Veneer or laminate - which door finish to choose?

The appearance and construction of a door is of great importance to interior design - the right doors can emphasize its character and create a space in which we feel at ease. When choosing interior doors for a house, it is worth considering the technique in which they were finished. Veneered or laminated - what is the difference between these two types of doors and which one is better to choose?

Solid wood doors have been a success in our homes for many years. Currently, their place is increasingly taken by models covered with veneer - natural or synthetic. Doors made using these techniques are durable and aesthetically pleasing, and the abundance of designs and colors available allows you to choose a finish that will suit your backdrop or foreground decoration. 

The most common types of wood used for the production of veneered doors are oak, beech, walnut, ash and mahogany. However, in addition to natural veneers, modified veneers are also available on the market. It is obtained from exotic, fast-growing trees grown on African plantations. How is it done? First, all defects (such as holes and discoloration) are removed from the sawn wood. Then they are painted and put into special blocks, giving them a suitable pattern during the gluing and pressing process. The blocks obtained in this way are positioned accordingly and re-cut into separate sheets.The modified veneer created in this way has the advantage over natural veneer in that it guarantees a perfect consistent shade and texture repeatability. 

Where will veneer doors work?

Veneered doors will be deceptively similar to traditional solid wood doors. So, if our budget for home design does not include buying more expensive wood doors, we can confidently choose this type of natural veneer. We can use them wherever we want to emphasize the natural structure of the tree and its characteristic features in the form of rings. 

Laminated doors, i.e. practical and synthetic veneer. 

However, synthetics do not mean worse. The door veneers used today are delightful in their richness of colors and patterns, so we can easily adapt them to the look of our interiors. Another great advantage of modern coatings is that they reflect the structure and color of the wood very well. Thanks to this, we can enjoy the natural look of doors without having to buy wooden doors. 

A door veneer is nothing more than a layer of cellulose fibers held together by resin. The material is placed on the door leaf - it can also be enriched with additional protective layers. Among the synthetic veneers used on interior doors, we distinguish two main types: CPL and HPL. 

CPL laminate is a thin layer consisting of several layers of hot-pressed paper impregnated with special adhesives and covered with a layer of wear-resistant melamine resin varnish. It is distinguished by exceptional resistance to mechanical damage and ultraviolet radiation.

Made from natural raw materials, this eco-friendly and wood-imitating product will successfully maintain its impeccable appearance for many years. Its exceptional flexibility prevents cracking and scratching even when struck by a heavy object.

The surface of the laminated door is also highly moisture resistant. For this reason, we can confidently use them in areas subject to contact with water, such as kitchens or bathrooms. SMART doors will find their place there . They are not only functional, thanks to the possibility of installing additional accessories, but also very durable. They are covered with a film of oak shades and have increased wear resistance and moisture resistance. So it will also be a good choice for people who share their four corners with a pet - dog or cat.

Synthetic veneer is also an alternative to more expensive wood doors. We can choose a really huge range of colors that perfectly mimics this natural material. When choosing a Nordia door , we can choose veneer with a maple, walnut, oak or pine look.