Third Year Architecture

Sem - V

Building Construction & Materials – V

Unit-1 (Part –B) 21.06.2021
 Unit-1
Materials for Interior Essentials

A) Wood, wood derivatives, other panel materials

B) Laminates, Veneers, Plastic & Metal Sheets
C) Paints & Varnishes
D) Hardware Required for Interior & Furniture elements.
Laminates, Veneers, Plastics and Metals
 Ways in which Plywood is decorated

• Laminates:
Decorative Laminates such as Sunmica or others (which are actually a
blend of paper and plastic) are glued over the plywood surfaces.

• Veneer:
Wood veneers are thin slices/sheets of quality woods such as teak, which
can be glued over the plywood surface to increase its beauty and make it
look richer.

• Paints:
Paint has for long been a way of protecting wood and increasing its
beauty. It is a low-cost alternative to laminates or veneers and a large
choice of wood colours are available.

• Polish:
Wood Polish is usually used on wooden furniture that is made of quality
hardwoods such as teak, however polishing plywood is not uncommon.
 Laminates

• Laminate is a composite material manufactured in multiple layers to

improve various qualities like appearance, strength, durability, stability
and more.
• The process of lamination is done either by applying heat or pressure or
with the help of adhesives.

A common example is that of

plastic laminates to protect
important papers and
documents against damage.
 Laminates Composition
• A composite artificial material, they are made by pressing together thin
layers of flat paper (kraft paper) and plastic resins. The upper layer is
printed with a decorative pattern or color.
 Laminate types based on technology
1) High Pressure Laminate (HPL):

• High pressure laminates are produced by attaching the décor paper at

high pressure to the kraft paper.
• Laminates are commonly fixed by carpenters over plywood / MDF
by using synthetic resin adhesive (Fevicol) while making the furniture.
• High pressure laminates are extremely durable and can take heavy loads.

2) Low Pressure Laminate (LPL):

• In low pressure laminates, the decorative paper is soaked in melamine

resin, and the laminated paper is then directly bonded to particle board or
fiber board (MDF and HDF) at low pressure.

The laminates are available in thickness 0.8 mm, 1.0 mm and 1.5 mm
in standard sizes 1.2 m x 2.4 m
 Laminate types based on technology
3) Industrial laminates

• These laminates have higher strength and are more resistant to wear and
tear.
• They include high-performance laminates which are fire
retardant, antibacterial and chemical resistant for application in hospitals
and other industries.

4) Compact Laminates

• These fairly thick laminates

are self-supporting and do not
need to be glued to any other
material.
Toilet partitions made in compact
laminate
 Laminate types based on technology
5) Exterior laminates

• Like other varieties of high pressure

decorative laminates, exterior
laminates are also manufactured
from material like Kraft paper and
decorative papers made hard with
melamine resin.
• Additional UV coatings and anti-
soiling coatings are done to make
them even more superior for the
kinds of applications these are used Cladding with Exterior grade laminate
for.

6) Post formed laminates

• These flexible laminates are thinner

than regular laminates. They are
used to wrap around table edges,
columns etc.
 Types of Laminates Based on Advanced Properties

(a) Fire Rated Laminate:

• Special fire resistant resin is used to make these laminates. Fire rated
laminate is commonly used for interior decoration in fire prone
applications like, industry, airports, hospitals, institutions & banks,
kitchens, etc.

(b) Anti-Bacterial Laminate:

• In hospitals and restaurants where hygiene is most important, these

laminates are widely used. Antibacterial laminate resist growth of
bacteria.
 Types of Laminates Based on Surface Finish
(a) Solid Colored Laminates:
• These are the most common laminate sheets. The whole laminate
sheet is of one solid color.

(b) Gloss Finished Laminates:

• There is a glossy finish to the décor paper, and can often make the
furniture look more eye catching and stand out with this type of
finish.

Solid coloured High gloss

 Types of Laminates Based on Surface Finish
(c) Matt Finished Laminates:
• This is a rough finish that gives “matt” effect on the surface of the
laminate.

(d) Textured Laminates:

• Textured laminates are designed such that you can feel the pattern
or texture, which is printed on the décor paper.
• Generally natural materials such as wood, natural stones, leather,
metals, etc. They give realistic effect to the furniture.

Matt Finish &

Textured laminates
 Types of Laminates Based on Surface Finish

(e) Wood Grain Laminates:

Wood grain laminates are designed in such a way that they give
aesthetics like real wood.
 Types of Laminates Based on Surface Finish
(f) Leather Finish Laminate Sheets:
• Leather finish laminate sheets give look of leather material.
• Leather finish laminate sheets are used in cabinets and other furniture
elements.
Laminates of varied materials
 PVC Laminates
• PVC laminates are the latest trend in the making of kitchen and office
cabinets.
• They are available in flashy colors, various designs, and the flexibility of
bending upto 90 degrees.
• This flexibility gives durability to a PVC laminate, and also, it can be easily
applied at the edges too.
 PVC Laminates - Advantages
1. PVC laminate saves the time of the contractors as the same sheet is used
for packing the side. There is no need to use edge bands.

2. PVC laminate can be folded upto 90 degrees which makes it stand out
among other options.

3. These laminates are safe for kitchen as they are corrosion resistant,
termite resistant, borer resistant, stain resistant, water resistant, lead
free, environment friendly, harmful emission free, east to clean and toxin
free.

4. A PVC laminate can be easily cleaned without worrying about the finish
as they are water proof.
 Different Types of Laminates
Metal Laminates:

• Metal laminates are a 0.5 mm thick, solid sheet of aluminum with a

decorative, anodized finish and color on one side.
• Metal laminates give metallic look to the surface of furniture.
• Metallic laminate is ideal for commercial as well as residential
purpose.
 Different Types of Laminates

Aluminium composite panels (ACP)

made of aluminum composite material (ACM), are flat panels consisting of
two thin coil coated (precoating like anodizing, paint, liquid or
powder coating) aluminium sheets bonded to a non-aluminium core. ACPs
are frequently used for external cladding or facades of buildings,
insulation, and signages.
 Features of Aluminium composite panels (ACP)

• It can bend, fold and turn easily so there is not much cracking risk.
• Available in a wide range of colours and finishes like wood, stone, mirror,
sand, and 3D.
• Lightweight
• Provide insulation to buildings
• Borer, termite, and fungi resistant
• Available in 6mm, 4mm, and 3mm thicknesses
• Can be made fire retardant
• UV ray resistant
• Environment-friendly as it is lead-free material. Fully recyclable.
• Withstands extreme weather conditions
• Easy to clean
• Easy to perforate
Veneers
 Veneers
• Veneer refers to thin slices of wood and sometimes bark, usually thinner
than 3 mm (1/8 inch) that typically are glued onto core panels
(typically, wood or MDF)
 Veneers
Decorative veneers are available as

• Natural wood & Composite Veneer

• Backed & un-backed veneer faces
• Sequenced or numbered architectural panels.
• Pre-finished Veneer.
• Other specialty veneers- like moisture-resistant, fire-
retardant, bendable, etc.)

Decorative Veneer wood panels are basically categorized on

i. Basis of its origin
ii. Veneer cut and Grain Direction
iii. Veneer Patterns and
iv. Veneer finishes
 Veneer Categories

Basis of it origin – Veneer wood panels are usually categorized from which
tree is comes from like White Ash, Mahogany, Cherry, Walnut, and many
more. Many of these natural wood of one specie have color variants too.

White ash Mahogany Walnut

 Veneer Categories
Veneer Cut & Grain direction
• Veneer will again differ with the way its cut.
• With cuts, the grain direction of veneer too
varies, like you have horizontal grains &
vertical grains.

Butt cut

Quarter cut Crown cut Sliced cut

 Veneer Categories
Veneer Patterns
• Big veneer panels are formed by matching veneer slices cut in
different ways.
 Veneer Categories
Veneer Finish
• While manufacturing veneer panels, it is given different finishes for
decorative purposes like weathered effect, dyed metallic paint, smoked,
fumed veneer and many more.

Smoked Dyed Weathered

 Veneer Categories

• Cracked and Textured

White Oak Cracked Textured

 Advantages and Disadvantages of Veneers
Advantages :

• Aesthetics like Natural Wood but cheaper than actual wood.

• Flexibility in Designs
• Good Strength and Durability
• Eco-Friendly
• Non-toxic

Disadvantages :

• Susceptible to Water Damage

• Installation Requires Skilled Workers
• Polish / PU Coating is required
• More Maintenance
• Very costly compared to basic laminates
Light fittings with Veneers
 What is Corian
• Corian is a brand of solid surface material created by DuPont.
• Though its extensively use is as a countertop/benchtop surface, it has
many other applications.
• It is composed of acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate (ATH), a material
derived from bauxite ore.
• Corian is available in a large variety of colours and patterns.
 Corian : Characteristics

• Non-porous
• Stain resistant
• Workable like wood
• Seamless appearance
• Repairable and renewable
• Thermoformable
• Heat resistance: the material is heat resistant up to 100 °C
• Scratches: The material can be scratched, with scratches particularly
noticeable on darker colors.
• Corian does not lose its visual appearance or fade for many years,
sometime decades.
 Safety Features
• Corian is nontoxic and nonallergenic to humans.
• It is free of heavy metals.
• Its hygienic properties make it popular in installations where maintaining
sanitary conditions is important (e.g. hospitals and restaurants).
• However, corian dust may prove to be hazardous for the health of the
fabricator.
 Corian
Furniture
Corian Tables
Corian Colours
and Patterns
3D Wall Panels
Corian for Exterior Cladding
 Assignment Unit-1 (A&B)

Compilation of data collection & market surveys in the form

of relevant hand drawn sketches , images ,notes & tabulated
information of materials studied in Unit-1 (A&B) in journals
regarding :

1. Available types
2. Properties
3. Commercial sizes
4. Units of measurements
5. Market Rates