Solid vs. Veneer

As you shop for a China cabinet, one debate you may hear a lot about is solid vs. veneer. Some people believe that furniture made entirely from one solid wood piece is best. Others contend that greater advantages are acquired from a furniture veneer, i.e. a thin, exterior layer of wood glued or bonded to a different interior wood. Here are the facts that will allow you to make your own decision.

Solid
The popularity of solid wood furniture could be as much a matter of humanity as manufacturing quality. We like to know that the appearance of something is the same as what's inside. A solid China cabinet thus suggests strength and integrity and tradition.

Solid China cabinets also have a few practical advantages. They're easily refinished, for example. However, a solid wood China cabinet is going to be heavier and harder to move than a veneer piece.

Veneer
Much of the furniture produced today uses veneers, and contrary to what you might think, that's arguably a good thing. Modern manufacturing techniques have evolved to the point that veneers can even make your wood furniture not only more beautiful, but also more durable.

For example, a solid China cabinet is going to weather and change shape as it ages. Chances are as the wood responds to temperature and humidity that it's going to warp or crack. Modern veneer techniques can combat the effects of aging on wood by setting multiple wood plies at alternating degrees to one another. Each ply would push against the other as they age, thus maintaining a stable furniture exterior.

A China cabinet veneer also permits the use of highly figured and beautifully grained veneer woods that would prove too costly or difficult to use in production of solid wood pieces.

The negative perception of veneer furniture can at times be justified. Shoddy techniques and poor materials can result in cracking or separation between the veneer and interior wood. At ChinaCabinets.com, we use the finest quality wood veneers, so you can rest assured that your china cabinet will be both beautiful and durable.