Materials Glossary
Study these terms and learn to speak like the pros.
Substrate: An underlying layer of particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), or plywood that's covered with another material, such as a laminate or wood veneer.
Veneer: A thin sheet of wood glued to a substrate. It¿s an eco- and budget-friendly alternative to solid wood cabinetry.
Laminate: A coating of three resin-saturated layers (a base layer of paper, a printed and colored layer, and a protective transparent layer) that¿s heated and pressure-fused to a substrate.
Melamine: A sheet of plastic similar to laminate that covers a substrate.