Do you prefer lacquer or laminate?

A strong, hygienic and waterproof material, laminate offers countless options in terms of finish and colour. In fact, you can choose between matt and gloss versions...

What is laminate?

Laminate is a coating based on sheets impregnated with phenolic resins and usually applied to wooden panels.
The most common type is HPL (high pressure laminate), where high pressure and heat are applied to stick the sheets together. It may be between 0.6 and 1.2 mm thick.
A strong, hygienic and waterproof material, laminate offers countless options in terms of finish and colour. In fact, you can choose between matt and gloss versions, etc.
The strength of a laminate product depends on the material itself and the gluing system used.
For example, when gluing the edges of laminate doors, Scavolini uses polyurethane adhesives which in turn are especially resistant to water, humidity, heat and steam.
With the doors protected in this manner, only minimal cleaning is required.

Maintenance

For normal laminate maintenance, use a soft cloth and special detergent, or simply a microfiber cloth (available from retailers).
In the case of more stubborn dirt, you can also use soft brushes and/or sponges, along with cleaning fluids or mild detergents.
For light limescale stains, a sponge soaked in tepid water and some vinegar may suffice.
You should avoid using steel wool pads, products containing abrasive creams, powdered detergents and acetone.

What is lacquer?

Lacquer, a bright material available in many colours, consists of a fibreboard panel coated with polyester and polyurethane paints.
The lacquer finish can be matt, gloss or metallic, and covers the entire surface.
Lacquer is more delicate than laminate and may be subject to changes in colour.
For this reason, its quality is determined by the type of paint used.
To guarantee long-lasting colour, Scavolini uses paints with excellent resistance to light.
However, the advice to protect your kitchen from direct sunlight and to perform the correct maintenance procedures on a regular basis still applies.

Maintenance

Lacquer can be cleaned with a soft cloth and non-abrasive detergents, or simply a microfiber cloth (available from retailers).
For stubborn stains on gloss lacquered surfaces, use highly diluted ethyl alcohol.
In this case too, you should avoid using acetone, thinner, trichloroethylene, ammonia, ethyl alcohol (this can be used to clean gloss-finish doors, but only if diluted), abrasive creams and steel wool pads which could scratch the doors beyond repair.