Material guide: laminate and linoleum

Laminate

Laminate is the material we often recommend to customers with young children. The material is completely unrivalled when it comes to water resistance, scratches and shocks. If you already have little time for the most important things in everyday life, a laminate worktop is also an obvious choice, as maintenance very rarely extends beyond a simple wipe with a little washing-up liquid and a damp cloth.

High pressure laminate (HPL)

High pressure laminate, abbreviated HPL, is basically the same as regular laminate except that a so-called kraft paper is used between the surface and the core. This in turn makes HPL more resistant to heat and pressure.
However, the differences are mainly noticeable when laminate is used in floors. You should therefore not be discouraged from using a regular laminate board for your kitchen table or coffee table. With us you will find, among other things, the Container Table from Moooi in high-pressure laminate.

Benefits of laminate

• Sustainable. Laminate tables have an exceptional resistance to scratches, pressure and shocks. This is because the laminate board consists of several thin layers that are pressed together and then glued to, for example, plywood or MDF.

• Light resistant. Sunlight has a minimal effect on laminate, even if it is exposed to direct and prolonged exposure. This is especially true for white laminate boards, as coloured versions can fade with prolonged exposure. Therefore, unlike wooden tables, you don't have to worry about the shadow of any decorations creating colour differences.

• High tolerance against liquids. Laminate provides one of the best protections against water and all forms of spilled drinks. However, be aware that many table tops are often covered with a wooden moulding. If liquid enters the joint between the two materials, a dented surface can result.

• Dirt repellent. As above, the minimal number of pores makes it much more difficult for dirt to adhere to the laminate board. Thus, dirt is easily removed with moderate cleaning.

Drawbacks of laminate

• Few colour choices. Many times our brands offer the same table with either a linoleum or laminate top. In this case, the laminate top is usually only available in white, while linoleum is offered in a much wider range of colours.

• Not sound absorbing. Laminates often have very few, and in many cases non-existent, pores. This means that the material has a limited impact on sound levels. If you already have problems with poor acoustics, linoleum may be preferable.

• Sensitive to heat. When used as a dining table, your laminate top should always be protected with proper trivets for pots and pans when serving.

Care instructions

For light stains on a laminate table, it is sufficient to use a damp cloth and ordinary washing-up liquid. Afterwards, you should always wipe the laminate board dry to avoid any streaks from the cloth. This can easily be done with either a dry towel, microfibre cloth or ordinary kitchen paper.

If there are larger stains and dirt and regular dishwashing liquid doesn't work, you can use detergent and warm water. It is important not to use soap or other detergents with abrasive ingredients, such as small grains or similar.

Always use cleaning products suitable for laminate, free from strong acids, solvents or bleach if ordinary dishwashing detergent is unlikely to remove stains. You should always use a regular soft cloth or microfibre cloth to avoid small scratches. Also avoid products such as scouring pads or steel wool to avoid damaging your table. In addition, the frame material of the laminate board can be destroyed by steam.

Nanolaminate (Fenix)

Nanolaminate is a material that has become increasingly visible. It differs slightly from regular laminate, as nanolaminate is characterised by an even more matte finish. Together with an extremely low light reflection and a greater choice of colours, the material is also very easy on the eye. The variant of nanolaminate that we see most often is Fenix, which for example covers Fritz Hansen's Superellips, Stua's Solapa and the Copenhague Deux series from HAY.

As the term suggests, nanolaminate is produced using so-called nanotechnology - a method that involves manipulating the material at an atomic level. This means that the material is not porous, but has an exceptionally dense surface. Since nanolaminate is also dirt-repellent and does not release any hazardous chemicals, Fenix is also food-safe.

Benefits of nanolaminates

• No fingerprints. Touching a nanolaminate worktop rarely leaves visible fingerprints. If you do manage to catch a fingerprint, you can easily wipe it off.

• Very good durability. The durability of nano-laminate is virtually identical to regular laminate. However, it comes with additional benefits that increase its durability and lifetime.

• Lightfast. The material retains its color, regardless of whether it is exposed to direct sunlight for very long periods.

• Thermal healing. For small surface scratches on the Fenix nanolaminate, wet paper towels can be placed over the affected area and the wet paper ironed for a few seconds. This will make the scratches disappear completely, but should be done with care according to the care instructions.

• Dirt and water repellent. The density of the material makes it virtually impossible for water to penetrate the surface. Similarly, it makes it incredibly difficult for dirt to gain a deeper foothold.

Care instructions

Nanolaminate is resistant to most common detergents, but rarely needs to be cleaned with anything stronger than ordinary washing-up liquid. Avoid strong acids, bleach and abrasive ingredients, as well as brushes and sponges that can scratch the surface.

If you want to repair any surface scratches that have occurred, you can easily do this using an iron and paper towels - known as thermal healing. Be sure to soak the paper towel and place it over the scratches. Then iron over the paper for a few seconds. Here it is very important that you do not hold the iron directly on the table top. You should also not use temperatures above 100 degrees.

Please note that there are different variants of nanolaminate. Therefore, you should always read the instructions or consult your retailer before using an iron to ensure that both the method and temperature are suitable for your table top.

Linoleum

Like laminate, linoleum is used in the furniture industry almost exclusively for table tops, with a few exceptions for some chairs and stools where the material can serve as a seat. As linoleum can be easily produced in an infinite number of colours, it is often used in combination with wood to create a nice contrast. As a side effect, the table also requires much less maintenance and is much better protected against scratches and wear and tear.

Benefits of linoleum

• Environmentally friendly. Linoleum is made almost exclusively from natural materials such as resin and linseed oil, together with either cork flour or sawdust.

• Self-recovery. A major advantage of linoleum is that small scratches can disappear by themselves when used over time. Therefore, regular care is also important to moisturise and preserve the living character of the material.

• Light resistant. Unlike an oak table, for example, a linoleum table is not affected by direct sunlight. Even if you place your table directly next to a window with interior details on it, the exposed parts will not fade compared to the shaded area.

• Sound absorbing. Just as with a linoleum floor, a table with a linoleum top also comes with sound-absorbing benefits. If you combine this with a heavy wool carpet under the dining group, you can achieve a good effect, especially in larger dining rooms and kitchens.

Drawbacks of linoleum

• Certain sensitivity to liquids. Whether you have a table with a wooden, marble or linoleum top, always wipe up liquids and food immediately. Otherwise there is a risk of permanent stains, especially from coloured liquids such as red wine, coffee or juice. Here, linoleum is outclassed by laminate.

• Sensitive to sharp objects. Linoleum's self-healing properties can sometimes fool the user into believing that the material is very durable. Therefore, never cut bread or vegetables on the table top as deeper cuts often become permanent.

• Sensitive to heat. Avoid this by always using appropriate coasters for pots and pans. Too much heat can cause linoleum to crack.

Care instructions

To maintain the natural properties of linoleum, regular cleaning and maintenance is required. However, this is to a much lesser extent than, for example, wood, as it is usually enough to be careful to immediately wipe up spilled drinks or food and use coasters when serving. You should also wipe the table top dry if you have used a wet cloth to wipe off dirt and stains.

Once you have bought a table with a linoleum top, you should regularly treat the table with linoleum soap. This will keep the surface clean and tidy, while preventing the table top from drying out. Linoleum soap saturates the material and leaves a moisturising and protective layer. While the table top should never feel dry, it should also not feel greasy and sticky. The latter means that the linoleum is over-treated, which you can easily remove with cleaning agents designed for the material.