Think Twice About Buying A Dining Table With This Label On It

The dining table is a workhorse piece in the home, often used not just for meals, but also as a homework station, a crafting surface, or a game table. With that said, it's important to get a sturdy piece of furniture that will withstand all of those tasks. However, many of us — wanting to find pieces that balance style, longevity, and price — are led to a subpar product that won't last as long in the end. Tables with "wood veneer" labels are one such red flag. Wood veneer is a product that looks incredibly similar to solid wood. However, as Kevin Billings, founder of Dexter & Plaid Interior Design, warns in Southern Living Magazine, that stunning replication is only skin-deep.

As Billings points out, the problem lies in how the piece ages over time. A dining table is a highly trafficked space, and surface "scratches and dings are bound to happen," he stated. In real wood pieces, these scratches age well, creating an antiqued patina. On wood veneer, however, these scratches simply look like damage. Wood veneer itself is just a composite particle board, plywood, or MDF (medium-density fiberboard) covered in a thin layer of wood glued on the exterior, susceptible to unsightly damage. 

Furthermore, repairing scratches on wood veneer is a much more complicated process than restoring solid wood. Unlike wood, which can be sanded down and refinished multiple times, the wood surface of veneer needs to be carefully cut out, reglued, and re-stained to match the rest of the surface, leaving very little margin for error. Don't make that mistake with your wood furniture, and as Billings reflects, "I always recommend spending a little more on a table with a real wood top so that there's less fear about using the table."

Given that you should put down the paintbrush when working with wood veneer, and how difficult it is to repair or upcycle, it's best to steer clear if you're worried about longevity. It can also be susceptible to water, which can cause warping and peeling. Identifying wood veneer can be tricky, though, particularly if you're thrifting vintage wooden furniture. While the "wood veneer" label is a telltale sign, there are plenty of other ways to make sure you're getting a solid piece.

First, look closely at the edges and corners of the table top. Real, solid wood should have a grain that continues around the edges. If you see the end grain on the shorter side of the table, it's likely a solid piece. Meanwhile, wood veneer will have a grain that abruptly stops at the edge, or a banding strip that looks like a horizontal sticker, wrapped around the edges. The grain on the underside of the table top should also match the pattern on the top, if it's a solid piece of wood. Veneer tables will often have plywood or particleboard visible on the underside.

Another visual telltale sign of wood veneer is the uncanny uniformity or repetition in the grain pattern, which occurs during manufacturing. Solid wood has unique knots, swirls, and natural color variations, so no two planks on the table top should look identical. Lastly, employ the "sound check"– tap the center of the table with your knuckle. If the sound is a deep thud rather than a light crack, then signs point to solid wood. Veneer has a higher pitch because it's less dense than real wood. With this checklist in mind, you can score a durable dining table that will last for years to come.