Decorative, High Pressure & Industrial Laminates
Laminate is a surfacing sheet, not a structural one: it is bonded to a substrate to give that substrate a hard, cleanable, decorative face. What separates the grades below is how much pressure went into making them, and that determines where each one can be used.
- Standard 8x4 ft (2440x1220 mm) sheets
- 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm decorative, 2 mm to 25 mm compact
- Container loads with mixed decors
Laminate grades
Decorative Laminates
0.6 - 1.0 mm
The everyday furniture and interior grade. Bonded to MDF, plywood or particleboard for wardrobes, kitchen carcasses, shutters, wall panelling and shop fitting.
Decorative Laminates ›High Pressure Laminates
1.0 - 1.5 mm HPL
Pressed at over 1,400 psi. Substantially harder and more impact resistant than the decorative grade — the specification for worktops, counters, reception desks and any surface people lean on.
High Pressure Laminates ›Industrial Laminates
Compact & specialty
Compact grade, chemical resistant, fire retardant and electrical insulation laminates for laboratories, washrooms, hospitals and industrial use.
Industrial Laminates ›How laminate is made
Sheets of kraft paper are soaked in phenolic resin and stacked. On top goes a printed decor paper — the layer that carries the wood grain, stone pattern or solid colour — and above that a translucent overlay impregnated with melamine resin, which becomes the wear surface. The whole stack goes into a heated press.
What varies between grades is the pressure. A decorative laminate is pressed at a few hundred psi; a high pressure laminate at 1,400 psi or more. Higher pressure means more kraft layers fused more densely, which is why HPL is thicker, stiffer, harder to dent and considerably more expensive.
Compact laminate is the same process taken to its conclusion: enough kraft layers pressed together that the sheet becomes self-supporting, from 2 mm up to 25 mm. It needs no substrate at all, which is what makes it the standard material for washroom cubicles, laboratory benches and locker fronts — places where the panel must be waterproof right through.
Choosing a grade
| Use | Grade | Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Wardrobe and cabinet shutters | Decorative | 0.8 mm |
| Interior wall panelling | Decorative | 0.6 - 0.8 mm |
| Kitchen worktop | High pressure | 1.0 - 1.5 mm |
| Reception and shop counter | High pressure | 1.0 - 1.5 mm |
| Table and desk top | High pressure | 1.0 mm |
| Washroom cubicle | Compact | 12 mm |
| Laboratory bench | Compact chemical resistant | 12 - 20 mm |
| Locker and storage front | Compact | 10 - 12 mm |
Frequently asked questions
What sheet size do laminates come in?
The international standard is 8x4 feet — 2440x1220 mm. Longer 10x4 ft sheets are produced for worktop runs where a joint would be visible, and compact grade is available in larger panels to order.
What is the difference between decorative and high pressure laminate?
Pressure during manufacture, and therefore density. Decorative grade is pressed at a few hundred psi and suits vertical and light horizontal surfaces. HPL is pressed above 1,400 psi, making it harder, stiffer and far more impact resistant — which is what a worktop or counter needs.
Can laminate be used in a bathroom?
Decorative laminate on an MDF substrate should not be — the substrate swells if water reaches an edge. Compact grade has no substrate and is fully waterproof through its thickness, which is why washroom cubicles and vanity panels are made from it.
Do you supply laminates and tiles in one container?
Yes. Mixed containers combining laminate sheets, tiles and sanitary ware are common for our distributor customers and bring the per-unit freight cost down considerably.
Request the laminate decor catalogue
Tell us the grades, thicknesses and finishes you stock and we will send the current decor range with container pricing.
Browse the full range
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