Technical

Veneer Panels

Real Wood Timber Veneer & Benefits

Real wood timber veneer consists of a thin layer of natural timber sliced from logs and bonded to a stable engineered substrate, such as moisture-resistant MDF.

Unlike synthetic laminates or printed vinyl, real timber veneer offers the genuine texture, warmth, and natural grain variation of solid timber. Compared to solid timber boards, timber veneer panels are far more dimensionally stable, less prone to warping or splitting, lighter in weight, and significantly more cost-effective while delivering the exact visual depth of solid wood.

  • Authentic Appearance: 100% natural timber face showing unique grain and color.

  • Stability: Engineered backing prevents seasonal expansion, twisting, and cracking.

  • Weight & Handling: Lighter sheet weights (e.g., Touchwood panels weigh approx. 8.3kg/m²) make transport and installation simpler.

Timber veneer wall and ceiling panels provide an affordable way to bring natural timber into interior spaces without the structural weight, high cost, or installation complexity of solid wood.

Key benefits of using real wood timber veneer panels include:

  • Biophilic Design & Wellbeing: Integrating natural wood elements into interior spaces is proven to improve acoustic comfort and foster a sense of wellbeing.

  • Versatile Application: Suitable for feature walls, timber ceiling cladding, bedheads, island benches, and joinery.

  • Ease of Installation: Tongue-and-groove systems allow panels to cover large wall or ceiling surfaces quickly with minimal visible joinery.

  • Cost Efficiency: Delivers a luxury architectural aesthetic at a fraction of the cost of solid timber panelling.

Yes, Touchwood Veneer Panels are an eco-friendly wall panelling solution made using PEFC-certified native Australian timber veneers sourced from sustainably managed forests.

By slicing native Australian species like Tasmanian Oak and Blackwood into thin veneers, timber veneer maximizes log yield—producing significantly more surface area per tree compared to solid timber cutting. Touchwood panels also utilize PEFC-certified moisture-resistant MDF backing, ensuring environmental responsibility from substrate to surface.

Applications (Wall Panels, Ceiling Panels & Joinery)

Because Touchwood panels feature an 8.3kg/m² sheet weight and standard tongue-and-groove jointing, they can be securely fixed overhead onto ceiling battens or existing plasterboard structures using construction adhesive and brad nails. Running timber panelling across ceilings creates warmth, adds visual length to a room, and creates a seamless wall-to-ceiling architectural flow.

Touchwood timber veneer panels are versatile interior cladding boards ideal for residential and commercial feature walls, timber ceilings, bedheads, kitchen island bench cladding, and joinery fronts.

With a classic 100mm VJ (Vertical Joint) groove profile, Touchwood panels suit both traditional VJ panelling styles and contemporary minimalist interiors. They can be installed vertically to increase perceived ceiling height or horizontally for a modern, expansive feel.

Design Tip: Pair Touchwood Veneer Panels with matching 20mm x 10mm solid timber mouldings (available in Tasmanian Oak and Blackwood) for clean transitions around skirtings, cornices, and edge trims.

Touchwood Products Specifications & Options

Touchwood Veneer Panels feature real Australian native timber faces available in Tasmanian Oak and Blackwood, pressed onto either a Natural or Black moisture-resistant MDF backing board.

  • Tasmanian Oak: Offers light, warm blonde tones with subtle, straight grain patterns—ideal for Scandinavian, coastal, and modern Australian interior design styles.

  • Blackwood: Provides rich, warm golden-to-reddish-brown tones with dramatic grain movement for a luxury, high-end feature.

  • Natural MDF Core: Creates a traditional uniform wood shadow line in the 100mm VJ groove.

  • Black MDF Core: Features a pre-dyed black substrate that creates a sharp, modern black shadow line in each groove without requiring delicate painting.

Feature Specification Details
Substrate 9mm PEFC-Certified Moisture-Resistant (MR) MDF
Veneer Options Genuine Tasmanian Oak or Blackwood
Backing Colors Natural MDF Core or Black MDF Core
VJ Groove Width 100mm distance between grooves
Jointing System Tongue & Groove (Matching Natural or Black tongues supplied)
Natural Core Sizes 2420mm x 1212mm (Lengths up to 2720mm, 3020mm, 3620mm)
Black Core Sizes 2440mm x 1212mm (Lengths up to 3040mm)
Sheet Weight Approx. 8.3 kg/m²

Installation, Finishing & Care

Yes, Touchwood Veneer Panels can be fixed directly over existing plasterboard walls using a continuous bead of construction adhesive and 16-gauge brad nails.

For new build framework or wall studs (spaced at 450mm centers), panels can be glued and nailed directly to studs or battens. When installing over masonry or brickwork, timber battens must first be fixed to the wall to create a flat, square fixing frame. Always allow a 4mm–10mm expansion gap at top and bottom perimeters during installation.

Touchwood Veneer Panels are supplied raw, allowing you to coat them on-site with clear oils, waxes, stains, or polyurethanes in matt, satin, or gloss finishes.

Because real wood timber veneer absorbs finishes identically to solid timber:

  • Hardwax Oils & Waxes: Maintain the natural tactile feel and matte aesthetic of raw Australian hardwoods.

  • Clear Polyurethane: Delivers high durability and scratch resistance for high-traffic walls or commercial installations.

  • Timber Stains: Allow custom tinting while keeping the authentic wood grain visible.

Note: Finishing can be completed before or after installation depending on project convenience.

 

Maintaining real wood timber veneer panels involves regular dusting with a soft microfibre cloth and gentle cleaning with a damp cloth.

Avoid harsh chemical cleaners, abrasive scrubbing pads, or soaking wet sponges. For long-term care, follow the maintenance guidelines of the specific surface coating applied (e.g., re-oiling hardwax oil finishes periodically or wiping polyurethane-coated surfaces with mild timber-safe soap solutions).

The colours shown on this are indicative only and may vary due to screen or printing inconsistencies. When selecting colours, consumers should also consider that as timber is a natural material, minor variation of colour tone may be evident throughout the product.