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Laminates |
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Laminates are the addition of a fake wood surface to the surface of
furniture, and are made from thin slices of wood or other non-wood
materials and held together with glues and polymers. Laminates consist
of a layer of wood or other product, such as paper, which is applied
over a wood frame and sealed with a protective layer of thermosetting
resin. These layers are pressed together under high heat and pressure,
creating a solid, solvent and abrasion-resistant material. |
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High pressure decorative laminate (HPDL) is made by saturating sheets of
decorative and core paper with resins, then pressing them under high
heat, fusing the layers into a single sheet. Surprisingly, a sheet of
laminate is only 18% plastic resin; the rest is paper! |
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Special care must be taken with
laminated furniture. Water, moisture,
solvents, glues and nail polish removers must be kept away from your
laminated furniture as they can cause the surfaces to 00000de-laminate
resulting in a melting or scarring of the appearance. They are used in a
wide variety of products (especially office furniture), as they can be
extremely durable and stand up to daily use by many people. Laminate
sheets are bonded, using special adhesives, to "substrates" made of
plywood, fiberboard or particleboard that give the final product its
strength and substance. The laminate surface provides resistance from
wear and impact. |
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Laminated furniture is quite serviceable as a cheap,
temporary or disposable furniture solution. Laminates are not typically
used for quality furniture and are generally found in furniture sold by
retailers like K-Mart or other low-end furniture suppliers. What skin is
to human body, laminates are to furniture: laminates provide total
protection to the furniture against all kinds of physical, chemical,
weather and other ravages of the environment. Laminate is the most
durable material
available for work surfaces and requires little maintenance. Hence, it
is very important to only use laminates which are coated with an
Anti-Ageing Formula to keep your furniture looking new for a longer
period of time. It is highly resistant to dents and scratches. Trying to
economize on your choice of laminates is a direct risk to the look and
age of your furniture. |
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The laminates have the advantages
of themselves. Laminate has a more consistent color
and grain than veneer, making it suitable for settings where multiple
desks will be placed side by side. |
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Laminate is easy to clean and is excellent for high activity areas. |
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Laminate has a look that approaches veneer, at a fraction of the price. |
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How to choose a good laminate: Be aware! They all
look the same! Laminate is composed of multiple layers of paper
saturated with resin, and finished with a printed surface. Purchasing
good quality laminates is not an easy job as those with poor quality
look rich on the surface. In recent years, the quality of printing has
become so good that it is occasionally hard to distinguish laminate from
real wood. |
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Therefore purchasing laminates on the basis of cost is risky as you may
land up buying poor quality laminates. This will make your new furniture
look shabby within a short time. It is recommended to be careful during
the selection of laminates and purchase only those coated with an
Anti-Ageing Formula. |
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05/06/08 |
