We’ve been in business 20 years and have made thousands and thousands of slab veneer doors. Up until this last couple years we always used classic/armor core (1/2” plywood center with 1/8” mdf bands on each side of ply below the veneer). We did this mostly because it is perceived to be a better product than an mdf or PB core and educating a client can be a long and often times a losing battle. And it was more readily available. In 2021 the plycore products became such an issue with warp age and poor quality we switched over to a PB core for all our rift sawn white oak slab veneer jobs.
We have a fairly new General Contractor client that we did a few jobs before this with the PB core product and there were no issues.
On the latest job with this client the homeowner is refusing to pay for the cabinets because all of the rift white oak used was PB core. We did not interact with the client at all. Everything went through the GC. And we are paid in full by the GC. The homeowner “doesn’t want an education on particle board”.
I personally have seen PB handle moisture better than the plycore products- in fact vastly superior moisture performance. It is vastly for flat- my primary concern when doing slab veneer jobs.
My GC and the client are now headed to court.
As professionals what are your opinions on PB being used for veneer?
Thanks in advance-