Surface Finishes that Define your Style

Interior decoration is all about creating a personalised home experience. Finishing material is of prime importance in any build. The strongest and most rustic of concrete can be made to look elegant if premium quality items of finishing are intelligently used. Designing doesn’t just involve placement, cut and colour, but the finish is of crucial importance.

Laminates are a popular category of finishing material because they are more versatile, flexible and are used in more complicated cases. They are also a fantastic finishing item because they are easy to bend and provide effective coverage around curves and corners.

A well matched laminate finish that blends well with the concept and style of interior design becomes an irreplaceable asset. Depending on functionality, laminates can be used indoors as well as outdoors. Here are some commonly used laminates finishes –

1. Textured Laminates – The most lavish-looking laminates with most defined textures suited for plush interiors. Textured laminates are hard and have a high-class realistic appeal. They can easily imitate the look of tiles or hard wood.

2. High Gloss Laminate – Longevity is the foremost characteristic of High Gloss Laminate which is ideal for luxurious indoor flooring. This is ideal for buyers who want to make their homes look plush without burdening their pockets.

3. Glossy Laminate – Ideal for your home or office if you want to make surroundings look elegant but still maintain a realistic feel. Glossy laminates are shiny, but still have a slight hint of a realistic finish.

4. Semi-Matt – Perfect for country style finishing, Semi-Matt Laminates has copious amount of style and sophistication. Semi matt laminates come in texture of wood and tiles and can be used for indoor purposes.

5. Soft Laminate – This finish is made from soft board material which is soft and warm on foot. They can be creatively altered depending on the motif they are designed on. Ideal to be used in kid’s room, this laminate is the finest creative choice as of today.

At this point it is also important to distinguish between High Pressure Laminates (HPL) and Low Pressure Laminates (LPL). High Pressure Laminates are manufactured under high pressure and are characterised by multiple layers of resin- treated paper that can be made to stick on many substrates. High Pressure Laminates have multi-dimensional behaviour similar to wood, and expand and contract when subjected to humidity. HPL are inexpensive and have a life-span of about 15 years.

Low Pressure Laminates, on the other hand are also called melamine boards or direct pressure laminates. They are characterised by the presence of a single-wear layer adhered to a single decorative sheet. Low Pressure Laminates are used mostly for aesthetic purposes. One drawback with LPL is they are prone to abrasion. Unlike HPL, Low Pressure Laminates have a shorter life span of 1-5 years. Moreover, they are available in lesser finishing options.

Formica is the oldest manufacturer of Laminates in the world and it is highly recommended you explore your options here.