Wood Veneers
 

I have a teak coffee table with badly worn top. Rather than sand and stain I'd like to apply a very thin teak veneer. What's the best type and how is it glued down ? Will veneers fade if exposed to UV over a long period ?

In a nutshell---It will be far easier to sand and refinish the original top---and cheaper--

To prepare the top for a veneer---sand perfectly smooth--seal with a thin wash coat of shellac

coat with hide glue and insert top into vacuum press---

Some backed veneers work with contact cement ---

Check out the Woodworking Talk web site ---link at the bottom of the page.

I would sand it also. You will have to stop the veneer at the routered edges somehow and it will likely de-laminate the first time you nick it.

If it is badly or deeply gouged, you may have to take the top off and run it through a planer before sanding.

There are a few considerations in sanding a top. You don't know how thick the wood is. Many tops have just a veneer before you get to the core. The newer the table, the thinner the veneer.
When you say the top is worn, what do you mean?
Photos might help.