Have you ever been shopping online or at a furniture store and wondered if that “walnut end table” is really walnut? Especially when you check the price tag and wonder if it’s worth it?  

It turns out that this is a common experience. We live in a time where home goods made with genuine, natural materials are becoming more and more of a rarity. You’ve likely experienced this when looking for doors, chairs, tables, or dressers. 

To make matters worse, sometimes the way wood products are labeled? Deliberately confusing. For instance, some manufacturers will try to call particle board or bamboo “solid wood.” But that’s likely not how you’d define it yourself. (Never mind the fact that bamboo is a grass, not a tree, so it’s not wood at all!) 

Understanding just what you’re getting these days is a minefield.  

But if you’re able to verify that you have a true, real solid wood product, you can have peace of mind. You can also be fairly certain that the product is made in a more traditional way, informed by a lineage of craftsmanship. We’re here to help you tell the difference between solid wood and veneer, and explain the advantages of each product type.  

Advantages of solid wood 

Longevity  

If you happen to have an ‘heirloom’ piece of furniture, in many cases it’s solid wood because of how long solid wood lasts. Solid wood products are not built just to conform to the latest trend. They really are meant to last generations.  

Ease of maintenance 

Solid wood lasts because it can be maintained. Unlike veneer, which is more vulnerable to water damage or scratches that can’t be repaired, solid wood can be restored and maintained.  

The principle tenet of good wood maintenance is regular cleaning (always with a dedicated wood soap or castille soap, never harsh or abrasive chemicals). You’ll also want to touch up the finish, depending on the type of product and how much wear and tear it’s exposed to. For low-touch items like bookcases or furniture, you may go decades without needing to re-finish. Whereas for cutting boards or countertops, quarterly re-oiling is probably needed. Exterior doors fall somewhere in between, likely needing refinishing every 2-6 years depending on their exposure to direct sunlight, local weather conditions, and the kind of finish they were originally sealed with.  

Advantages of veneer 

Veneer’s main positive aspect is its lower price. It offers a more accessible alternative to solid wood that is still a more elevated option than laminate, which is plastic masquerading as wood. Veneer is technically still wood, albeit a very thin layer. Veneer is most suitable for low-touch applications not subject to daily use.  

How to tell if something is solid wood vs veneer 

Weight 

Solid wood products are usually heavier than their veneer counterparts. While there are occasional exceptions with wood species like Western Red Cedar that are very lightweight, in general, solid wood feels...well...solid.  

Grain Pattern 

Look closer at the grain pattern. Do you see identically repeating patterns along the face of the wood, especially on the panels? Then it is definitely veneer. Solid wood has subtle variation throughout, and no two boards are exactly alike. If the wood has knots, the knots should be the same on both sides of the product, going all the way through to the other side. 

Presence of End Grain 

Another key differentiator is whether or not the product has any visible end grain. Veneer products do not have end grain and instead continue edge grain patterning across the edges, whereas real wood will have end grain.  

Glue Lines 

Real solid wood has glue lines spaced about ten inches apart (though this can vary based on the type of product and design). This represents the true width of real wood boards. Veneer, on the other hand, is frequently far wider than that, because it's applied more like a sheet of paper.   

(Notice the glue line that runs along the vertical leg of this Hickory door.)

Carvings  

You can’t carve veneer, period. So any component of a wood product with carvings in it has to be made from solid wood.

Dovetails, Dowels, or Screws 

Another differentiator is how the piece was joined together. Solid wood furniture  drawers are likely to have dovetail joints. Another tell is the presence of dowels (a round wooden piece that joins two other pieces together) or screws where the wood is joined together. If instead you see nails or staples? Then you know it’s veneer or laminate.  

A Note About Antiques 

A lot of antique furniture is solid wood. You may also encounter veneered elements within antique furniture. In those cases, it is less of a reflection on the quality of the piece than it is for contemporary pieces. You’ll most commonly see veneers on antique desktops and drawer fronts, as inlaid pieces that contrast with the wood frame around it.   

The RealCraft Promise  

All of our exterior doors are 100% solid wood, true timber, completely free of veneer. We never use veneers on any product. Whatever wood species you order, that’s literally what you’re getting. The same is true for our Butcher Block countertops.  

This eliminates the worry and confusion that veneer can create. You know that if your door gets scratched or water-stained, you can repair it. You know that you can count on it to last. It will also continue to add value to your home, as a luxury-grade piece that elevates any facade.  

We build with solid wood because we believe you deserve home goods that last.