Joinery Materials: what are the options?
Whether you’re renovating or building, the whole process can be extremely stressful. You have so many decisions to make, and it’s difficult to know where to start!
I believe it’s important to fully understand the pro’s and con’s to every material you’re thinking of using to ensure you’re making an educated decision on what to put into your home. A huge question that we often get is what joinery materials are available, and which would be best for a client’s home. Like everything, there is no one size fits all when it comes to joinery materials, what will work best for one client may not work for another, so let’s break down some of the more popular joinery material options & if they might work for you.
MELAMINE/LAMINATE
Low pressure melamine (LPM) also known as laminate is made using a decorative paper which is bonded to either particleboard or MDF using heat & pressure.
Advantages.
Cost effective
Hard wearing
Good colour range
Both block colours & woodgrain finishes available
Different finishes available (matte, soft touch matte, textured, silk, high gloss)
Easy to clean
Disadvantages.
Has a thin, but visible edge strip
Flat panel design only (no profile)
Less colour options if wanting a particular shade
Starting with the most cost effective option of all, melamine/laminate. Oftentimes, clients think melamine isn’t a great product due to it’s low cost, however, this isn’t the case at all. Although yes, it is extremely affordable it is also the most durable product on the market (in my opinion). When you look up close, there is a small join where you can see the edge strip, this is much more noticeable in solid light colours like white, compared to dark or woodgrain options, but to be honest, you can’t see this when you’re looking at the kitchen as a whole.
The main disadvantages to melamine is the somewhat limited colour range, and the fact that it is only available in a flat panel design, so if you’re wanting more of a country or Hamptons look, this more than likely won’t work for you.
VINYL
Vinyl wrap, also known as thermo-laminate is made using MDF board, which is covered with vinyl using heat & vacuum.
Advantages.
Seamless, join free finish
Both flat panel & profile options available
Both block colours & woodgrain finishes available
Different finishes available (textured matte & gloss)
Easy to clean
Disadvantages.
Limited colour options available
Edges can peel with excessive heat exposure
Vinyl wrap is a great option if you’re wanting to avoid the edge strip on melamine. It did get a bad rap a few years ago due to a bad batch of glue causing the vinyl to peel, however with excessive heat exposure it can still lift at the edges, so that is definitely something to be mindful of.
Now that vinyl wrap is also available in woodgrain options, this is becoming a great option for people who want a profile, woodgrain look without the big cost of solid timber.
2 PAC PAINT
2 pac is a 2 part paint system that creates a hardened finish. It is more commonly sprayed onto MDF board, but can also be sprayed onto solid timber.
Advantages.
Can be colour matched to any colour you like
Both flat panel & profile options available
Different finishes available (gloss, satin, matte)
Easy to clean Seamless, join free finish
Disadvantages.
Can chip
Expensive
Can’t achieve a timber look
2 Pac paint is a fantastic door finish, especially if you’re wanting a very particular colour as it can be colour matched to anything, the options are truly endless! This is available in both flat panel & profile designs, and can also achieve a really high gloss finish as well as a satin or matte finish, which makes the product so versatile.
2 pac paint is very similar to a car paint, in the sense that if you’re not careful with the doors, the paint definitely can chip. The chipping more commonly happens on the edges of the doors & drawer fronts, as you may knock them as you’re putting your items away, we see this a lot on the tops of cutlery drawers especially. If you’re opting for a bold or dark colour, please keep in mind that the 2 pac undercoat is white, so this chipping will be much more visible compared to if the doors were white or a light colour.
If you have young children, or pets that scratch/jump at the cabinets, this may not be the best option for you.
TIMBER VENEER
Timber veneer is a light layer of natural timber bonded to MDF board
Advantages.
Natural look & feel of timber
Every panel is different, creating a unique look
Many different species of timber available
Can be stained to achieve desired look
Can be lacquered using a matte, satin or even gloss finish
Disadvantages.
Expensive
Flat panel design only
Softer material
Timber veneer is definitely less commonly used now, as the woodgrain melamine options have improved over the years. As mentioned above, timber veneer is a thin layer of natural timber on a board, which gives the beauty of the natural timber, however is more cost effective than the solid timber option.
Timber veneer is a great solution if you’re really wanting a particular species of timber but are wanting flat panel doors, keeping in mind that this product does come with a high price tag.
SOLID TIMBER
Natural, solid timber usually joined together in a 5 piece panel & then lacquered
Advantages.
Natural look & feel of timber
Every panel is different, creating a unique look
Many different species of timber available
Can be stained to achieve desired look
Can be lacquered using a matte, satin or even gloss finish
Disadvantages.
Expensive
Softer material, more prone to dents
Solid timber is a beautiful joinery material, which is definitely less common nowadays due to the higher cost, and the fact that other materials have improved over time.
The beauty of solid timber is that although you select a species of timber, each panel will differ slightly in colour. In saying that though, if you are very particular about the exact colour you’re wanting, a natural timber won’t be the right choice for you.
So there it is! The more commonly used joinery materials here in Australia. There are pros & cons to all the options, so it’s just about finding the right fit for you & your family.
If you’re looking at renovating or building & need some further advice, please reach out to see how we can help you with your selections.
