a wide range of
colours, designs, and textures, they can
easily add attractive and stylish finishes to
various elements like furniture, cabinets, wall
panels, and other installations and bring an
exclusive luxury look to space.
2. Industrial Laminates: These laminates are
specially made for industrial uses and are
durable and highly resistant to wear and
tear.

1. Matt Finish laminates - These laminates give a dull, non-shiny appearance
and hence they give a “matt” effect on the surface. The biggest plus of these
laminates are they make marks and scratches less noticeable with their muted
appearance.
2. Glossy Finish laminates - In contrast to matt finish laminates, these laminates
give a “glossy” or “shiny” effect on the surface.
3. Metallic Finish laminates - These laminates give a metallic look to the furniture
surfaces. They are durable and also make cleaning and maintenance not a
quite big task.
< Matt finish in
kitchen cabinets

4. Texture Finish Laminates- The
laminates that make you feel the
texture on its surface are texture
finish laminates. They are a kind of
decorative laminate which
beautifies the surroundings by
creating impressive impacts.
Image>
4. Solid Colour Laminates - These
are the most common laminates in
which the whole laminate sheet has
one solid colour without any prints
or textures on it. Image>
5. Leather laminate sheets- These
laminates give the look of the
leather material to the surface
where it is used.

1. High Pressure Laminates- High pressure laminates are produced by bonding
the layer of the laminate with the substrate at high pressure. It is considered to
be one of the most durable laminates and hence a good choice for horizontal
surfaces including flooring, and countertops. The highly preferred substrates for
these laminates are plywood and MDF.
2. Low Pressure Laminates- In Low-Pressure Laminate, the layer of laminate is
adhered to the substrate under low pressure. These laminates are relatively less
expensive than high pressure laminates. LPL is commonly used as a finishing
layer for particle board or fibre board (MDF and HDF).
< High pressure
laminates

1. Fire retardant laminates- The laminates which are resistant to fire are Fire
Retardant Laminates. They are treated with special thermosetting resin to
impart this flame retardant property. Because of this property, these laminates
are best suited for giving makeovers without compromising on safety and hence
it is commonly used for interior decoration in fire prone areas.
2. Anti bacterial laminates- The laminates which resist the growth of bacteria are
Antibacterial Laminates. So, it is intended for applications where there is a need
for a high degree of hygiene like hospitals and health care facilities etc.
3. Electrostatic dissipative laminates- These laminates provide a safe
environment for furniture used in electrostatic protected areas.
4. Outdoor UV laminates- These are exterior grade laminates which offer
protection against harmful UV rays. It is commonly used for constructing outdoor
wall cladding and outdoor furniture like lawn chairs, swings, patio benches, and
doors and windows.

1. Regular Laminate sheets- The
laminate sheets that are very thin and
have a thickness ranging from 0.6 mm
to 1.5 mm are regular laminate
sheets. These laminates give a very
natural look to the furniture and are
highly economical.
2. Compact Laminate sheets- The
laminate sheets that have a thickness
ranging from 3 mm to 30 mm are
compact laminate sheets. It is a tough
durable product and can be used for
wall panelling, lab benches, tables,
office furniture, ceiling, wardrobes,
etc.

Understanding the Differences Between Veneered and Laminated Wood

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