Everything you need to know about desktop finishes

Choosing the right desk for your workspace is a delicate balance between cost, durability and aesthetics. You might have noticed there are quite a few options when it comes to materials. With this guide, we can help you select the best desktop finish for your workplace.

Laminate or Melamine surface?

Most desks are constructed with laminate or melamine surfaces. These are usually bonded over a chipboard (particle board) or MDF core. Both materials are made by fusing layers of kraft paper with resin to create a tough, durable surface.

Laminate

This is a highly durable and adaptable material for desk surfaces. To create a desktop a 1mm layer of laminate is applied to an MDF board or chipboard core.

Features and benefits:

Highly scratch and dent resistant surface
Hygienic surface and easy to keep clean. This is important in light of the covid pandemic
Available in many different colour and texture options
Resistant to moisture and staining so no need to panic if you spill your tea!

Melamine

Melamine is a cost effective solution for creating a durable desktop surface. It is a type of plastic and offers many of the same advantages as laminate although it won’t last quite as long.

Features and benefits:

It offers a smooth, durable surface that’s easy to keep clean
Resistant to moisture and staining
Available in a wide variety of colours and textures
Great value for money

MDF or chipboard desktop core? Which one to choose

The majority of desktops are constructed with a core made of MDF (medium density fibreboard) or chipboard. MDF is made of wood fibres combined with wax and a resin bind. Chipboard is created using larger wood particles also bound together with resin and pressed.

Both products provide an affordable alternative to solid wood. They have flat, smooth surfaces making them ideal for attaching laminate and melamine coverings. Unlike solid wood, neither are susceptible to expanding or contracting due to weather conditions. Both can easily be cut and shaped.

When choosing between these two materials it’s important to consider your workspace requirements.

Since MDF is made of denser materials it is the more durable of the two options. If longevity is a key requirement or if the desk is likely to be subject to intense use e.g. in a 24 hour environment this is the material to go for.

Chipboard is a cost effective solution. Although durable it won’t last quite as long as MDF. However, the lower price will allow more budget for other office fittings. It’s also a light material making it easy to install and move around.

Overall it’s important to balance cost and durability when choosing between these two materials.

Solid desktop materials: which one is best for your workplace

Solid core laminate

Solid core laminate is the most durable of all desktop materials. It is different from regular laminate desktops in that there is no particle board centre. It’s solid laminate right the way through.

Why choose solid core laminate?

Being the most durable of all desktop materials it will last the longest
Scratch and chip resistant
There is no need to edge it with another material
It can be made to be very thin (approx 12-13mm) and very strong
It’s relatively light
It looks great and comes in a variety of colours and textures

Plyboard

If you’re after a natural wood like appearance, but don’t have the budget for solid wood, plyboard is your best choice.

It is made entirely from wood with a core of wooden layers and a thin veneer panel finish.

Why should I choose this?

A visually appealing material with the look and feel of solid wood
Plyboard is easy to repair. Scratches and stains can be sanded down and buffed
There is no need for an edging material
It can be easily bent and formed into different shapes
It is very durable

Acrylic

You might be familiar with acrylic in screens or barriers but did you know desks can also be made from this glass-like material? It will certainly bring a wow factor into your office.

Features and benefits:

Acrylic is available in a wide variety of colours. It can even be manufactured in your company’s corporate colours
It comes in a variety of opacity levels. Desks can be completely opaque or totally clear like glass
Very strong but may be less scratch resistant than some materials.
Hygienic and very easy to keep clean

Which desk edging material should you choose?

With so many choices to make when selecting a new desk it’s easy to overlook the edging. This may seem a small decision, but edging can have quite an impact on the final look and feel of the desktop. Most desks are edged with either polyurethane or ABS plastics.

Polyurethane encapsulated edges

Polyurethane is a versatile material that has many great properties. It can be used to create a variety of desktop edging shapes.

Features and benefits:

It can create a rounded soft front desktop edge. This has good functionality and looks attractive
Rear/side polyurethane spillage lips stop drinks from dripping into electrics below the desktop
There are a variety of different colour options
Moulded polyurethane below desk finger holds allow you to pull yourself to your desk while seated
It can be used to create details like company logos in the desktop and handset holders for phones

ABS edging

ABS is an affordable, durable option for edging desks.

Features and benefits:

Comes in lots of different colours so you can match the desktop finish
It’s an ideal finish for melamine faced chipboard desktops
ABS edging has excellent durability. It can withstand bumps and stay looking good.
Stops desks from chipping
It’s more environmentally friendly than some plastics
Cost effective but doesn’t come in the same variety of shapes and styles as polyurethane

Looking for the perfect desktop finish? At Technology Desking we stock a wide range of desks and will create tailored solutions for your unique requirements. Take a look at our products here.