GENERAL INFORMATION

HOW DO I ORDER SAMPLES OF LAMINART PRODUCTS?

To request samples, place your request or call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-323-7624, or fax your request to 847.860.0246.

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE LAMINART PRODUCTS?

Laminart products are sold directly through our corporate headquarters near Chicago, Illinois. Our customer service representatives are available to take your order Monday through Friday 7:30am to 5pm Central Time at 1-800-323-7624.

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL LEAD TIME FOR LAMINART PRODUCTS?

Stocked material ships from our inventory within 24 hours of receipt of your order. Non-stock material delivers to your facility in three weeks or less.

LAMINATE BASICS

HOW IS HIGH-PRESSURE DECORATIVE LAMINATE MANUFACTURED?

Laminart brand high-pressure decorative laminate is manufactured by laminating phenolic resin-impregnated kraft sheets with melamine resin-impregnated decorative and overlay sheets. The lamination is performed under a minimum pressure of 1,000 psi (2,068 kPa) and at a temperature of approximately 300°F (149°C). The pressed laminate is trimmed to various sizes, and the back is sanded to provide uniform thickness, and to facilitate adhesive bonding.

WHAT IS PEARLESCENCE?

For years, cosmetic companies have incorporated eye-catching, subtle sparkles in their products to capture attention. Taking cues from the cosmetics industry, Laminart first introduced pearlized inks to create decorative laminates in 1984. Pearlized products refract light, making surfaces appear more expressive while adding visual depth. With their eye-catching luster, Pearlescence products are perfect for a broad range of commercial applications.

WHAT IS OYSTER SHIELD HIGH-WEAR PROTECTION?

Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection is the result of a manufacturing process that enhances the durability and versatility of our Pearlescence laminates. With the addition of Oyster Shield High-Wear Protection, Pearlescence items may be safely specified for any commercial interior horizontal or vertical application.

ARE LAMINART PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR FOOD SERVICE APPLICATIONS?

Yes, NSF International has certified Laminart high-pressure decorative laminate as a safe surfacing material for food preparation areas in commercial applications. The NSF #35 "Laminated Plastic for Surfacing for Food Service Equipment" certificate is available upon request.

ARE LAMINART PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR MARITIME VEHICLES SUCH AS SHIPS OR YACHTS?

Yes, Laminart Class A fire-rated high pressure decorative laminates pass IMO Res. A 653 (16) for maritime usage. Maritime certificates are available upon request.

DOES LAMINART OFFER MATCHING EDGE BANDING?

At this time, Laminart only offers matching edge banding for Veneer-Art. We recommend contacting the following companies for assistance with matching our other product lines: Edgebanding Services, Inc., Doellken-Woodtape, Rehau, Frama-Tech

HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATE: TECHNICAL INFORMATION

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STANDARD AND VERTICAL GRADE?

The term Grade refers to the thickness of the laminate. Standard Grade (GP48) laminate is .048” (1.2mm) thick. It is recommended for any horizontal or vertical application where maximum impact resistance is required. Vertical Grade (GP28) laminate is much thinner at .028” (0.8mm) thick. It is suitable for applications that require a more pliable sheet and where impact resistance isn’t as critical. As the name implies, vertical grade is commonly used for vertical applications.

HOW FAR CAN I BEND LAMINATE?

There are two ways in which laminate can be bent; either cold or with the addition of heat. Standard Grade (GP48) laminates can be cold bent to a maximum radius of 12" (304.8 mm). Vertical Grade (GP28) laminates can be cold bent to a maximum radius of 7” (177.8 mm). By applying heat to the area of the sheet that you want to bend (about 325°F or 162°C), you can perform an outside bend on Standard Grade (GP48) laminate down to 4” (101.6 mm). With heat applied, Vertical Grade (GP28) laminate can bend to 5/8” (15.88 mm). Due to the lower blistering point of the pearlescent pigments in our Pearlescence items (found under the Pearlescence Solid Colors, Premium Wood Prints and Abstracts collections), we do not recommend applying heat to Pearlescence products; they should always be cold bent.

HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATE: INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

WHAT TYPES OF SUBSTRATES CAN HIGH-PRESSURE LAMINATE BE APPLIED TO?

Laminate should be applied to suitable substrates such as particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and high-density fiberboard (HDF). We do not recommend using plywood, plaster, gypsum board and concrete.

WHAT TYPE OF ADHESIVE DOES LAMINART RECOMMEND?

Laminate should be bonded to the substrate using contact, PVA, or PUR adhesives following the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions. The substrate surface must be smooth and free of grease, dust and other impurities that may obstruct adhesion.

SHOULD I USE A BACKING SHEET WHEN APPLYING LAMINATE TO A SUBSTRATE?

A backing sheet is not mandatory but should be used when it is necessary in order to balance the assembly and to prevent warping.

DOES LAMINATE NEED TO BE PRE-CONDITIONED BEFORE APPLICATION?

Laminate and substrate should be allowed to acclimate for at least 72 hours in the same ambient conditions. All surfaces to be laminated should be inspected prior to lamination to ensure that they are clean and free of surface defects.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MAINTAIN AND CLEAN HIGH-PRESSURE LAMINATE SURFACES?

Decorative laminate can be cleaned using warm water and a mild soap, or other common household cleaners. For detailed care instructions, refer to Laminart’s Cleaner and Sanitizer Guidelines.

HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATE: ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

ARE LAMINART PRODUCTS GREENGUARD CERTIFIED?

Yes, our high-pressure decorative laminates have been GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® and GREENGUARD Gold® certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI).

ARE ANY RECYCLED MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATE?

Yes. GP48 (Standard Grade) products contain 17% recycled content while GP28 (Vertical Grade) products contain 34% recycled content.

VENEER-ART BASICS

HOW IS VENEER-ART MANUFACTURED?

Veneer-Art is manufactured with natural, not reconstituted, wood veneers that are saturated with a protective melamine resin and fused with phenolic resin-impregnated kraft sheets. The result is a pre-finished, ready-to-fabricate veneer that features a maintenance-free, scratch-resistant surface. Due to the inherent properties of wood, variations in color and grain will appear from one sheet to another.

IS VENEER-ART MADE WITH REAL OR RECONSTITUTED WOOD VENEERS?

Veneer-Art is made with natural wood veneers, not reconstituted or engineered wood veneers. While reconstituted wood veneers can offer advantages in terms of cost and consistency, natural wood veneers provide a richness of grain, variety, and performance that cannot be replicated in a reconstituted product.

WHERE CAN I USE VENEER-ART?

Veneer-Art has been successfully installed in commercial projects for more than 25 years. It is suited for architectural applications in high traffic environments, as well as on commercial furniture, fixtures, and casework. To view some Veneer-Art projects, consult the Applications section of our website.

CAN VENEER-ART BE ORDERED IN CLASS 1/A FIRE RATING?

Yes, Class 1/A rated Veneer-Art is available as a factory order item. There is a 30 sheet minimum order and a 12 week lead time.

VENEER-ART: TECHNICAL INFORMATION

ARE GRAIN AND COLOR UNIFORM FROM SHEET TO SHEET?

Due to the inherent properties of wood and differing numbers of sheets cut from any given tree, variations in color and grain will appear from one sheet to another. This is not a defect, rather a natural occurrence that adds to the character and warmth provided by a real wood product. A natural maturing and mellowing of color may also occur with age.

CAN I BEND VENEER-ART?

Due to the variations in grain structure of the real wood veneers, the bending characteristics are slightly different than high-pressure decorative laminates. Typically, we advise that Veneer-Art should only be cold bent to a radius no smaller than 8”. We do not recommend post-forming Veneer-Art.

WHAT IS THE FIRE RATING FOR VENEER-ART?

Veneer-Art is classified Class II (ASTM E84-89A). Class I Fire-Retardant grade is available upon request. A 30 sheet minimum order is required. There is a 12 week lead time for Class 1/A rated product.

WILL THE COLOR OF VENEER-ART FADE?

A natural maturing and mellowing of color may occur with age. This is consistent with the behavior of natural wood.

VENEER-ART: INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

DOES VENEER-ART REQUIRE ANY PRE-CONDITIONING?

Like all wood-based products, Veneer-Art will react to ambient conditions. Veneer-Art and the substrate to which it is applied may absorb moisture and expand in high relative humidity or lose moisture and shrink in low relative humidity. Veneer-Art and the substrate to which it will be applied must acclimate to the same ambient conditions for 8-10 days prior to fabrication. Optimum conditions are approximately 64°F to 72°F (18°C to 22°C) with a relative humidity of 50% to 60%. Provisions should be made for the circulation of air around the components.

DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS OR PROCESSES TO APPLY VENEER-ART?

No, Veneer-Art can be fabricated using the same tools, materials, and adhesives normally used to fabricate high-pressure decorative laminate, with the exception of contact adhesives, which should be limited to small surface areas only when no other adhesives can be employed. We also strongly recommend that special care be taken to seal the porous edges of the veneer with a diluted polyurethane varnish. This will minimize absorption of moisture which can adversely impact the real wood veneer.

DOES VENEER-ART REQUIRE A SPECIAL ADHESIVE?

While Veneer-Art does not specifically require a special type of adhesive, the strength of the bond between Veneer-Art and its substrate determines the amount of stress that may be transmitted to the substrate by the product. Gluing Veneer-Art with the use of a hot or cold press is the preferred method of application. Conventional adhesives normally applied to high-pressure laminate such as PVA, urea, resorcinol or PUR are recommended. The substrate surface must be smooth and free of grease, dust and other impurities that may obstruct adhesion. When gluing with a hot press, do not exceed 140°F (60°C). Above that temperature, there is a risk of harmful tension that could affect adhesion. When no laminating press is available, standard contact adhesives may be used on small surface areas only (typically smaller than 2’ x 4’). It is crucial to ensure excellent coverage of both surfaces to be bonded and to apply a pressure of 40 pounds per square inch to the bonded assembly. In either case, always consult and closely follow your adhesive manufacturer’s directions.

CAN I ORDER EDGEBANDING FOR VENEER-ART?

Edgebanding manufactured with the same constituent veneer is available for all items in the line in Tru-Grain™ finish. Edgebanding strips are 120” long, 0.98” wide and .027” thick.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN VENEER-ART?

Veneer-Art should be cleaned with a damp cloth and ordinary soap or household cleaner. Stubborn stains may require organic solvents such as alcohol, acetone, lacquer thinner or paint solvents.

METAL-ART BASICS

HOW IS METAL-ART MANUFACTURED?

Metal-Art is manufactured with aluminum foil and an epoxy varnish protective layer which are fused with phenolic resin-impregnated kraft sheets. The result is a pre-finished, ready-to-fabricate metal laminate which is suitable for interior vertical applications similar to vertical grade high-pressure laminate.

IS METAL-ART MADE WITH REAL METALS?

Yes, real aluminum foil is used in the manufacturing of Metal-Art.

METAL-ART: TECHNICAL INFORMATION

CAN I BEND METAL-ART?

Metal-Art can be cold bent to a radius of 4.72” (120mm). We do not recommend using heat to form Metal-Art.

WHAT IS THE FIRE RATING FOR METAL-ART?

M1

METAL-ART: INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS OR PROCESSES TO APPLY METAL-ART?

No, Metal-Art can be fabricated using the same tools, materials, and adhesives normally used to fabricate high-pressure decorative laminate.

WHAT TYPE OF ADHESIVES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR METAL-ART?

Suitable adhesives include contact, PVAs, urea, PUR, or resorcinol adhesives following adhesive’s manufacturer’s instructions. The substrate must be smooth and free of grease, dust, and other impurities that may obstruct adhesion. Keep solvents away from open flames and away from the glue line at the edges of the applied material.

DOES METAL-ART NEED TO BE PRE-CONDITIONED BEFORE APPLICATION?

Metal-Art and substrate should be allowed to acclimate for at least 72 hours in the same ambient conditions. Optimum conditions for preconditioning are approximately 75°F (24°C) with a relative humidity of 45% to 55%. Provisions should be made for the circulation of air around the components.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MAINTAIN AND CLEAN METAL-ART?

Metal-Art should be cleaned with a damp cloth and gentle, rubbing motion. The cloth should be soft and clean; microfiber is preferred, as some paper towels may be abrasive. If necessary, ordinary soap or household cleaner may be used for more difficult stains. Avoid abrasive cleaning products, solvents, polish or scrapers. For post-fabrication stain removal, it is recommended that the cleanser be tested in an inconspicuous area.