Veneered or laminated furniture? What are the advantages, disadvantages and characteristics of these materials? In this article you will find answers to your questions. We will explain what laminates are, what “veneer” means and we will summarize the main differences between these coated panels, which are increasingly present in modern homes.
What is laminate?
Laminate is a coating made up of layers of paper impregnated with thermosetting resins (melamine and phenolic), applied to an MDF , chipboard or lightweight board , subjected to more or less high pressure. It is also known as Formica, after the name of the American company, a leading manufacturer of HPL high-pressure laminate. The most common laminate is about 0.6mm thick, although it is not uncommon to find 1.2mm laminates or 2cm self-supporting panels, called compacts. If the thickness of the board can vary according to the type, what remains almost constant is its internal stratification.
As a general rule, laminates are made up of 3 layers. From the surface to the heart of the panel, you will find:
- The overlay, or a pure cellulose film impregnated with melamine resin with a protective function.
- A decorative sheet in which the patterns and colors visible on the panel are reproduced.
- The kraft, or a stratification of sheets of robust and resistant paper impregnated with phenolic resins.
Each element has a specific function and helps define the quality of the material. If the film is indispensable to create a layer of protection against heat, scratches or liquids, the decorative foil is equally important to ennoble its appearance.
Types of laminate
There are different types of laminates on the market, classified according to the manufacturing process or the applied decorative sheets.
HPL (acronym for the English High Pressure Laminate), or a board obtained from the strong pressure of the sheets with flat presses combined with high temperatures, which makes the material very resistant.
CPL (an acronym for Continuous Pressure Laminate), or a board subjected to a lower but constant pressure with roller presses.
CHPL (acronym for Continuous High Pressure Laminate), a new generation panel subjected to continuous pressure to obtain a laminate very similar to high pressure.
Depending on the material of the decorative foil used, different types of laminate can be obtained:
Melamine laminate: wooden board covered with sheets of paper impregnated with melamine resin, which can be painted on the surface.
Polymeric laminate: in which synthetic material (PVC) is applied on the wooden support. The plastic sheet is heated, stretched, adhered to the surface and folded along the edges so that the coating covers the entire board. Thanks to the ability to iron, which differentiates polymers from other types of laminates, this material is used in the production of 3D coatings.
New generation laminates: obtained from nanotechnological processes and composed of acrylic resins fixed on the panel with cold polymerization.
Finally, depending on the aesthetic effect obtained, there are on the market:
Colored, glossy or matt laminates.
Laminates that reproduce wood.
Textured laminates faithfully reproduce the texture of cement, stone, marble or textile materials, giving the impression of porosity or irregularity.
Technical characteristics of the laminate
As with all materials, the characteristics of laminate can change depending on the type of board, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
In particular, high pressure laminate has the following technical characteristics:
- Hardness, compactness and homogeneity.
- Good resistance to shocks, mechanical stress and scratches.
- Excellent wear resistance.
- Impermeability and resistance to humidity, infiltrations and steam.
- Heat resistance, but not high (the limit is around 180° for HPL).
- Resistance to stains and lime.
- Excellent hygiene and antistatic.
- Easy to use.
- Color richness and pleasing aesthetic result, especially in the case of the wood or stone effect.
- Light fastness and resistance to sunlight (this is due to the synthetic nature of the print).
- Long useful life.
- Quick maintenance.
Among the main disadvantages of laminate is the reddish color of phenolic resins, which in the case of low quality laminates could be slightly visible (with the exception of new generation boards). Due to the material, glossy laminate is less scratch resistant.
Laminate furniture
Thanks to its multiple characteristics, laminate is used more and more in the furniture sector. The excellent resistance, the aesthetic electricity, the great practicality and the affordable price make it the ideal material for the production of bathroom furniture, kitchen countertops, doors, changing rooms, lockers, etc.
HPL laminate is by far the best option for horizontal surfaces subjected to severe stress. The stratified HPL laminate represents its evolution, in addition to having inherited its characteristics, this material has perfected its sensitivity to heat and its impermeability, qualities that make it particularly appreciated in modern kitchens.
Here are some examples of laminate furniture:
What is the veneer?
Let's start with a simple definition: Veneer means to cover a wood surface with very thin sheets of real hardwood. This woodworking operation, called veneering, can be applied to various types of boards: chipboard, plywood, MDF, to mention the most common.
Used since the Renaissance, the technique consisted of covering low-value wood with sheets of approximately 6 millimeters. The evolution of technology and the introduction of increasingly precise machinery have allowed us to perfect cutting techniques to obtain sheets of a few tenths of a millimeter, also used to veneer curved surfaces.
The steps that make up modern wood veneer are:
Debarking and carving: it is the first carpentry operation, in which the trunk is deprived of the bark and of any irregularity. The block thus obtained is divided into smaller blocks and subjected to a first rough cut. The wood then undergoes a steaming operation to loosen the fibers and ensure excellent cut quality.
Cutting: This is the actual phase of creating the sheets. The wooden blocks are subjected to a cutting operation that can be done with knives or lasers. This is a decisive phase, since the cutting direction (transversal or longitudinal) defines the orientation of the fibers and the visible pattern on the sheets.
Drying: once cut, the sheets are dried, ironed, flattened and grouped into several sheets.
Veneer – This is the actual phase of creating veneered wood. The finishing of the sheets is finished, they are placed side by side and glued to the wooden support.
Technical characteristics of wood veneer
This is a summary of the main characteristics of veneered wood:
Good waterproof and stability.
Resistance to scratching, heat and light.
Quick maintenance and easy cleaning.
Excellent eco-sustainability.
Wide range of essences, colors and patterns.
Uniqueness, warmth and typical appearance of real wood.
Low costs compared to solid wood.
And as an observation, which could be a disadvantage, the sheet must be treated with varnish to protect the surface.
The veneer on the furniture
By virtue of the quality and elegance that characterize it, veneer has become one of the main materials used in the world of furniture and the production of excellent quality furniture. As for the home environment, it is possible to integrate veneered furniture in any space of the house: in the dining room with tables or chairs, in the living room with sideboards, in the bedroom in the form of cabinets or bed bases, in the kitchen with doors for cupboards, drawers and chests of drawers, in the bathroom as shelves.