Are mica and laminates the same? Don’t get confused! Some people assume that mica and laminates are two different decorative products for house holds. But in fact, laminates and mica are the same product. It's just that different people use different names for the same product in India.
Laminate sheets or mica are artificial surfaces made of different materials including plastic,metal, wood and are used in overlaying wooden furniture, kitchen cabinets, panels, tabletops and doors etc. providing them extra protection with a touch ofluxury.
Mica or laminates is used in different applications such as window panes and glass or as an insulator in various electrical instruments as its heat conductive properties assures a high level of protection. Laminates are environment friendly as they use less wood to be manufactured.
Are Mica and Laminates different?
Mica and laminates are the same. In fact laminates are referred to as mica or you can say that mica is generally another name for laminates. It is just as a photocopy is called Xerox, however Xerox was the name of the company that used to manufacture the photocopy machines.
Nowadays, laminates are used inrenovation and construction of home & industries. It is widely used for different purposes from flooring to furniture overlay. Different laminate sheets come with different features, characteristics and materials.
Colors & Varieties
Laminates come in a variety of colors. Whether for flooring or furniture, they have a vast range of colors starting from grey, white, brown, red, blue to green and other colors. Apart from these sober color shades laminate sheets/mica come in advance matte and metallic finish colors as well such as granite, graphite, sandstone, cherry, walnut, oakwood and multiple other light and dark shades.
Price List & Sheet Size
The price of mica/laminates differs according to the quality, design and patterns of the laminate sheets. It may cost Rs. 150- Rs. 2000 per square feet for flooring and for furniture it can start from Rs. 600 per sheet. Different manufacturers offer different sizes.
Care & Maintenance
Mica or laminate sheets don't require anyspecial care or maintenance. Just a regular wash or cleaning with a sponge or piece of cloth would be enough to keep your laminate sheets as good as new. To remove stains you can use washing powder and steel wool scrubbers or abrasive cleaners.
Strong and Durable
The color of laminate sheets remains intact for a longer run making them more durable than any other surfacing material. Laminates are resistant to scratches, heat, moisture,steam and are quite durable. They can withstand wear and tear for a longer run.
Mica or laminates can be a great optionas a layer on top of furniture (cabinets, sofas, tables) and flooring as it is quite inexpensive and durable.