PU and membrane.
Two finishes rather than twenty. Each one is here because it does something the other cannot, and knowing which is which is most of the specification decision.
PU
Polyurethane paint, sprayed onto a prepared substrate and cured, then flatted and polished. The result is a continuous surface with real depth of colour and no visible edge banding.
Specify PU when the client will stand close to it. It holds a colour match, it takes both a high gloss and a true matte, and the edge reads as part of the panel rather than as a strip applied to it.
Where it wins
- Flat and grooved fronts where surface quality is the whole point
- Colour matched to a client reference
- High gloss, where any unevenness would show
- Seamless edges with no banding line
Membrane
A PVC thermolaminate film vacuum pressed over a routed substrate. Because the film forms to the shape underneath, a profiled front comes off the same process as a flat one.
Specify membrane when the design has shape in it, or when the order is large enough that consistency across every panel matters more than the last five percent of surface depth.
Where it wins
- Grooved, routed and shaker style fronts
- Large orders that must match panel to panel
- Working kitchens, where the surface has to forgive
- Wrapped edges with no separate banding operation
The honest short version.
Both finishes are available on kitchen and wardrobe fronts. If a project needs both, they can run in the same order.
Send a drawing and we will tell you which finish it wants.
Including where we think the other one would be the better call.