Thread: Veneer vs laminate

This is one of those cases where context is important to understand the terms being used.

Strictly speaking a veneer is a decorative surface placed over a substrate. A thin layer of wood over (say) an MDF substrate is a veneer, but so too are the porcelain vereers dentists sometimes use to improve our smiles. In both cases it is a decorative outer layer.

Again, strictly speaking a laminate is one of several layers bonded together to make a whole. "Laminex" is a trade name for plastic bench top (etc) coverings. It is made up of many sheets of resin impregnated paper that is pressed together in a heated press. "Lamination" is the process of making something with multiple layers.

In everyday terms, veneer usually means what you indicated, the decorative coating (of wood etc) placed over a substrate.

In everyday terms, laminate means one of several layers that are being built up to form a whole.

In the case of the oak flooring, it is likely that the flooring in question is a laminated product ... perhaps masonite at the base, some form of substrate in the middle and a thin piece of oak on the top. So in this case, the oak is both a veneer and a laminate.

Cheerio!

John

John is spot on with his explanation. However, there is one confounding use that I know of. Kitchen benchtops, made from chipboard surfaced top & bottom with laminex or similar, is often referred to as laminate.

Laminate flooring generally refers to a veneer of the feature timber on top, with a thicker middle layer of cheap timber having the grain running at right angles to the top & bottom, and a thin bottom veneer with grain running the same way as the top - sort of like plywood. I've used this and found it robust and easy to install. However, it may also refer to a masonite type material with an imitation wood grain surface. I haven't used it, but it didn't fill me with confidence.

In the woodworking/cabinetry industry, veneer is used exclusively for thin slices of real timber on a substrate while laminate is used for plastic/composite like Laminex.

Thanks so much guys,

That really clears it up!

The laminate over poor quality office furniture/ book cases etc (normally white), what exactly is this - a plastic, or similar to kitchen bench top?

Also curiously, where would you buy laminate such as this?

That's melamine. Solid colours are applied (sprayed, I think) onto to MDF or chipboard by the manufacturer (patterns are printed over a solid colour base, usually white or an appropriate shade of grey), rather than glued on by the consumer like veneer or sheet laminate (which is melamine on a flexible resin-impregnated-paper/fabric base). Companies that produce coloured or patterned board will generally have matching sheet laminate and/or edge tape.

You can buy it from places that sell MDF and other sheet goods. In general, anything other than black or white will have to be ordered in for you and some colours/patterns will only be available in 3.6x1.2m or 3.6x1.8m sheets - especially in thicker sheets.