The differences between laminated and veneered MDF interior doors
Laminate and veneer have been growing in popularity over the recent past. With their flexibility, versatility and ability to fit into any design, these two materials have become a great alternative to solid wood. Among other things, they are also relatively friendly to the environment, an important benefit to great many people. While laminates are used for floors, kitchen cabinets, etc. in addition to doors, the application of veneer is mainly in the manufacture of doors. And what exactly is the difference between these two materials, see in the lines that are to follow.
What are laminated and veneered MDF and how can we tell them apart?
To the trained eye, the differences between MDF interior doors made of laminate and those made of veneer are obvious. To most customers and the untrained eye though, the two types of materials can hardly be distinguished from each other. A significant difference between the two remains the price. And it is often an important factor in choosing interior doors. But as far as the overall difference between interior laminate doors and the veneer ones goes, it is pretty insignificant. With the exception of the door finish itself, what the door is made of is absolutely the same in both cases. In other words, the choice is actually between two types of cladding – veneer versus laminate.
MDF laminate
Simply put, laminate is a surface made to look like real wood, but is usually made of plastic and bonded to a composite base. Another name for laminate is technical veneer – as we mentioned, it is not a natural material (unlike veneer). The laminate is made to resemble real wood – with colors and wood grain that make the laminate practically indistinguishable from natural veneer. However, while the veneer has unique patterns, the work of nature, the laminate sheets are the same (for manufacturing series from the same manufacturers).
The price of the laminate is lower because it is a material that is synthesized artificially. Making it is a less labor intensive process compared to the extraction of natural veneer. The production technology makes the laminate practically inexhaustible, which is another important factor in pricing. One of the advantages of laminate is its high resistance and the resulting longer service life.
MDF veneer
On the other hand, veneer is a natural material. This material is split by means of specialized machines, to which logs of pre-treated wood are fed. The machine makes parallel cuts on the log, resulting in a thin sheet of wood. And depending on the type of wood that is split and the direction of cutting, the veneer sheets have a different grain and color.
The color of the veneer may subsequently change. Different stains or varnishes are used for this purpose, but the grain remains permanent and unique for the given sheet of veneer. Therefore, it can be said that every interior door made of veneered MDF is unique.
Which material should we choose for making interior doors?
With the innovations in designing and decorating, there is a tendency to choose the more functional and clean interiors. Nowadays, they are definitely preferred over more ornate and intricately detailed interiors. That is why laminates and veneers are gaining more and more popularity.
However, it is difficult to say which cladding to choose – it all comes down to taste and price. And the task of SBS Design‘s consultants is to offer you a sufficiently large selection of finishes for your interior doors and to give you sound advice and recommendations based on your preferences and budget. Make the right choice and visit one of our stores with showrooms in Varna, Shumen or Burgas. Here you can see finished doors and make up your mind. You can also use our online visualizer to create a design for your interior doors. Send us the finished project easily and quickly through our site and get a quote for your project!