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Guide
Laminate buying guide
Straight answers to the questions people ask before buying laminate, from the team at Ratnam Laminates, Ahmedabad.
Contents
0.8 mm or 1 mm laminate: which should you choose?
Use 1 mm laminate for surfaces that take wear: table tops, kitchen shutters, counters and office desks. Use 0.8 mm for vertical surfaces such as wardrobe sides, wall panelling and back panels, where it costs less and bends more easily.
Both come in the standard 8 × 4 ft (1220 × 2440 mm) sheet. Ratnam's Sunshine and Smart Shine laminates are made in 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm; the ELYT Lanvin range is 1 mm.
What is IS 2046 and the ISI mark on laminates?
IS 2046 is the Indian Standard for decorative laminated sheets. A sheet with the ISI mark has been made under a BIS licence and tested for surface wear, boiling water, dry heat, impact, scratching, staining and colour fastness.
Check the licence number printed with the ISI mark; you can verify it on the BIS website. Ratnam's licence is CM/L-2887080. The values the standard sets for a 1 mm sheet are in the IS 2046 table.
Decorative HPL vs compact laminate: what is the difference?
Decorative HPL is a thin sheet (0.8–1 mm) glued onto plywood or MDF. Compact laminate is made the same way but with many more kraft layers, so it is 4–25 mm thick and strong enough to stand on its own.
Choose HPL for furniture, wardrobes, kitchens and panelling. Choose compact for toilet cubicles, lockers, lab tops and wet areas, where a plywood core would swell.
Suede, high gloss or silky matt: which laminate finish?
Suede is a fine matt texture that hides fingerprints and small scratches, a safe choice for kitchens and wardrobes. High gloss reflects light and looks rich, but shows fingerprints and scratches more, so it suits feature walls and low-touch shutters. Silky matt is smooth and soft to the touch with very little shine.
Smart Shine catalogues include high gloss, silky matt and suede; Sunshine adds textured, 3D and fluted finishes.
Which laminate is best for kitchen cabinets?
For kitchen shutters, pick a 1 mm laminate in a suede or matt finish: it resists heat and stains and hides daily marks. Use a post-forming grade where shutters have curved edges, and fix a balancing (backer) laminate on the inside face so shutters stay flat.
Keep laminate away from direct flame and very hot pans; IS 2046 tests resistance to dry heat at 180 °C, not to open heat sources.
How do you clean and look after laminate?
Wipe with a soft damp cloth and mild soap. For stubborn stains, use a diluted organic solvent or a household stain remover. Do not use abrasive cleaners or wire brushes.
Keep laminates out of strong direct sunlight to avoid fading, and check the colour and finish of all sheets before fixing them, since installed sheets cannot be exchanged.