One of the renovation stages involves the installation of interior doors, and here you want to find an option that will last a long time and at the same time retain its appearance. Increasingly, owners are choosing doors made of eco-veneer; what it is, what are the characteristics of the material and the conditions of its operation, I will tell you below. I suggest you get acquainted with a selection of useful information and compare eco-veneer with other popular finishes.
Light shades always look stylish Source kildressjoinery.com
What are interior doors made of eco-veneer?
The door leaf coating, called eco-veneer, is difficult to distinguish from natural wood. The texture and pattern are very reminiscent of wood, but the method of making such a coating differs significantly from the traditional one. If veneer is a thin cut of wood, then eco-veneer consists of wood fibers bonded together with an adhesive.
Despite its similarity to wood, eco-veneer is not a natural material. Rather, this name is a marketing ploy. The wear resistance of such a coating is much better than natural wood with the same environmentally friendly properties.
With significant external similarity, interior doors covered with such material will differ favorably in their resistance to external influences. They are not afraid of wet rooms and temperature changes. Pet owners will especially appreciate the practicality of eco-veneer doors: the material will not deteriorate from their claws.
A large selection of models allows you to choose the option that most successfully fits into the interior of your apartment or house. Doors can be made solid or with glass inserts.
Briefly about the main thing
Doors with eco-veneer finishing are one of the favorite options for interior designs. The name hides the outer layer, made of polypropylene, a polymer with many properties similar to PVC film. Eco-friendly material is resistant to steam and elevated temperatures, and has an advantageous budget price. The door, protected by a layer of eco-veneer, is suitable for use in the bathroom and kitchen.
The coating plausibly imitates any type of natural wood, but upon careful examination, its artificiality is revealed in the form of repeating elements of texture. The diversity of the offer allows you to choose the right model for any interior style.
Kinds
There are three types of eco-veneer:
- Nanoflex is a multilayer coating based on high-strength paper. Strength and water resistance are provided by a special varnish applied on top.
- CPL laminate is a plastic veneer that is impact resistant but brittle.
- Polypropylene film is closest in appearance to wood. It is elastic and allows you to paste over the door leaf without joints.
Pros and cons of veneer doors
When choosing interior doors, consumers weigh all the advantages and disadvantages to choose the right option.
Let's consider the advantages of doors made of artificial eco-veneer:
- affordability is a fundamental criterion for many buyers, and such doors compare favorably with those made of solid wood or covered with natural veneer. The opportunity to save money with good quality workmanship is provided precisely in this case;
- There are no joints at the ends of the door; often it is in these places that the film begins to peel off on cheap doors. In eco-veneer this is excluded because she wraps herself inside.
- appearance reminiscent of natural wood texture. Only upon careful study can you notice that the pattern on the eco-veneer is repeated;
- resistance to external environmental factors: high humidity, temperature changes. They are practical in terms of care - any contamination can be cleaned using detergents;
- wear resistance and maintaining good appearance throughout the entire service life. And it is up to 10 years;
- environmental safety of the material; no harmful impurities or additives are used in its production.
Among the negative aspects of such interior doors are:
- significant damage will only lead to replacement, since they cannot be repaired;
- lack of sound insulation due to design features: the canvas is hollow inside; in some models, cardboard can be used for filling.
Note that the disadvantages are not significant. And speaking in general, the purchase of eco-veneer doors can be called profitable if they have a sufficiently long period of use.
Features of the technology
When looking for an answer to the question, eco-veneer or PVC, which is better, you should take into account the plasticity and softness of polypropylene. In this property, it is somewhat inferior in rigidity to PVC coating; A strong blow to the door (for example, when moving large furniture) can leave damage. The eco-material is fixed using special equipment using thermal vacuum pressing technology as follows:
- The eco-veneer is fixed 5 mm above the door leaf and blown with air so that no dust remains.
- The surface of the canvas is degreased and liquid glue is applied to it.
- The workpiece is placed in the oven chamber. High temperature makes the polymer plastic, and it adheres to the surface of the doors. Air is removed from the chamber, the polymer is tightly glued to the base, repeating its shape.
Each model is available in several color options Source 2gis.com
Since polypropylene is softer than polyvinyl chloride (PVC), when it is heated, the likelihood of tears or cracks increases. Therefore, they prefer to apply eco-veneer to the canvas with shallow milling. Most often these are classic or modern models that are simple in design and have clear geometry. Although the coating has a thickness of 0.2 to 0.4 mm, it is much more difficult to ruin it than natural veneer, whose thickness reaches 1-3 mm.
What is better eco-veneer or veneer?
Natural wood is “more capricious”, therefore natural veneer is inferior to eco-veneer in its quality characteristics. Resistance to wet environments and durability are their big advantages.
Factories produce eco-veneer with such high quality that it is difficult to distinguish it from natural veneer in appearance. Plastic is more durable than wood and more practical. Therefore, consumers increasingly prefer interior doors coated with eco-veneer.
Moldings
The most popular among manufacturers and buyers is telescopic molding, which involves assembling elements according to the groove principle. The technology described has a positive effect on the appearance of the door installed in the opening, and also greatly facilitates the installation process. Telescopic moldings require an almost complete absence of sawing work.
In the modern period of time, most door factories offer their customers a wide range of decorative products for framing the opening, the following elements can be distinguished:
- Various variations of door frames, from simple flat ones with a standard “L” shape, to exquisite ones with a carved profile whose width is more than 10 centimeters
- Capitals, which are a decorative superstructure installed above the canvas
- Various pilasters - small squares and rectangles mounted at the joints of the platbands
In addition to the usual telescopic one, a number of manufacturers come up with their own designs for fastening the molding components of the overall structure, one of which is a coplanar system for fastening the molding elements.
Doors made of PVC or eco-veneer, which is better?
PVC doors - consist of plates covered with polyvinyl chloride film. At an inexpensive cost, they are practical and look aesthetically pleasing. However, a number of restrictions should be taken into account for their installation. PVC is negatively affected by exposure to direct sunlight, as well as a high risk of mechanical damage.
If we talk about choosing between PVC and eco-veneer, then you should look at the comparison table. In it we will present only those properties in which they differ significantly:
| Criterion | Eco-veneer doors | PVC doors |
| Wear resistance | In terms of strength, they occupy a leading position among interior doors. | Durability is average, it is not recommended to install in rooms where the likelihood of mechanical damage is high. |
| Noise insulation | Bad | good |
| Reaction to direct sunlight, safety and environmental friendliness | Do not fade and do not emit toxic substances: chlorine compounds, phenol and formaldehyde | With prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, they are capable of releasing toxic substances, are safe and environmentally friendly |
| Appearance | Some models are second only to natural solid wood, so they can be installed even in expensive interiors | Looks simple |
Their eco-veneer doors have a more presentable appearance and are safe. In this they are significantly superior to PVC models. Therefore, when choosing, it is necessary to rely on the quality of the products, their compliance with safety and environmental standards.
Disadvantages of coverage
Doors made of eco-veneer have not only advantages, but also disadvantages. Often it is the negative aspects that make potential buyers change their minds.
Among the main disadvantages are the following:
- The design is light, so it is not too strong compared to a wooden door. If you kick the canvas hard or apply brute force, the product can be damaged quite easily.
- If the coating is severely scratched, then restoring it is quite problematic. Most likely, you will have to change the finishing material or the entire door.
- Eco veneer does not have high sound insulation.
- The use of polymer binding materials interferes with air exchange, so the room must be regularly ventilated.
All these shortcomings can be easily eliminated if you handle the products carefully. With this approach, they will last a long time and will not lose their attractive appearance.
Another disadvantage of designs is their mass production. If you need to buy an exclusive door, with a unique pattern, then you should buy natural veneer. After all, two cuts of wood cannot have the same pattern.
Colors
Eco-veneer is made in a variety of shades: from natural wood to unusual color schemes. The structure of any tree can be transferred to the door leaf.
The most popular are shades of the brown spectrum with a distinct pattern of wood structure.
In addition to natural tones, the following colors can be used for painting eco-veneer: white, gray, pearl, any pastel, beige.
Door Eco-veneer, Cappuccino Oak
Door Eco-veneer, Cappuccino Veralinga
For each interior you can choose the right shade.
Classic style, as well as Provence, prefer doors of classic wooden color. This can be veneer of any wood, depending on the consumer’s preferences: bleached oak, ash, mahogany, etc.
Door Eco-veneer, dark oak
Interior door, Wenge Veralinga
The Scandinavian style, popular in recent years, is characterized by a white base, so doors in white or smoky gray would be a suitable option.
Manufacturers
Almost all Russian factories of interior doors have eco-veneer sheets in their assortment. This is due to the great demand and attention to such products.
Among the popular manufacturers, we will designate several brands:
- Volkhovets . A large enterprise engaged in the manufacture of doors and accessories of any type. Veneered doors are made of such high quality that it makes them stylish and difficult to distinguish from those made of solid wood. An innovative approach to the production of eco-veneer allows you to get excellent results at an inexpensive price.
- Matadoor . The company is a door manufacturer that has been operating on the market for more than 10 years and offers consumers a wide range of doors of varying levels of complexity. It offers high-quality eco-veneer doors in different design options: solid, in combination with glass or frosted inserts. Large selection of colors.
- Factory Profilo Porte . A joint Russian-Italian project that has announced itself in our market under the MariaM brand. A large selection of interior door models produced by this factory allows you to choose the option of the desired size, color and product quality (confirmed by relevant certificates).
- Bravo . Modern and classic doors made in Russia are presented by the Bravo factory. More than 100 models can satisfy the taste of any consumer. There is a wide selection of interior doors coated with eco-veneer in various configuration options.
Options for interior doors made of eco-veneer in the interior
It is necessary to select interior doors according to the interior style of the apartment. There are several types of doors and each of them can be in harmony with the rest of the space. For example, the classic style of the room will be complemented by a blank, laconic canvas or with frosted glass panels of smooth shapes. Modern interiors require clearer lines. Universal doors in a standard color will perfectly match any style of home.
Let us note several color schemes for eco-veneer door panels used as interior additions:
- brown wood shades are the best option for houses in which among the finishing materials there is natural wood or other materials that look like wood;
- light shades look elegant and stylish. The wood pattern gives the impression that the doors are made of solid oak;
- the dark shade of Wenge stands out well against the white background of the rest of the room’s decoration.
Manufacturing of material
Eco-veneer is a multi-layer flexible material characterized by environmental friendliness, practicality and resistance to mechanical damage.
It consists of thin fibers of natural wood, which are first painted and then glued together. To do this, the production line uses presses in which the raw materials are gradually compressed under high pressure.
This scheme allows you to produce materials of any shade, obtain material of a uniform color in different batches and avoid the appearance of air inclusions. The resulting artificial material becomes indistinguishable from natural material in color. It is sent to production rolled into rolls, where it is applied under pressure to a wooden blank.
How to care?
Although eco-veneer film is quite practical to care for, you should know that it can be damaged by using cleaning products with a rough abrasive composition. To clean light dirt, you can use a damp soft cloth. It is permissible to use non-aggressive liquid detergents.
Persistent stains from natural veneer and eco-veneer can be removed using means that can be found in the arsenal of any housewife. Prepare a water-soap or alcohol solution in a ratio of 10:1 and clean the stains with a soft cloth.
If greasy stains appear on a veneered door, you can deal with them using half a potato. Thoroughly wipe the area where the potatoes are contaminated and, after the juice has dried, clean with a dry soft cloth. The fat will be removed along with the starch.
Eco-veneer is not afraid of moisture, so there is no need to worry if it was not removed dry. It does not require additional protection. Glass inserts are cleaned with special products designed for this purpose.
Customer Reviews
The opinions of those who purchased and installed eco-veneer doors in their homes were divided into positive and negative. Supporters recommend them, noting their affordable cost and stylish appearance. Opponents say that the stated service life does not correspond to reality.
Maria : “At first we installed an eco-veneer door only in the bathroom. Then we gradually changed all the interior doors. I really liked the appearance, they look quite stylish and beautiful. In addition, their cost played a decisive role.”
Dmitry : “The consultant praised me, but in the end they were dissatisfied with the fact that the quality of the material left much to be desired. A small scratch became critical for the veneer film. The savings resulted in additional costs for us. It’s possible that we got a low-quality model.”
