Questions & Answers

Wilsonart® High Wear Laminate is available in most promoted designs. Check the Wilsonart website for pattern availability.

Yes, with Wilsonart® RE-COVER™ Laminate, this application is now achievable. RE-COVER is approved to be applied over HPL, melamine, and smooth metals.

• No sanding of melamine required
• No adhesive applied by the fabricator
• Low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) created by adhesive application
• RE-COVER Adhesive System applied to laminate by Wilsonart
• A quick cleaning with denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, or Windex® w/ Ammonia

Please reference the Fabrication and Installation Manual here for complete details. For additional technical assistance, please contact us at 800-433-3222.

To some extent, it is; we all use presses, we all use cure cycles and so forth; the papers and resins are very similar. But the way we cure resins and handle them in certain respects is different, and we do consider these techniques proprietary.

No, only the 300 series of products are manufactured to postform with the aid of heat. The laminates finish, color, and/or pattern will affect the heat transfer rate throughout the thickness of the laminates. As an example, white laminates will reflect heat and therefore will require more heat to transfer 325°F in 25 + 5 seconds throughout the laminate thickness. Dark laminates will absorb heat and therefore will require less heat to transfer 325°F in 25 + 5 seconds throughout the laminate thickness.

Blister points for postforming and general purpose grade laminate is in the range of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The time at any given temperature is a big factor. Postforming grade laminates should never blister in less than 40 seconds if temperature is quickly increased to 325 degrees Fahrenheit in 25 + 5 seconds. This margin assures good forming and good blister resistance. As an example, a hot pot containing oil heated to 356 degrees Fahrenheit will not blister laminate as it cools, but if this temperature is maintained, damage may result.

ISO4586 performance standards for formability are 5/8" (16mm) outside radii for horizontal grade postform (HGP) and ½" (13mm) outside radii for vertical grade postform (VGP). Typical results for Wilsonart® Postforming Grade 350 (HGP) Laminate is 9/16" (14.3mm) outside and 3/16" (4.8mm) inside radii. Typical results for Wilsonart® Vertical Grade 335 (VGP) Laminate is 7/16" (11.1mm) outside and 3/16" (4.8mm) inside radii. Smaller radii may be achieved depending on the postforming equipment and the degree of craftsmanship. The ideal forming temperature for Wilsonart postformable laminate grades 350 (HGP) and 335 (VGP) is 325°F in 20 + 5 seconds throughout its thickness. The laminates finish, color, and/or pattern will affect the heat transfer rate throughout the laminates thickness.

Cold forming of Wilsonart® Laminate depends on the thickness of the product. For example, Product 335 (VGP) can be bent to a 7" (177.8mm) radius; Product 350 (HGS) to a 9" (228.6mm) radius; and Product 107 (HGS) to a 12" (304.8mm) radius (all cold bends).

First, thickness: vertical grade 335 (VGP) is .028" + .004" (.7mm + .1mm), postforming grade 350 (HGP) is .039" + .005" (1.0mm + .12mm), and general purpose grade 107 (HGS) is .048" + .005" (1.2mm + .12mm).

Also, vertical and postforming grades can be postformed to a simple radius, while general purpose grade is intended for flat work only. The thickness of our products does not affect wear characteristics.

All High Pressure Decorative Laminate (HPDL) is available in three basic types or grades:

• General Purpose Type 107 (HGS) is produced for both horizontal and vertical interior applications where the surface must be functional, decorative, and durable.
• Vertical Surface Type 335 (VGP) is intended for vertical interior applications where the surface will absorb somewhat less impact than a comparable horizontal surface. This type may be postformed to achieve radiused edges.
• Postforming Type 350 (HGP) is intended for use on vertical or horizontal interior surfaces where it is necessary or desirable to roll the laminate on a simple radius over the edge of the substrate. This eliminates seams and creates an attractive surface.

The performance standards are established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for High Pressure Laminate (HPL). Wilsonart® Laminates meet or exceed the performance standards set by ISO4586 for HPL.

Nine sizes of Wilsonart® Laminate are available (note: not all sizes are stocked; check your distributor for availability): 

Widths: 30" (762mm), 36" (914mm), 48" (1219mm) and 60" (1524mm)
Lengths: 96" (2438mm), 120" (3048mm) and 144" (3658mm) 

The Standards are an enriching palette of solid colors and designs geared to be the most up-to-date color and design offering in the decorative surfacing industry today. The Standards are updated regularly to reflect and anticipate changing design trends.

Laminates will fade if exposed to direct ultraviolet light, such as from an open window or external exposure. All of our colors are actually checked in a Fade-Ometer to be certain that they will maintain their normal coloration in indoor use within acceptable limits established by ISO4586.

As a rule, a maintained temperature of 285°F can discolor a laminate. Contact adhesives typically can be reactivated or soften at around 200°F, which will allow the laminate to pull loose. The reactivation or softening of a contact adhesive will depend upon the melt point of the rubber compound. Repeated heating may cause the laminate and adhesive to react and finally deteriorate after continual exposure to temperatures above 150°F. A pan of boiling water may be accidentally placed on a countertop without causing damage, but a hot dry pan should never be placed on a laminate countertop, since the exact temperature of the pan is unknown.

All Wilsonart® Laminate, regardless of finish, should be treated and cared for in the same way. Wash it with a soft, clean cloth and mild soap, rinse well with water, dry, and the finish will last for a long time. A soft brush may help clean the more heavily textured finishes.

Designing laminate involves several steps: the main objective is to address design and color relative to what we think the market will want. During the design process, we work with Dacor paper printers, designers, and color/design consultants to develop a line that meets the needs of both residential and commercial specifiers.

The Wilsonart Design Department has developed a list of matching and close-match options to other surfacing brands. Contact your Wilsonart representative if you are in need of a match.

Custom colors and designs in conventional laminate require huge minimum orders usually in the range of 250,000 square feet. Most jobs require much smaller orders, and Wilsonart® Digital Laminate Services may suit their needs. Custom Laminate takes a little longer and costs more than conventional laminate, but it carries a one-sheet minimum order. For more information on Wilsonart® Digital Print Services, contact your local Wilsonart sales representative.

The overall design scale, in the case of stones, woodgrains and certain abstracts, carries color and grain differences in veining and design variation throughout the sheet. A small sample may not represent these variations accurately. Larger samples are available through our Hotline (1-800-433-3222 or www.wilsonart.com).

The standard finish is selected primarily as an enhancement of the design itself. Finishes can either subdue or strengthen the color value of the design. Finishes can also affect the appearance of wear (for example, smoother finishes may show scratches more readily than textured ones).

You can choose several finish options from Wilsonart to create the look and performance qualities you seek. Non-standard finishes usually carry an upcharge and may require additional lead time.

Yes and no. Not all designs are automatically retained when they are removed from the promoted line. Most are moved into a secondary laminate line we call non-promoted. The average length of availability in the non-promoted line is two to three years before discontinuation. Non-promoted designs are factory orders, and therefore may require a longer lead time.