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, and what "sheet metal" 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 composed of layers of paper impregnated with thermosetting resins (melamine and phenolic), applied to an MDF, chipboard, or lightweight board, and subjected to more or less high pressure. It is also known as Formica, after the name of the American company, the main manufacturer of HPL high-pressure laminate. The most common laminate has a thickness of approximately 0.6 mm, although it is not uncommon to find 1.2 mm laminates or 2 cm 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:

  1. The overlay or a pure cellulose film impregnated with melamine resin with a protective function.
  2. A decorative sheet in which the patterns and colors visible on the panel are reproduced.
  3. Kraft, or layering of robust and resistant sheets of paper impregnated with phenolic resins.

Each element has a specific function and helps define the quality of the material. If the film is essential to create a layer of protection against heat, scratches, or liquids, the decorative foil is equally important to ennoble its appearance.

 

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.
  • Kraft, or layering of robust and resistant sheets of paper impregnated with phenolic resins.

Each element has a specific function and helps define the quality of the material. If the film is essential 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 decorative foils applied.

  • HPL (an acronym for 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 (acronym for Continuous Pressure Laminate), or a board subjected to a lower but constant pressure with roller presses.
  • CHPL (an acronym for Continuous High-Pressure Laminate), is a new generation panel subjected to continuous pressure to obtain a laminate very similar to high pressure.
  • Depending on the material of the decorative sheet 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:

  • 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 tabletop, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

In particular, high-pressure laminate has the following technical characteristics:

  • Hardness, compactness, and homogeneity.
  • Good resistance to shock, 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.
  • The chromatic richness and a pleasant 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 resistant to scratches.

 

Laminate furniture

Thanks to its multiple characteristics, laminate is increasingly used in the furniture sector. The excellent resistance, aesthetic electricity, great practicality, and 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 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: to veneer means to cover a wooden surface with very thin sheets of real hardwood. This joinery operation, called veneer, can be applied to various types of boards: chipboard, plywood, and MDF, to name 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 the modern wood veneer are:

  • Stripping 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 coarse trimming. Subsequently, the wood 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 (transverse or longitudinal) defines the orientation of the fibers and the visible pattern in the sheets.
  • Drying: once cut, the sheets are dried, ironed, flattened, and grouped into several sheets.
  • Veneering: This is the actual phase of creating veneered wood. The finishing of sheets is finished, they are placed one next to the other and glued to the wooden support.

Technical characteristics of wood veneer

This is a summary of the main characteristics of veneered wood:

  1. Good impermeability and stability.
  2. Resistance to scratching, heat, and light.
  3. Quick maintenance and easy cleaning.
  4. Excellent eco-sustainability.
  5. Wide range of essences, colors, and patterns.
  6. Uniqueness, warmth, and appearance are typical of real wood.
  7. 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.

Veneer on 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. Regarding the environment of the home, 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 on doors for cabinets, drawers and chests of drawers, in the bathroom as shelves.

Veneered or laminated: the differences

After having clarified what laminate is, what veneer is made of and their respective characteristics, all that remains is to summarize what are the main differences between the two materials. If you have doubts when choosing between one board or another, before making a purchase, define your needs, your expectations, and the budget that must be respected.

If you have the choice between a laminate tabletop and a veneer tabletop, you can evaluate these elements:

  • Cladding: Laminate is covered with synthetic material, while veneer is covered with real wood.
  • Appearance: Veneer retains the authentic characteristics of the wood (color, grain, shading), while laminate mimics, albeit cleverly, the effect.
  • Variety of the range: both materials have a rich and varied range of colors and textures. Laminated wood panels can also reproduce the effects of materials such as stone, marble, or concrete; veneer, on the other hand, is limited to the most famous scents, but is available in natural and lacquered versions.
  • Price: veneered wood is more expensive than laminated boards (with the exception of some new-generation laminates, which have a higher cost.
  • Maintenance: laminated boards are easy to maintain, while veneered boards require specific treatments for real wood.
  • Strength: In general, laminate is more durable than wood veneer.
  • Postforming: more than a difference, it is a characteristic that must be known when choosing. The board undergoes a post-forming operation, a process that allows a slightly rounded base to be obtained on which to apply melamine paper. The coating is adhered to the surface of the panel, including the edges, with a hot bending operation. This process guarantees an aesthetic result without visible joints and is mainly used for covering smooth and curved lines.

Alternatively, the top can be finished with applied thickness edges. In this case, the material used acts on the resistance of the upper part. Commonly, the edges of the boards are made of plastic material such as PVC or ABS. Between the two, ABS is more resistant to bumps, scratches, mechanical stress, exposure to light, and different temperatures.

Certifications and regulations

As with all boards derived from wood, the production of laminates and veneers is controlled and certified by European regulations. International regulations define the production and quality standards that wooden boards must respect, the laboratory tests that must be passed, and the list of characteristics that the product must have to be processed and transformed for the final customer.

Regarding HPL or HPDL laminates, there are two reference standards: ISO 4586 and EN 438. The latter, in particular, classifies the laminate according to its intended use (internal or external use, for horizontal or vertical surfaces, etc.).

Finally, the famous UNI EN 13986 standard certifies that wood-derived boards belong to class E1 (with low and limited emissions of formaldehyde, a material that, in a gaseous state, becomes harmful to health). Before evaluating a purchase, it is convenient to ask about the compliance of the boards with current legislation.