Category Construction Glossary
Cabinet finishes
Cabinets may be finished with opaque paint or transparent finishes such as
lacquer or varnish. A variety of decorative finishes is available. They include
distressing, glazing, and toning. There are many aspects of the appearance
of a finished wood surface that can be perceived, color being one. Another is
sheen (referred to as satin, gloss, and gradations thereof). There are several
others.
Opaque finishes
High pressure laminate (HPL) has become ubiquitous in the modern industrial
world. HPL is formed of a resin and paper components under high pressure
(ordinary wood does not sustain such pressures, and can readily be crushed
to less than half its natural thickness in a hand operated arbor press). The
high pressure confers a density and a resistance to damage simply because
any utensil, tool, or other object that may come in contact with, or strike, the
HPL will not impart a force greater than what was employed to form the HPL
itself. In effect, the HPL has been "dented" in advance. HPL can be decorated
in any pattern and is applied using contact cement and pressed in place using
a "J-roller." HPL is cut slightly larger than the panel on which it is to be
installed and "trimmed" using a router-like laminate trimmer along the edge. It
may also be filed to obtain the final edge. Since the 1970s the trend has been
away from HPL in favor of wood.
Melamine is utilized as a coating for furniture board panels often utilized in
building cabinet carcases. Melamine is a unique white-in-color chemical
formulation which is advantageous for chemical and impact resistance not
unlike HPL. Melamine coated boards are widely available in home centers for
purposes such as shelving.
Thermofoil is a plastic coating applied to furniture-board which may have
been milled, shaped, or routed so that it can assume a fairly complex profile
(particularly when compared to HPL). As a laminate, grooves and edges
conform to manufacturing requirements for minimum radius, as compared to a
milled solid surface such as hardwood. Thermofoil can be made with a very
glossy sheen. In this sense it is unique. The drawback is that thermofoil, which
although durable is less resistant to impact damage than HPL, typically cannot
be repaired.
Paint can be used over cabinets where desired. Paint is considered very
traditional and subtle evidence of brush strokes in the finish are considered
by many to be attractive.
Cabinets may be finished with opaque paint or transparent finishes such as
lacquer or varnish. A variety of decorative finishes is available. They include
distressing, glazing, and toning. There are many aspects of the appearance
of a finished wood surface that can be perceived, color being one. Another is
sheen (referred to as satin, gloss, and gradations thereof). There are several
others.
Opaque finishes
High pressure laminate (HPL) has become ubiquitous in the modern industrial
world. HPL is formed of a resin and paper components under high pressure
(ordinary wood does not sustain such pressures, and can readily be crushed
to less than half its natural thickness in a hand operated arbor press). The
high pressure confers a density and a resistance to damage simply because
any utensil, tool, or other object that may come in contact with, or strike, the
HPL will not impart a force greater than what was employed to form the HPL
itself. In effect, the HPL has been "dented" in advance. HPL can be decorated
in any pattern and is applied using contact cement and pressed in place using
a "J-roller." HPL is cut slightly larger than the panel on which it is to be
installed and "trimmed" using a router-like laminate trimmer along the edge. It
may also be filed to obtain the final edge. Since the 1970s the trend has been
away from HPL in favor of wood.
Melamine is utilized as a coating for furniture board panels often utilized in
building cabinet carcases. Melamine is a unique white-in-color chemical
formulation which is advantageous for chemical and impact resistance not
unlike HPL. Melamine coated boards are widely available in home centers for
purposes such as shelving.
Thermofoil is a plastic coating applied to furniture-board which may have
been milled, shaped, or routed so that it can assume a fairly complex profile
(particularly when compared to HPL). As a laminate, grooves and edges
conform to manufacturing requirements for minimum radius, as compared to a
milled solid surface such as hardwood. Thermofoil can be made with a very
glossy sheen. In this sense it is unique. The drawback is that thermofoil, which
although durable is less resistant to impact damage than HPL, typically cannot
be repaired.
Paint can be used over cabinets where desired. Paint is considered very
traditional and subtle evidence of brush strokes in the finish are considered
by many to be attractive.