Designing with Purpose: The Sustainable Advantage of High Pressure Laminate Surfaces
Part 3: Execution
As with any installed product, the installation requires multiple steps that need to be clearly articulated in the specification in order to achieve the best results.
- Examination and preparation: The importance of this step should always be stressed. In addition to the architect, the installer should review and examine the substrate for conditions that may affect the installation or the overall performance of the finished surface. Any issues will need to be corrected if they are found to be out of compliance with stated requirements.
- Installation: The HPL should be secured in place according to manufacturer’s instructions and installation manuals. These should be consulted to assure that the products are installed to meet the code and conditions for a successful project.
- Protection: Once installed, the HPL should be able to withstand normal activity but should be protected from any remaining construction work that could adversely affect it.
- Cleaning: Upon completion, the surface should be cleaned of any construction or miscellaneous dirt, debris, etc. as the manufacturer may suggest.
When specified and installed correctly, the HPL will provide the desired look, long-term performance characteristics, and sustainability levels that are intended.
Image courtesy of Wilsonart
Each of the specific HPL products used on a project need to be specified for their particular characteristics of thickness, size, color, texture, and other features.
Image courtesy of Wilsonart
HPL products are manufactured according to high quality standards and need to be installed by fabricators and crafters with equally high standards.
Wellness Center Case Study
Images courtesy of WilsonartProject: Foundry Ridge Meadows
Location: Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Designer: WORK Design Studio
The Facility: Foundry Ridge Meadows offers young people aged 12–24 access to health and social services. Foundry strives to make it easy for young people and their families to find the care, connection, and support they are seeking.
The Challenge: Sometimes, functionality and a sense of comfort can feel at odds. At Foundry Ridge Meadows, this was not an option. Function and safety were priority to ensure the health and wellness of youth and their families. However, to help fulfill the organization’s purpose, it had to feel inviting. “As a youth wellness center, we wanted to ensure the materials would hold up over time, so durability played a large role in our material selection process,” says Vanessa Jansen, principal of WORK Design Studio. "Therefore, materials were selected with the help of various youth stakeholders to create a noninstitutional approach to health-care and mental health services. Infection control and durability were key and helped drive the overall product selection."
The Surfaces: Knowing the importance of creating a safe environment in this space, the community members, youth, and stakeholders were involved in the project, from functional programming to furniture selection and material selection. A mix of HPL surfaces—including highwear HPL—was the perfect solution, considering durability and disinfection procedures.
The Result: A beautiful, warm, welcoming space where the community feels a sense of ownership and safety has been developed. The woodgrain helps create residential warmth, while the punch of color brings a youthful and fun touch.
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