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Terms are in alphabetical order: (A-L) (M-Z)
Backing
- The lowest grade veneer which is generally only used for non-visible
surfaces.
Barber poling
- A distinguishable appearance of alternative
light and dark color differences in a sequence of veneer leaves on a
specific panel. Much like the now mostly historical red and white
spinning device displayed on the exterior of barber shops. Most common
in wood species such as maple and cherry when Book matched and the
front and back of the veneer leaves are exposed alternatively. To avoid
this look specify Slip match.
Book Match
- A procedure by which successive veneer leaves are glued alternately
with the front and the rear side exposed to retain a mirror-inverted
sequence.
Bundle
- A grouping of leaves of veneer, generally in sequence, generally
24-32 leaves.
Burl
- A term for veneers which are produced from the burl formation. Burls
grow above ground (Elm, Ash, Oak, Redwood) Root Burl develops below
ground in the root (California Walnut, Madrone, Myrtle).
Composites
- chips, particulates and/or thinly sliced wood fibers mechanically
pressed and chemically bonded together to create products such as
plywood, MDF or particle-board utilized primarily as substrates for
wood veneer and laminates, sheathing, sub-floors and concrete forms.
Edgeband
- Thin strips of veneer, solid lumber, pvc or other substrate used to
cover the
exposed edges of panel substrates. This veneer is usually available in
rolls of various length
and comes either pre-glued or unglued.
Figure
- Clearly visible and more or less regular streaks running across the
grain in different species of wood (i.e. Sycamore, Macore, Ash) The
more consistent and bolder these streaks are, the more valuable the
veneer. Click
here for more information.
Flake
- The typical figuring of wood when the medullary rays are cut across
i.e. at an angle of 180 degrees when slicing. Particularly pronounced
in the Oak family.
Flitch
- A particular partially processed, singularly identifiable, parcel of
lumber or veneer.
Grain
- The arrangement or direction of fibers, layers or particles of wood.
“Green”
- A colorful term used to indicate environmental or ecological
awareness.
Green washing
-The act of advertising or making un-substantiated claims regarding the
practices, positive environmental impacts and/or benefit of utilizing
the services or products of a company.
LEED
- The LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating
System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for
developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S.
Green Building Council representing all segments of the building
industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution.
LEED standards are currently available or under development for:
• New commercial construction and major renovation projects (LEED-NC)
• Existing building operations (LEED-EB)
• Commercial interiors projects (LEED-CI)
• Core and shell projects (LEED-CS)
• Homes (LEED-H)
• Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND)
Lumber
- solid wood and veneer used for structural and visible surfaces such
as: framing, interior finish and furnishings.
Medullary Ray - The medullary ray is an arrangement of cellular structure in a tree which radiates out from the center to the perimeter of the log; perpendicular to the growth ring line. It is in some evidence in veneer of various species. Oaks and American Sycamore and Lacewood have characteristically heavy medullary ray growth, and the flake figure in these woods is the result.
Pin Knot - A knot less than 1/4” in diameter which shows a distinct center portion. It is merely a very small branch growth which did not develop for one reason or another.
Ply - A term referring to any layer of veneer in a piece of plywood. A 3-ply panel has three layers of veneer; 5-ply has five layers, etc.
Pommele - The term given to a regular veneer marking which resembles apples. From the French word “Pommelé” (Pomme=Apple).
Reconstituted Veneer - A man-made veneer which uses real wood fiber with natural colorants to simulate various color, figure and grain seen in real wood veneers.
Reveal - A channel, gap or spacing, a distinct break of a continuous plain often used to cleanly finish seams and/or differentiate between multiple panels.
Sequence - The following of one thing after another in chronological, casual, or logical order. Specifically, the layout or order for placement of veneer leaves on a panel, and then again of panels.
Sheathing - Protective covering consisting, for example, of a layer of boards applied to the studs and joists of a building to strengthen it and serve as a foundation for a weatherproof exterior.
Slip Match - A procedure by which successive veneer leaves are glued with the only front side exposed.
Substrate - A material upon the surface of which an adhesive-containing substance is spread for any purpose, such as bonding or coating; for wood veneer applications generally MDF.
Sustainable Forestry - the practice of planning and selectively harvesting a forest to ensure the long term viability of the forest and the uninterrupted development of the ecosystem as well as the community that resides with the forest in question.
Sustainable Harvest - The practice of utilizing land to generate a seasonal agricultural product, in this instance planting a forest, the crop being timber. This generally involves selectively orchestrating the environment to maximize the yield of trees, and may potentially involve the use of herbicides, pesticides, seasonal clear cutting, single species selection, and does not necessarily include any consideration for other environmental, social or community considerations.
Veneer - A thin leaf or layer of a more valuable or beautiful material for overlaying an inferior one, especially such a thin leaf of wood to be glued to a less expensive wood-“substrate”
