Laminates

The most commonly used finishing layer for MDF, plywood, particle board, wooden furniture, wall panels and flooring are laminates. Essentially, a composite artificial material, they are made by pressing together thin layers of flat paper and plastic resins. The upper layer is printed with a decorative pattern or color.

All About Laminates: Types

    

Five Main Types:

Decorative laminates – These have greater aesthetic appeal in terms of finishes and patterns. Decorative laminates can be used for doing ornamental overlays on furniture. And there are so many to choose from as well.

Industrial laminates – These have higher strength and are more resistant to wear and tear. They include high-performance laminates which are fire retardant, antibacterial and chemical resistant for application in hospitals and other industries.

Compact laminates – These fairly thick ones are self-supporting and do not need to be glued to any other material.

Post formed laminates – These flexible versions are thinner than regular laminates. They are used to wrap around tables, columns etc.

High-pressure and low-pressure laminates – Differing only in the pressure with which the laminate is applied on a substrate, HPL is usually used with plywood while LPL finds its use with MDF.

Sizes:

Laminates are commercially available in sheets, panels and boards depending on the type of application. The approximate size of sheets available is around 8 feet by 4 feet. Wall panels and boards are available as squares or rectangles in different sizes.

Durability: 

Laminates are fairly durable and scratch resistant. They are more resistant to wear and tear, moisture, and heat when compared to veneer and solid wood products. However, laminated surfaces tend to warp when exposed to excess water. Since they are brittle materials, these are also prone to chipping.