Problems With Veneer? A Few Tips For Applying It Right

Veneers – thin slices carved-out from the stem or even the bark of a tree – are often touted as the eco-friendly alternative to solid hardwood. However, veneer application can be a tricky business, even for the connoisseurs of the trade. Don’t let your worries wander anymore. The #SurfacesReporter team, through interactions with some of the major veneer brands and architects, is glad to bring a few exclusive tips and tricks on the process of applying the favoured material.

BEFORE APPLICATION

The foremost job is to decide which application method one wishes to opt for. “There are many different ways for applying wood veneers and the four most common methods are hammer veneering, veneering with a hydraulic press, veneering with a vacuum press and veneering with contact cement”, says Ar raja, Founder, raja Architects, Hyderabad. Though all these methods follow the almost similar dos and don’ts’ for their application procedure, one needs to be extra careful, right from start to finish in order to get the best results out.

Storing the Veneer Properly

One should also keep the product (veneer) to be applied in an appropriate environment as to further make them ‘application ready’. “Before installation, the veneer should be allowed to “climatize” with the substrate in the same environment for about a minimum of 48 hours”, Ar Raja adds. He also advises that it would be best to finish the veneer when the humidity is less than 51% to prevent it from absorbing unnecessary moisture. Though, no matter how hard we try, at times even the best of protocols mess-up. So in case, you skipped the above step and could not prevent your sheet from absorbing moisture, Ar Shantanu Garg, Founder, Shantanu Garg Design, Jaipur has a remedy for your soggy/loose veneer problems. “You can repair the loose veneer without cracking it or causing any damage by placing the hot iron on a moist cloth on the veneer so that the veneer could be released easily,” says Ar Garg.

Choosing the Right Adhesive