Design Solutions - Spring 2013 - (Page 49)

TIP #2. use metal laminates for vertical surfaces only. Metal laminates have fascinated our industry from the day they were introduced. Many of them scratch easily. Most cannot be used effectively in high abuse applications. When used properly, on vertical surfaces, and properly engineered to allow for movement they can be stunning. TIP #3. Avoid deeply textured laminates where cleaning is an issue or for writing surfaces. This seems to be common sense, but we’ve seen a number of designers who must have missed this advice when thinking through the project. TIP #4. Involve your manufacturer. Long time readers of this magazine have heard this from me before, and it goes for more than laminates. Clear, Correct, Complete specifications and communi- cation between all the team members paves miles and miles of good road. Manufacturers and fabricators are, for the most part, proud and protective about their life’s work. They want it to go well. They want the client to get a quality product. Design professionals are also proud of their work, and want to deliver projects which enhance their reputation. Keeping a project secret may set you up for product failures. For example, some HPDL will not permit solvents for cleaning and others require special backer sheets. A sharp 90º corner at a sink cut-out, for example, is very likely to be the place a crack in the laminate begins. SuBStrateS and StaBilitY Most laminate is glued to a matformed composite wood panel substrate. The substrate of choice for under the HPDL is 45 pound medium density industrial particleboard. Just as there are a variety of types of laminate, particleboard comes in many densities. These standards are set by our sister association, the Composite Panel Association (http:// compositepanel.org/). There is no advantage, in most cases, to specifying any particleboard other than 45 lb. medium density board for your substrate. As we’ve learned in the previous issue of Design Solutions, wood and wood products move in relation to changes in relative humidity. The kraft paper back- TIP #5. Always specify, use, and permit a radius on inside corner cut-outs. Openings in laminated surfaces must never have sharp angles. ! spring 2013 I designsolutions 49 http://compositepanel.org/ http://compositepanel.org/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Design Solutions - Spring 2013

Design Solutions - Spring 2013
Contents
Cornerstone
High Pressure Decorative Laminate
Office of Ovangkol
Design Flies High
A Captivating Kitchen
Design Scores Big
A Century of Laminate
Product Showcase
AWI Manufacturing Members
Ad Index
AWI Supplier Members

Design Solutions - Spring 2013