How we supply it: Decorative laminates are arranged through a partner plywood and laminate dealer who quotes, supplies and bills them and pays us a referral commission. Choose shades from the dealer's catalogue; the order lists outer, inner and balancing laminate separately so nothing runs short at the end.
In one line: A decorative laminate is a thin, hard sheet of resin-soaked kraft paper layers and a printed décor paper fused under heat and pressure, glued to plywood or board as its finished surface.
What a laminate sheet is
A decorative laminate is a thin, hard sheet of resin-soaked kraft paper layers and a printed décor paper fused under heat and pressure, glued to plywood or board as its finished surface.
Laminate flooring planks of 8–12 mm are a different product altogether. This page is about the 0.6–1.5 mm furniture sheets.
Thickness by surface
| Surface | Laminate | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen shutters and drawer fronts | 1 mm | Daily knocks, heat and steam |
| Wardrobe shutters | 1 mm | Handled daily |
| Wardrobe sides and inside | 0.8 mm or a liner | Low wear, saves cost |
| Back of every shutter | 0.6–0.8 mm balancing laminate | Stops the shutter bowing |
| Curved edges | 0.8 mm (post-forming grade) | Bends without cracking |
Choosing a finish
| Finish | Look | Daily wear | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt or suede laminate | Soft, low sheen | Hides prints and fine scratches | Kitchen base units, wardrobes |
| Textured wood-grain laminate | Natural wood look | Hard-wearing | Wardrobes, TV units |
| Gloss laminate | Shiny | Shows prints and scratches | Wall units, low-touch areas |
| Acrylic sheet | Deep high gloss | Scratches; needs care | Feature shutters |
| Wood veneer | Real wood | Needs polish and care | Living-room furniture |
Sheets for a kitchen
Typical estimate: using 8 × 4 ft sheets (32 sq ft) and about 20% cutting waste.
- 10 ft of base units and 10 ft of wall units, about 2.5 ft high each: about 50 sq ft of shutter faces
- Outer 1 mm laminate: about 2–3 sheets
- Balancing laminate for the backs: another 2 sheets
Checks on laminate sheets
- Read the thickness on the label or edge and the design code on the back.
- Look across the face under light for scratches, dents and patchy gloss.
- Take one batch for one room; shades can drift between batches.
- Acrylic sheets should carry a protective film; keep it on until handover.
- Match the edge-banding colour against the sheet before ordering.
Storing and pasting
- Store sheets flat and covered, face to face, never curled in a corner.
- Leave them in the room for a day before pasting so they settle to its humidity.
- Use the adhesive type the carpenter specifies for laminate, and keep tins closed.
Laminate mistakes
- No balancing laminate, so shutters bow.
- Gloss on kitchen base shutters that hands and steam mark daily.
- Pasting over damp or dusty ply.
- Raw edges, or a cheap edge band that does not match.
- Two batches on one wall of shutters.