Why and How to Specify Architectural Veneer

Why Veneer?

Wood Veneer is a natural material, a renewable resource. Its beauty comes from nature, not interfered by man.

The biggest volume of high quality hardwoods originates in less developed countries in the tropical regions. For many of them the sale of hardwood products is a major source of income.

The timber hungry developed countries and the timber growing nations recently awoke to the challenge the we have to maintain timber as a renewable resource. Protection of our environment is the issue. All of this means that we have to handle timber products very carefully, cut dwon waste, choose species carefully and specify with the utmost expertise.

How to Specify Architectural Veneer

1. The first step is generally to decide the species to be used. Contact Rice Veneer and Lumber Company to assist you in your choice. Give them your idea about:
   1. general design idea
   2. range of budget
   3. general color
   4. grain character
   5. length and width of panels
   6. required square footage
2. Rice veneer and Lumber company will provide you with type samples of various veneer options.
3. Once you have narrowed down your selection to a specific species and character of your choice, we will provide samples and prices together with tallies of specific available flitches. As a precaution, the architect should always insist on samples and should not specify a product simply because it is referred to as “architectural grade.” Also beware not to specify from too small a type sample.
4. You will now choose a specific flitch from the sample collection. Each flitch has a number through all the bundles, like a social security number, which only represents that particular flitch. At this point you might consider visiting Rice Veneer and Lumber Company’s Showroom to inspect the veneer, bundle by bundle. This is the most professional method to choose veneer, to satisfy your taste and specification.
5. You might want to specify the number of leaves to be used per panel face. Parts of the flitch can be allocated to various locations. In addition parts of the flitch can be allocated for furniture requirements. In conjunction with the foregoing, the type of panel and elevation match should be selected. This determines the final appearance of a wall. It should also be mentioned that special matches are possible. In some strongly grained stocks, a prominent grain feature can change its locations on the sheets of veneer gradually, usually it moves up or down the leaves.
6. In the panel elevation this means that it will make a slope up or slope down on the wall. To correct this, it is possible to start an elevation match in the center of the wall and work in both directions, thereby balancing the panels.
7. After you select the veneer you should include the following in the bidding specification:
   1. Name the supplier; Rice Veneer and Lumber Company and the flitch members which the woodworker has to use. This way you are absolutely assured that the woodwork will mirror your selection and design. We will give all the woodworkers the same price we quote you.
   2. Once a project is awarded to a specific architectural woodworker, a small finished sample panel should be provided for your approval and protection. It is made out of the veneer from the flitch you have chosen.
   3. All sapwood, shake, open defect, worm holes, and discoloration shall be eliminated from the final panel.
   4. No more than one flitch shall be used per elevation and shall conform to the designer’s assignment.
   5. For example: panels shall be book matched, and center balance matched. Elevations shall be sequenced and blue print matched.
   6. Panels shall contain no more than “X” leaves per face.
   7. Where designated, furniture pieces will be fabricated from (species and grain pattern) as supplied by (vendor).
   8. At times there are special conditions imposed by local building codes and fire codes which also need to be considered. A common condition require is that of flame spread rating. This can determine the species of wood allowed in a given area, since all species do not carry the same flame spread rating.
   9. At this point you also have to determine the type of finish. There are a great variety of finishes, for example: high gloss polyester, open pore lacquer, matte finish. Ask your woodworker. Various finishes can bring out grain patterns of wood more or less.
   10. You also have to consider if there are any acoustical needs which have to be addressed.
   11. From the point of cost, it is important to remember the more complicated the installation, the more costly it becomes. In any event, the face veneer is the least costly item and most often less than 5% of the installed panel costs, and much less in terms of cabinet and furniture work.

All above suggestions are for your protection. From this you can write a controlled specification.