InteriorArts Product FAQ

High Pressure Laminate or HPL, is essentially plastic laminate, a durable decorative surface material. To make, sheets of kraft paper (think thick construction paper) are covered or impregnated with heat activated resins. (The more layers of kraft paper, the thicker the laminate) Atop this is placed a décor paper- a large piece of paper with a printed design- a wood grain for example. Melamine and Release papers, which impart a texture or finish to the laminate, are added. The resulting layers are pressed under heat- hence the name high pressure laminate- fusing the décor and kraft papers into a finished laminate sheet. That’s the quick version.

InteriorArts comes in different sizes depending on the product SKU:
Patterns #1002 – #3104 are available in 4’ x 8’ sheets and are .034” thick.
Pattern #6001 – #6064 are available in 4’ x 10’ sheets and are .031” thick.
Pattern #6070 is available in two special sizes due to the uniqueness of the pattern: 4’ x 9’ and 28.875” x 9’. Thickness is .036”. 

InteriorArts is available thru our international distributor network. We’re headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts and our distributor network is strongest in North America, with over 100 locations in the USA and Canada. This makes it easy for you to source our designs quickly, easily and affordably. In locations where we don’t have a distributor, we sell direct to customers.

Find your nearest InteriorArts distributor here: https://www.ialaminates.com/distributors/

Or call us at 800 807-7341.

IA currently does not offer a corresponding edge banding. However, several edge banding suppliers match our patterns or at least get close to it.

Edgebanding supplier recommendations are listed here:

https://www.ialaminates.com/edgebanding/

Use the same adhesive and application techniques (application rate, method of application, drying techniques, etc.) for bonding the front and back laminates. This is especially important when using water-based adhesives such as PVA (white glue), urea’s or water-based contact adhesives which introduce additional moisture into the panel assembly. In addition, if panels are being hot pressed, the top and bottom platen temperatures may require temperature adjustments to produce flat panels. Temperatures used to effect glue line cure can cause shrinkage of the glue and surfacing materials. Generally, the side having the thicker skin will require a slightly higher platen temperature than the side having a thinner skin (cabinet liner, phenolic backer, etc.), due to heat transfer rates. Bottom platen temperature may also require reduction to compensate for the additional contact time involved while the press is being closed and opened.

A variety of adhesives have been found satisfactory for bonding decorative laminates to core materials. The choice of adhesive should be based on the service for which the assembly is intended and upon the bonding facilities available. In all cases, the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions for use should be followed closely. Please click on link for more information on adhesives and lamination techniques:

InteriorArts Tech Info

No. InteriorArts works best on a completely flat, even surface that is free of debris. Therefore, drywall is not suitable. Most, if not all, HPL laminate manufacturers do not recommend gypsum board as a substrate. We highly recommend applying the IA laminate to a smooth sound wood substrate such as high quality plywood, MDF and particleboard.

Surface texture is one of the distinguishing features of InteriorArts so it is not recommended for horizontal use. However, our Natural textures, denoted with a NAT after the product number, perform well as desktops (we used them as sit/stand desktops when we refreshed our office furniture). Keep in mind, our laminates are Standard Grade thickness, which give them less thickness and impact resistance than Horizontal Grade. Because of this we recommend that InteriorArts is installed in vertical applications such as cabinet faces and wall décor, with some exceptions for light duty horizontal uses (not countertops), and encourage you to test first in any horizontal application.

Yes, almost anything is possible, for higher volume orders, starting at several hundred sheets. Extended production times of 3 months are common.

InteriorArts ships rolled in a box or in a flat crate, depending on order size. We have several box sizes (which ship via UPS) that can hold anywhere from 2-6 sheets, depending on the SKU. (Boxes fit less of thicker and longer sheets, for example, and certain SKUs don’t roll as easily)

For critical applications requiring a well-balanced assembly (doors, etc.), the same laminate should be applied on both sides. Less critical or smaller applications may only require a cabinet liner or phenolic backer. Basic rule of thumb when it comes to a true balanced panel is “Whatever you put on the front you should put it on the back”.

No, InteriorArts is not post-formable.

There are myriad uses for InteriorArts laminates: wall paneling, furniture, cabinetry, architectural millwork, trade show displays, lockers and doors. Check out our projects page.

Or view our instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chemetal.treefrog.interiorarts/

Some designs will not repeat within a sheet, whereas, other might. Full sheet images are available to review under each specific finish online.

Yes, it is. Patterns from #1002 – #3104 are class A and Patterns from #6001-#6064 are class B fire rated.
Click on link to see fire rating test results on patterns #1002-#3104.

InteriorArts Class A Fire Rating

InteriorArts is GreenGuard certified which is a product certification for low VOC emissions. The certification is applicable to patterns #1002-#3104.

InteriorArts samples can be requested through your local distributor or directly through us. Samples are chip size, 4″ x 6″ and 8″ x 10″. Please contact us:

800 807-7341
413 529-0718
samples@ialaminates.com

InteriorArts is only suitable for interior applications and therefore not recommended for exterior applications.

No, the same woodworking tools that are used to work with other plastic laminates can be used. We highly recommend that the blades & router bits be carbide tipped. Please click on the following link for more information on tooling:

InteriorArts Tech Info

More technical info can be found here: