What makers mean by solid wood and veneer
Wood terms are the maker's words. Here is how to read them.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It does not change our guidance. Affiliate Disclosure
Whose words these are
Words such as solid wood, hardwood, veneer, or a wood species in a listing are the maker's description, not ours. We do not check them. Ask the maker what the piece is made of.
The rescinded FTC furniture guides
The Federal Register shows that the FTC rescinded its Guides for the Household Furniture Industry, 16 CFR Part 250, on March 5, 2002 (67 FR 9923). Those guides covered wood-name disclosures. We have found no current FTC furniture guide that defines solid wood.
Veneer
Makers use the term veneer for a thin layer of wood applied over another material. A listing that names a veneer is the maker's description of that piece; ask the maker what is under it.
Questions to ask the maker
Ask what the surfaces, sides, back, and drawer parts are made of, and whether any part is plywood, MDF, or particleboard. The maker's answer is the maker's claim, not ours.
What we do not do
We do not say any product is made of any wood or material, and we do not rate wood or construction.
This is general information, not legal or safety advice.
Sources: Federal Register, Guides for the Household Furniture Industry, 67 FR 9923 (March 5, 2002).
FAQ
General information only. Follow every product label and increase ventilation when you finish, as EPA advises. State fire and health agencies warn that rags used with some oil-based stains and finishes can catch fire on their own: never leave them in a pile, and dry and dispose of them as the label and your local fire officials direct. CPSC says to anchor furniture with drawers, doors, and shelves to the wall. In an emergency, call 911.
Next: plywood and MDF
The TSCA Title VI label.
