Introduction to Veneers and Laminates

INTRODUCTION TO VENEERS AND LAMINATES

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Veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm (1/8 inch), that typically are glued onto core panels (typically, wood, particle board or medium-density fibreboard) to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. Plywood consists of three or more layers of veneer, each glued with its grain at right angles to adjacent layers for strength. Veneer is obtained either by "peeling" the trunk of a tree or by slicing large rectangular blocks of wood known as flitches.

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: has no backing on it and can be used with either side facing up. : veneers that are backed with paper :less common. Mainly used for composite or manmade wood veneers. : raw veneer joined together to make larger pieces. Reconstituted veneer : raw veneer cut and at times dyed. Usually made from fast-growing tropical species.  Wood on Wood : decorative wood veneer face  with a utility grade wood backer that is applied to the opposing direction to the face veneer. Also called 2-ply. Multilaminar wood veneer : uses plantation  wood to reproduce decorative effects which are typical of quality wood species (often protected

Measure application surface and cut veneer to 1/2" oversize with release liner in place. Align sheet on surface and pull back about 2 inches of release liner. Make contact with surface and make certain alignment is correct. Slowly peel back release line while applying pressure on finish side of laminate. Firm, even constant pressure must be applied to eliminate all trapped air bubbles. Trim excess veneer. Due to the thickness of the veneer, it may require special care. A light coat of sealer should be applied to guard against moisture and to stop penetration of finish coats. The sealer coat should be allowed to dry completely before applying finish coats. If a sealer is not used, several coats of light finish should be used. The first coat should be allowed to dry completely. •

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Edge lifting from substrate - Insufficient adhesive coverage - insufficient dry time - not enough pressure when applying Possible Solutions: - apply more adhesive to veneer and - substrate - Increase drying time for adhesion - apply more pressure •

Bubbles in the Veneer - trapped solvent - edges bonded first - uneven adhesive coverage - uneven pressure - ineffective glue Possible Solutions: - increase dry time - apply pressure from center outwards - review application procedure - review pressure procedure •

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Furniture made with wood veneer uses less wood than the same piece of furniture made with solid wood. Toxicity : Nontoxic; veneer stores carbon and also maximises the use of harvested wood. It is cost efficient. Creates new design philosophies.

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The  of wood veneers is absolutely compared to its hard wood counterpart. Veneer products are extremely thin and more susceptible to  –  a problem that will cause the material to beneath it. Maintenance is Veneers expands or contracts according to the climate whereas, the material below it does not expand or contract at the same rate causing the veneer to crack overtime.

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Laminates are a multi-layer synthetic flooring product. It is created high-density fibre, melamine resin or wood particles. On top, the laminate has a photographic appliqué layer, which is in turn covered with a clear protective layer. Laminates are laminated products primarily used as furniture surface materials or wall panelling.  Laminate is a manufactured product that simulates the look of hardwood, ceramic tile, natural stone and many other types of

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They are specifically applied for high-pressure decorative laminates. : The European Standard EN438 is one of the standards that most decorative laminates manufacturers selling to worldwide market adhere to. The specific code is EN438, entitled: Decorative high-pressure laminates (HPL) sheets based on thermosetting resins, specifications.  : Antibacterial properties are important for decorative laminates because these laminates are used as kitchen tops and counter tops, cabinets and table tops that may be in constant contact with food materials and younger children. Antibacterial properties are there to ensure that bacterial growth is minimal. : There are many different standards with regards to fire resistant and flame retardant properties of High Pressure Decorative Laminates .

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: glue less installation makes these floors quick and easy-to-install. Most laminate floors require a plastic underlay sheet (4 mil poly) be installed directly underneath the laminate planks or tiles. This helps the floor float freely over the subfloor. Another option is to add a vapour barrier or noise reduction underlay before installing the laminate flooring. : These floors come with several different types of tongue and grooved locking systems and an attached underlayment to reduce noise levels. : These are the original laminate floors that do require a special formulated glue to be applied to the tongue and grooved areas for each plank. Once the glue is dried the planks are almost impossible to pull apart. These floors are offered in both planks and squares. : No mess, because the glue is already applied to the tongue and  grooves which makes these floors quick and easy-to-install. A thin, plastic underlayment is needed to seal out moisture and prevent the glue from sticking to the substrate.

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Flooring should sit in the room for at least 48 hours prior to installation, giving it time to expand or contract in relation to the room's temperature and humidity. This prevents buckling and other problems after installation.  Use the pry bar to remove baseboard from the wall and set the pieces aside for reinstallation. Floating laminate planks (the kind used in this project) should be installed over a hard, smooth surface, such as vinyl. Remove damaged flooring to reveal the subfloor. Clear the floor of staples, nails, and other debris. Roll out the underlayment. Do not overlap adjoining strips. Use the utility knife to cut pieces as needed. The foam underlayment deadens sound and helps the floor feel more resilient. This underlayment allows the floor to expand and contract with changes in temperature and also acts as a sound and moisture barrier.

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In some installations, there are two underlayment layers. The first layer is installed to specifically act as a moisture barrier while the second layer provides a sound barrier and enhances your flooring’s performance.

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The underlayment is typically rolled out and taped together at the seams. Installers will cut the pieces of underlayment where needed with a precision utility knife to make a perfect fit. Installers will typically begin in the left corner of the area and leave a minimum 1/4" space between the flooring and the perimeter walls. This is done because the laminate requires space around the edges of the room to expand or contract. Without that “breathing room” your floor will express its

discontent. If the floor is touching or too close to a wall, it can buckle in the middle. Along the wall, the installers use spacers as they work, to ensure the accuracy of this perimeter space. They use one spacer for each square foot. Once your floor is fully installed they remove the spacers and cover the perimeter gap with quarter round trim or a wall base. As the installers lay the planks or tiles in the desired pattern, they will carefully measure and precisely cut them to fit.

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high-pressure laminates are usually used for furniture tops especially on flat surfaces, including cabinets and tables. They are also used in models that include wall panels with conceptual designs and custom prints.

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Exceptional durability Easy to clean surface Superior stain resistance Superior fade resistance Install in/on all grade levels, even below grade Install over many different types of subfloors Great impact and indentation resistance Exceptional realism at affordable costs Easy to replace later on, if desired

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While laminate can simulate the look of hardwood, stone, or brick perfectly, the illusion fades as soon as you feel the material with your bare hands. When you walk on a laminate floor it produces a hollow sound, that makes the material feel fake and manufactured. Laminate flooring is quite hard and unyielding under foot. Some environmental experts have expressed concerns over laminate materials that are made with compounds derived from formaldehyde. They claim that floors made with these materials can release volatile organic chemicals over time, which can have harmful effects on the air quality of the surrounding room. The life span of a laminate floor is going to be based on the quality of the material and the thickness of the wear layer.