FAQ
Where are you based and how can I see the product ?
We’re based in Shrewsbury, England and have a show home (SY1 2HT) where you can see a working laminate and ply kitchen.
Can I get a free sample of your products before I buy ?
Yes you can. We have a free postal service to send samples to your door. https://www.laminateandply.com/free-sample/
Where are your products available ?
We deliver to your door throughout England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland. Please check with us for delivery in Eire. For other locations please enquire. info@laminateandply.com
How long does delivery take ?
Unlaminated plywood, laminate sheets and stocked worktops are delivered in a few days, in some cases next day. Made to order laminated birch plywood usually takes around 2 weeks, but this varies according to how busy we are. Please check before ordering if time is of the essence.
I want a thickness of plywood or a surface décor not shown in your product listings ?
Send your requirements to info@laminateandply.com and we will issue a quotation.
How does the delivery work ?
The plywood sheets laminate faced, or raw, are palletised with a top and bottom protective sheet. The delivery vehicle is a rigid lorry, and you are responsible for offloading. The truck does NOT have a forklift. The driver will have a pump truck but 3m long worktops can be tricky to get onto tailifts. It is best that you have labour on site capable of lifting the items off.
Worktops are wrapped in cardboard and loaded onto a pallet but you are responsible for offloading. They weigh 55kg !
Your product will have protection top and bottom, but needs to be stored flat and out the rain.
Laminate sheets arrive rolled in a large cardboard box, please remove and lay flat at an ambient temperature as soon as possible.
How durable are the products ?
Our 10 year warranty hopefully answers that question. Birch plywood will last much longer than particleboard. https://www.laminateandply.com/warranty/
High Pressure Laminate (H.P.L.) is designed to withstand heat, steam and staining and so it gives your application the ability to last.
Edges need to be sealed to prevent dirt and moisture ingress. We recommend 1 coat of Osmo Wood Protector (code 4006) applied with a lint free cloth. Any excess can be just wiped off the laminate. Then two coats of either Osmo Top Oil (code 3028) or Liquid Wax (3032) to seal the edges and show the colour of the ply. Sand with fine grit paper between coats.
Exposed edges around a wet area like a sink should be maintained with a recoat if the plywood ever feels dry to the touch
Where does the product come from ?
Our birch plywood comes from FSC certified forests in the Baltics and we hold chain of custody certification. We are audited annually to check we are only using FSC origin material. You can be 100% assured your material is from a well managed forest source. Formica make their laminate in South Shields. Fenix is made in Italy. Laminate and Ply laminate is made in Turkey, India and Brazil.
Do you offer a cut to size service ?
Yes we can saw up plywood and laminated plywood, to an accuracy of +/- 1mm. Typically we charge £50 per sheet for sawing. Laminate sheets can not be sawn so we don’t offer a cut to size service for them.
Do you drill for hinges in laminated birch plywood ?
Currently we cut to size but we don’t drill for hinges unless you can provide drawings. Guidance on how to drill for hinges at home can be found here. https://youtu.be/MV-s-CY1uCM?si=W-UAFRMU7gII7GED
We can recommend a number of kitchen fitters around the UK who we know do good work
How much laminated birch plywood should I order ?
We can take your kitchen plan or quotation and itemise all the doors, draw fronts, panels, plinths and filler pieces needed. We can them send you a cut plan showing the utilisation of the “motherboards” and if you have any offcuts that can be used for shelving. Once agreed we will issue a quotation in writing that is price fixed for 90 days.
Do you machine for fingerpulls on kitchen doors and drawer fronts ?
We offer a few different finger pull detials. A continuous groove across the door top is popular and an individual recess for the finger pull is also offered and be viewed herehttps://www.laminateandply.com/product-category/laminated-birch-plywood/fitted-furniture/. Some variation in the colour of the exposed birch ply can occur.
Which high pressure laminate is best for a worktop application ?
All three brands we promote, Fenix, Formica, and our brand Laminate and Ply (L & P) are manufactured to the same EN438-2 standard so there is no technical difference between them in terms of scratch, stain or heat resistance.
I don’t want a join in my plywood worktop what is the longest length you offer ?
With a plywood core we are limited to 3030mm in length. The width can be anything up to 1280mm wide.
How difficult is it to join a laminate and plywood worktop ?
It is easier to get a water tight, hidden joint with plywood than chipboard as the plywood cuts very cleanly, so you are bringing together two good edges. We recommend the use of undermount bolts and 30mm thick birch to retain strength where the bolts are fitted. A video to show best practice can be seen here. https://youtu.be/nJfxLrTUxs4?si=ytsBXy2Xdjao1JJf
I want a cheaper worktop why not use 24mm birch and a 600mm wide option ?
The 32mm thickness we recommend is to ensure the undermount bolts used to join worktops will work. If you do not need to join the worktops we can quote for a thinner plywood. We allow 640mm wide to work with Ikea Metod cabinets if don’t need that width we can quote for a narrower top.
Can I fit an undermount sink with a plywood worktop ?
Yes you can. The exposed plywood edge around the sink is an attractive detial. Providing you follow the guidance on how to seal the edges an undermount sink can be fitted. For best practice on how to do the cut out for an undermount sink view our how to video. https://youtu.be/ArHAFwknJQE?si=j3EF5TU0XQrjIM03
How do I cut the plywood without breakout on the edge ?
A perfect clean edge will be obtained if you follow our best practise for cutting the plywood. Using a track saw to make the cut in a number of passes is critical and masking tape helps. A short guide on what to do can be seen here. https://youtu.be/aVMdm9IDxq0?si=raitPZaBw6py5Qkm
How do I seal the edges of the plywood ?
A cloth application is all that is required to put a permenant waterproof barrier onto the plywood edge. Edges need to be sealed to prevent dirt and moisture ingress. We recommend 1 coat of Osmo Wood Protector (code 4006) applied with a lint free cloth. Any excess can be just wiped off the laminate. Then two coats of either Osmo Top Oil (code 3028) or Liquid Wax (3032) to seal the edges and show the colour of the ply. Sand with fine grit paper between coats. A how to video can be found here. https://youtu.be/QFisBIUfEv8?si=gpHvx2OQNAKwsf1b
How do I clean the products?
Use a damp cloth and some warm soapy water. For really stubborn marks you can use a cream cleaner, but avoid bleach and scouring pads. https://www.formica.com/en-gb/articles/commercial-interiors/how-do-i-maintain-and-clean-laminate-surfaces
Can I change my order once it’s placed?
For stock products we will do our best to assist with re-stocking.
For made to order products it is best to say “no”. It might be, that we can stop the production, but the first answer will be sorry, you have committed to that colour/size combination, it is unique to you.
We send out free samples to enable you to be sure before you order.
What happens if the goods are damaged ?
Refuse delivery.It is much easier to rectify that way.
If you do accept the goods as damaged, it is essential to make that clear in writing with the haulier. Do not rely on phone photos as proof of damage. It needs to be on the delivery note. Please notify us straight away. If the product is not usable, we will replace as soon as we can.
Knocks to the edges up to 10mm all round are allowed by EN14322. The good thing about birch is you can sand away small edge defects.