Lay-up panels and cabinet-grade plywood

When you’re redoing your kitchen or bathroom, you many have a vision in your mind of white countertops, sparkling floors or wooden cabinets. Perhaps you want something a little more fancy – like a special design or a bright color.

With lay-up panels, the sky’s the limit! This technique is used to create liners, melamine paper, high pressure laminate (HPL), and beautiful veneers on cabinet grade plywood, and allows you to customize to your heart’s content.

There are many reasons to use lay-up panels. First, it’s less expensive than using solid wood. Second, it weighs considerably less than solid wood, which reduces transportation prices and makes it easier to install. Third, it gives you a plethora of options for the look and feel of the final project.

There are several different types of lay-up panels commonly used today. Each style is applied to cabinet grade plywood, low-grade plywood, or particleboard using pressure and/or heat.

There are even wood liners that can be used inside of cabinets and drawers to finish off your look and give everything a natural wood smell.

Let’s look at the other types of lay-up panels.

Melamine Paper – this decorative paper is especially popular because it can be used to create a variety of colors and patterns, from the natural wood look to vivid colors. This paper is often found as the top layer of furniture made from particleboard like desks and chests of drawers.

Veneer – A wood veneer is a very thin layer of wood that’s been glued together, usually three times, and applied to cabinet grade plywood to produce doors, panels, flooring, and pieces of furniture. It’s made by peeling the trunk of a tree or slicing large pieces of wood.

Veneers appeal to people who want a classic wood look, but don’t necessarily want to invest in a solid wood piece.

HPL – High pressure laminates are some of the most durable and long-lasting surface materials available. It’s molded and curved by heat and high pressure and is then impregnated with resin before being applied to the core layers. HPL is flame retardant and has antibacterial properties, making it a great choice for families with young children. It also gives you the opportunity to customize your design with wood grains, abstract art, and metallic laminates available from many major brands.

When it comes to lay-up panels, it’s easy to see why they’ve grown in popularity since the time they were first invented. They are a simple way to get the design you’re looking for without breaking the bank.

And whether they’re applied to cabinet grade plywood or particleboard, the results are stunning and built to last.


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