What is the difference between laminate and particle board

One can try to smooth plywood out with sandpaper, but it cannot match the kind of surface smoothness that particle boards can provide. With its smoother surface, particleboard allows decorative laminates and other finish material to make the finished product look more stunning.

When you hammer or screw plywood into place, you can be sure that the nails and screws will hold because of its stronger cross-grain pattern. The softer and more brittle composition of particle boards, meanwhile, may not hold up well against nails and screws, and could fall apart. Plywood sheets are also so much lighter than particle boards. They are easier to carry from area to area, or floor to floor.

Being heavier, wall cabinets or wheeled furniture made purely of particle boards could collapse under its own weight. While regular plywood is not exactly waterproof—although marine plywood comes real close—particle boards fare worse as they easily swell and expand with the moisture. When this happens, particle boards loses most of their strength as well. Solid wood has a strength that stands the test of time, especially if the piece is made from hard wood like maple. Real wood stands up to modifications, such as sawing legs down or repositioning hardware, while particle board may fall apart if drilled or sawed.

Sturdy construction such as dovetailed joints holds some wood furniture together, while particleboard pieces may be slapped together with glue, staples or screws. Solid wood furniture, especially pieces made from rare or beautiful wood such as ebony, burled maple or European beech, may be quite expensive because the wood itself is pricey.

A large piece of solid wood, such as a tabletop made from one wide board, may warp over time, as many woods expand and contract with changes in the humidity. Aside from generally being less expensive than a similar piece made of solid wood, particle-board furniture does have a few positive traits. This makes for sturdy construction of furniture. On the other hand, Medium-density fibreboard MDF is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure.

MDF is generally denser than plywood. The problem with MDF in using it for furniture is, due to its construction, it does not hold screws well.

MDF is heavier than plywood which might be good or bad depending on the purpose of the furniture and swells if any water gets on it. So, plywood is a common better choice than MDF, but it depends on the use-case. Each of these engineered wood types has their own advantages and disadvantages and are to be considered in furniture manufacturing basis the product requirement.

Over the years, engineered wood has gained tremendous popularity and is one of the most sold wooden formats across the world as economic and light-weight furniture gains traction all over the world. You must be logged in to post a comment. Skip to content. Advantages and Disadvantages of Laminate and Veneer Laminate is paper and plastic whereas Veneer is an actual layer of wood.

Veneers get a wooden look with polish and good maintenance and add to the richness of the furniture. Laminates do look artificial and sometimes cheap. Laminates are water-proof and scratch resistant and come in various colors and shades such as glossy, matte and soft textures.

On the other hand, Veneers come in limited colors and types of shades as they are layers of natural wood. Laminates are usually a better choice for kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, etc. Veneers are much costlier than laminates as veneers come from actual wood and are not manufactured within factory artificially. The higher the density, the better the strength and resistance of the screw support. A significant disadvantage of laminated particle boards is that they tend to absorb moisture and cause swelling and discoloration, especially when it is not covered by paint or other sealants.

Therefore, it is rarely used outdoors or in high humidity areas, except for bathrooms, kitchens and laundries, which are commonly used as liners for shielding under moisture-resistant continuous vinyl floor sheets.

In a dry environment, the laminated laminated particle board is superior to the veneer plywood due to its stability, low cost and convenience. In a dry environment, veneer particleboard is favored by people for its stability, low cost and ease of use.

The laminated particle board has had a huge impact on the furniture design. In the early s, laminated particle boards began to be used in furniture buildings, but in many cases it was still more expensive than solid wood.

The laminated particle board is only suitable for very wealthy people. After the technology is more developed, the laminated particle board becomes cheaper. The strategies of some large companies are based on affordable furniture supply.