By Pearlman Veneers

There is nothing like the sensation of running your fingers across a wooden surface. Embedded within the grained texture is a nostalgic warmth that simply cannot be mimicked by synthetic imitations.


One cannot dispute the elegance and class that is birthed by natural products. Our senses are enticed by the aroma and exclusivity of natural woodgrain designs. This sensation can only be found by products produced by mother nature herself. One cannot substitute the originality of nature’s design. It is as Jiddu Krishnamurti once said, “If you lose touch with nature, you lose touch with humanity”.

In woodworking, a veneer is a ‘paper thin’ cut of wood that can be bound to a strong core substrate such as Chipboard or Medium Density Fibre (MDF) Board, in order to seal or give it a decorative finish. Veneered boards are used to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, shopfitting and furniture.

Historically, veneers date back to nearly 4 000 years ago, when ancient Egyptians used veneers on their furniture and mummy coffins. The Egyptians are believed to be the pioneers of wood veneers. During the 17th century the crafting of veneers became more refined as the tools modernised.

Thinner blades were developed which made cutting thinner sheets of veneer possible, thus resulting in a wider technical designs and inlays of veneers. By the 18th century the cutting of veneers had improved dramatically leading to changes in the construction of veneer patterns. By the end of the 19th century, thin veneer was extremely popular and formed an integral part of the furniture and carpentry industry we know today.

“If you lose touch with nature, you lose touch with humanity”.

Besides the organic beauty of veneer, there are numerous benefits that one should consider:

  • Veneer is a cost-effective option that provides the look, feel and beauty of a solid natural wood grain.
  • Veneer can be sanded and refinished. You can easily give your veneer furniture or surfaces an updated look.
  • Veneer is considered to be an environmentally friendly surface as it is considered to maximise the material obtained from a single log (greater surface cover per log). This also allows craftsman to match grains and create an entire surface from one tree. This is virtually impossible with solid wood.
  • Veneer has unique, woodgrain designs that cannot be mimicked. Each log has its own ‘fingerprint’ that allows for your surface or furniture design to be one of a kind.
  • Easy maintenance.

Veneer is an art that has been shaped and perfected throughout the centuries. Pearlman Veneers is a premium manufacturer and distributor of quality veneered boards, natural and reconstituted veneer bundles and layons. Pearlman Veneers hosts an incredible range of local and imported veneer and are considered to be market leaders for premium quality and price.