Laminate types and their uses in furniture

The thing we love the most about laminating services is they have so many different uses. For starters, laminates are a good option for surface finishes for furniture items. This is because they provide an attractive aesthetic for reasonable prices. Additionally, they improve the furniture’s durability since they are scratch resistant and simple to clean.

One of the reasons laminates can cater for so many needs is there are separate types on the market. They can match a variety of applications. What we want to do here is offer a summary of the ones that you can find specifically for furniture. It helps to know what they are before purchasing them.

Pressure laminates

Laminating servicesThere are two general options where you need to use pressure to apply the films. The first is high pressure laminates (HPL). These are produced by attaching your decor paper at elevated pressures. Usually, they are fixed by carpenters over MDF and plywood whilst manufacturing furniture. The films are incredibly durable and are able to take heavy loads.

Next there are low pressure laminates (LPL). Here you soak the decorative paper using melamine resin. After this, the laminated paper gets bonded directly to fibre board or particle board at low pressure.

Thickness

Typically when you choose laminating services you will have a choice of film thickness. The starting point here is usually regular laminate sheets. These tend to range from 0.8mm to 1.5mm. Such sheets are glued by carpenters to substrate materials like plywood. This happens with the help of common adhesives.

Next we have compact laminate sheets. They have a thickness that ranges from 3mm to 30mm. Such laminates are self-supporting. As a result, there is no requirement to glue them to woods or similar materials. The bottom and top sides of these sheets come with decorative surfaces.

Usage

Decorative laminates are first. They are hard films of roughly 1mm. We use them extensively to supply finished looks to furniture. They are really useful if you need to protect and decorate wooden items. They also come in a plethora of colours, textures, and designs. For example, you can have solid colour, gloss, matt, and wood or even leather effect. This wide selection is one of the things that make laminating services so dynamic.

Industrial laminates are the second option. They have greater resistance to scratches as well as other forms of wear and tear. They are stronger too. What’s more, you can find films that are chemical resistant, antibacterial, and fire-resistant. They have a multitude of applications in hospitals and numerous industries.

Advanced properties

Finally, you can look at laminate specifically in regards to the properties it offers. Fire rated film is up first. Fire resistant resin is used to create these laminates. You can use them for interior furnishings in areas where there is a high risk of fires. Examples include kitchens.

There is also anti-bacterial laminate. In restaurants and hospitals, hygiene takes top priority. These laminates are very popular here because they resist pathogen and bacteria growth. They are also easy to clean.

We understand lamination to ensure we offer the best laminating services

At Foiling Services, our knowledge and experience with the lamination procedure is one of our greatest strengths. When a client brings an item to us, we start by learning its qualities and the end use. Our team will only move forward if we are certain there is no risk of damage.

So, if you would like to use our laminating services, please get in touch. We have access to a huge selection of films, including ones from almost every category above.