Laminates are available in many grades or types and typically refer to the thickness of the material. For example: Formica, Wilsonart & Feeney Laminates are stocked in General Purpose & Vertical Grades. Vertical Grade is a thinner material that is primarily used on vertical surfaces like cabinet doors, drawer fronts, cabinet lining and other furniture. General Purpose can be used similarly but is thicker and more suitable for horizontal surfaces such as countertops and work surfaces. Each product page will contain additional information on the availability of each size and grade as shown below.
Vertical Grade is ideal for use on low wear surfaces such as cabinet faces and sides, doors, furniture, etc. It is a little thinner than standard grade and thus, a thinner line will be visible at the edges. Vertical Grade laminate is not recommended for countertops or any surface that will likely see a lot of use. Thickness can range from .027″ (0.7mm) nominal to .029″ (.7mm) nominal.
Standard Grade, or Horizontal Grade, is a little thicker and typically is used for higher wear areas like countertops and desktops. This material is less flexible and slightly more difficult to work with but is the standard for making most laminate countertops. Thickness can range from .035″ (0.9mm) nominal to .045″ (1.1mm) nominal.
