When you’re managing a large-scale fit-out or joinery contract, the success of the project often comes down to the quality of your suppliers, and how clearly you communicate with them.
Veneering is a specialist area, and when you’re dealing with volume, precision and deadlines, the last thing you need is a misunderstanding about materials, timings or finish.
At Read Veneers, we work with joinery firms and fit-out contractors across the south east, many of whom are juggling complex schedules and multiple suppliers.
Over the years, we’ve learned that the stronger the brief, the smoother the process – and the better the result. From helping us quote accurately, to ensuring your finished panels meet spec first time, a clear brief saves time, reduces errors, and helps build a strong working relationship.
In this guide, we’ll outline what to include when briefing a veneering partner for a commercial project – whether you’re ordering 50 panels or 500.
1. Provide Full Project Details
The more context you can give us about your project, the better. We do not need every detail upfront, but a basic overview really helps us understand what you’re aiming for and how we can support you.
Let us know what type of project you’re working on – for example a hotel, an apartment development, a retail space, or something else. It’s also useful to explain where the veneered panels will be used. Are they for doors, walls, cabinetry, or bespoke furniture?
Even if your numbers aren’t final, a rough idea of quantity and dimensions at this stage allows us to check capacity, provide a realistic lead time, and give you a more accurate quote.
2. Specify Your Veneer Preferences
There’s a lot of choice when it comes to wood veneers, so the more you can tell us about your preferences, the easier it is for us to match the right material to your spec.
Start with the veneer species – are you after something classic like oak or walnut, or looking for a more unusual or exotic finish, like olive ash burr, elm cluster or mahogany curl? Next, let us know how you’d like the veneer cut and matched. Options like book matching or slip matching can really affect the visual outcome, especially on larger runs.
We’ll also need to know how you want the panels finished – raw, lacquer-ready, or something else. We’re happy to offer advice across all of these choices if you’re not sure what’s best for your project.
3. Share Timescales and Site Requirements
Timelines are everything on commercial projects, and knowing your schedule early on helps us plan production and delivery to suit.
If you’ve got a specific deadline in mind – or if the job needs to be completed in phases – let us know. We’re used to working to tight timescales and can often accommodate fast turnarounds, but it’s always easier when we can plan ahead.
If you need panels delivered in batches, for example with weekly drops to site, we can work with that too. And if there are any delivery restrictions – limited access, specific drop-off windows, or handling requirements – just give us a heads-up so we can make sure everything runs smoothly on the day.
4. Detail Any Technical or Compliance Specs
Commercial fit-outs often come with technical requirements that need to be factored in from the start. Let us know if your panels need to meet specific standards, such as fire ratings, moisture resistance, or particular substrate types.
If your project requires tight tolerances, edging details, or certification, we’ll make sure these are built into the production process. It’s also helpful to know if any third parties need to approve samples or finishes – such as architects or project managers – as this can affect lead times.
The earlier we know what’s needed, the more efficiently we can plan your job and avoid any last-minute surprises.
5. Be Clear About Expectations and Communication
Good communication keeps everything running smoothly, especially on larger jobs. Let us know who the main point of contact is for the project, so we can direct any queries or updates to the right person without delays.
If you have specific requirements for how quotes should be presented – for example, broken down by batch, material or stage – we’re happy to tailor our response. It’s also useful to confirm early on whether samples or mock-ups will be needed before final sign-off, so we can factor this into the timeline.
Lastly, let us know how you’d like to handle any changes to the order. Projects can evolve, and if we know your preferred process for revisions or add-ons, we’ll be able to respond quickly and keep everything on track.
Ready to brief your next wood veneering project? Read Veneers are at your service!
A clear, well-structured brief is the first step towards a successful veneering project. It helps us quote accurately, plan effectively, and deliver exactly what you need – on time and to spec.
Whether you’ve got a full specification ready to go or just a rough idea of what’s required, we’re here to help. At Read Veneers, we’re always happy to talk through your needs and offer advice at any stage – even before your plans are finalised.
Got a commercial fit-out coming up? Let’s have a chat about how we can support you.
📞 Call us on 01277 811 771 or request a quote. We look forward to speaking to you.
