Having clarified what laminate is, what veneer is made of, and their respective characteristics, all that remains is to summarize what the main differences are between the two materials. If you have doubts when choosing between one board or another, before making a purchase, define your needs, your expectations and the budget to be respected.
If you have the choice between a laminated tabletop and a veneer tabletop, you can evaluate these elements:
Cladding – Laminate is covered with synthetic material while veneer is covered with real wood.
Appearance: Veneer retains the authentic characteristics of wood (color, grain, shading), while laminate mimics, albeit cleverly, the effect.
Variety of range – Both materials have a rich and varied range of colors and textures. Laminated wood panels can also reproduce the effects of materials such as stone, marble or concrete; veneer, on the other hand, is limited to the most famous essences, but is available in natural and lacquered versions.
Price – Veneered lumber is more expensive than laminated boards (with the exception of some new generation laminates, which have a higher cost.
Maintenance: Laminate boards are easy to maintain, while veneered ones require specific treatments for real wood.
Strength – In general, laminate is more durable than wood veneer.
Post forming: More than a difference, it is a feature to be aware of when choosing. The board undergoes a post forming operation, a process that allows obtaining a slightly rounded base on which to apply melamine paper. The coating is adhered to the panel surface, including the edges, with a hot bending operation. This process guarantees an aesthetic result without visible joints, and is mainly used for covering smooth and curved lines.
Alternatively, the board can be finished with edges applied to the thickness. In this case, the material used acts on the resistance of the upper part. Commonly, the edges for the boards are made of plastic material such as PVC or ABS. Between the two, ABS is more resistant to shocks, scratches, mechanical stress, exposure to light and different temperatures.
