Making the Grade
Attention to application

We're best known among architects and designers for our high-end "architectural" veneers.

But the truth is, we buy immense volumes of veneer for door manufacturers, the contract furniture industry, the woodworking industry, and more.

Not every architectural job requires architectural-grade veneer--that is, AA veneer with consistent color, figure, and grain throughout the sizable lengths and widths and volumes needed for large-scale architectural use.

Grade A panel, door, and furniture veneers will often do the job well, for much less, without sacrificing design intent or quality. Often, the only difference is the size of the leaves--and in some projects, that won't matter a bit.

And, the price savings can be dramatic. Take Cherry, for example. Grade A panel cherry costs about half as much as Grade AA architectural cherry. And Grade A door cherry can be half as much again. Either could be well suited for architectural use. Take furniture grade veneer, it's perfectly suited to smaller projects, or smaller elements of a project. And it's exactly the same quality as architectural grade, but it costs half as much because the leaves may be shorter or narrower, limiting its use for some applications. Panel grade stock is ideal for the back side of panels (panels are backed with the same specie as the face for structural integrity) where the veneer won't show. When these grades work, they work hard for a fraction of the cost of architectural veneer.

In fact, most projects offer opportunities to value engineer using a blend of grades. Talk to us about your needs as early as possible in the process. We can put together a package that meets the requirements of your project, and saves you money at the same time. Give us a call. We're here to help!