HPL Advantages: Colorfastness

One of the advantages of HPL that I mentioned in my last post was colorfastness. A very good example of the advantages of this happened here recently.
Although every wood species is photo reactive to some degree (changes color when exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time), cherry  will show the effects of this more readily and dramatically than other species. In most cases the darkening of the wood is not objectionable because it is gradual and adds depth and warmth to the wood. However, matching the finish on a piece of cherry months or years after the original can take a considerable amount of time and patience due to the dramatic color change. The finish can even vary within the same room depending on which areas get more or less natural light.
About 11 years ago we provided cabinets with a cherry plastic laminate (Nevamar W8325t Sovereign Cherry) for 2 suites of our local city annex. Recently the city requested of us to provide new cabinets in another suite of the annex that they are putting new offices in, and requested that the new cabinets match the ones in the other areas. Since Nevamar W8325t laminate is still available, we were able to produce the new cabinets and be confident that they would match the ones produced more than a decade ago.  


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HPL Advantages

I mentioned in previous posts that through modern printing and pressing techniques some laminates can be nearly indistinguishable from the material they are made to resemble. This begs the question "then why not just use the real thing?"

One's initial thought might be that HPL is less expensive than some other materials, so it is used to save money or stay within a budget. Although this may be true in some cases, it is not in many others. In some cases HPL may actually cost more than comparable materials - finished wood veneer or factory painted wood cabinet doors as an example. Plastic laminate, while achieving the desired look, may sometimes hold distinct advantages over other materials.

For years architects and designers of commercial, institutional, and retail environments have embraced the use of plastic laminate in their designs. The variety of colors & patterns available, ease of cleaning, and impact resistance of HPL are difficult to achieve with other materials.

Some other advantages are size availability of raw material (most domestic laminates are available in sheets up to 5'X12'), consistency of shades and colors, and colorfastness. These attributes are especially desirable in wood grain materials. Since wood is a natural product, and every tree is different, there can be drastic differences in grain consistency and color within the same species of lumber or veneer. There can even be significant differences between boards or sheets of veneer from the same tree. Sometimes these differences or "flaws" are desirable and enhance the natural beauty and warmth of the wood. Many times, however, the designer or individual desires consistent grain, color, and shading throughout a project. You can see in the attached photo labeled "Veneer" that even though great care was given to the matching of the grain in the veneer on the front of this circulation desk and a dye stain was used to ensure consistency of color, in certain light or at certain angles of viewing there is a "striping" effect in appearance. This effect is commonly referred to as "barber pole" and is accepted and expected to some extent with any natural wood. The photo labeled "Laminate" is of a reception desk with wood grain plastic laminate (Wilsonart 7925 Monticello Maple & 7929 Huntington Maple). It is clear to see that there is no "barber pole" effect in this photo.

Veneer

Laminate

In my next post I will continue to discuss some of the advantages of HPL including durability.


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