When it comes to wood veneer wallcovering, the type of wood is only one factor in the final appearance of your new walls. The way the wood is sliced and the panels are matched can create even more new looks and exciting new options for wood wallcoverings. Here is what you need to know about SanFoot’s methods of wood veneer matching.
Slicing Techniques
High-quality veneer begins with a well-chosen log, which is then sliced to create the desired pattern. At Jacaranda, we have a patented slicing process that enables us to get three times as much wood from each log, and we use a variety of techniques to achieve a range of beautiful looks, including:
Plain Sliced
This is a popular cut performed parallel to the center of the log. The result is a combination of grain patterns, including the cathedral and straight grain patterns, and this combination creates an attractive pattern that progresses naturally from one leaf to the next.
Quarter Slicing
This technique involves cutting through the log and parallel to the radius line. This often results in narrow leaves with a series of fine stripes that vary in degree, intensity, and thickness depending on the species.
Rift Cut
Rift cut veneers are cut just off the radius lines, which minimizes or eliminates the flake that occurs with quarter sliced veneer.
Rotary Cut
Rotary cutting veneer refers to slicing or peeling the veneer from the log much like you would remove paper from a roll. This results in large sheets of veneer with random grain patterns.
Popular Types of Matching
Once the veneer is cut, the sheets are transformed to veneer through a special process. The new wood veneer wallcovering sheets are then ready for matching.
Book Matching
This is the most common type of matching in the wood veneer industry. With book matching, alternating pieces of veneer are flipped or turned over so that the pieces resemble the open pages of a book. The resulting pattern is pleasingly symmetrical, and the grain’s continuity is preserved at the joint line. Book matching is most commonly used with flat, quarter, or rift-cut veneers.
Block Planking
This type of matching is used when a natural lumber effect is desired. With block planking, leaves of varying lengths are carefully arranged to achieve a deliberately mismatched effect. End joints are located on the face of the wood.
Random Matching Full Length Plank
As the name suggests, random matching wood veneer involves randomly placing leaves next to each other to create a board-by-board effect. We can random match veneer with diverse widths or the same width boards, depending on the desired results.
Slip Matching
In slip matching, the veneer leaves are placed according to the sequence of the panels. The leaves are not flipped but are instead slipped one over the other to expose the same face across the piece. Slip matching creates a pattern without visual grain matching and is popular with quarter or rift-sliced veneers.
Jacaranda has been crafting fine wood veneers for more than 40 years and is a leading manufacturer of real wood products. Contact us to learn more about SanFoot or to schedule a visit with a member of our design team
