Material Comparison

What material is best for your project?

At Bridgewater we use a wide range of materials and finishes for our products.

Everything we make is fully bespoke, therefore the desired look can be created with ease!

Our selection allows us to suit the desired style and budget of any project.

Melamine Faced Chipboard (MFC)

MFC is the most cost effective laminate in our range. In addition, it’s a much cheaper alternative to HPL or SGL.

This panel is manufactured from a chipboard core and bonded under high pressure to melamine impregnated decorative paper.

It’s then edged with high impact PVC to create a solid panel.

This panel performs best in lower usage areas such as offices and dry toilet areas. Therefore it’s best suited to dry environments, where abuse is unlikely. The difference between this and compact grade is set out in laminate grades explained and in which cubicle range we supply.

High Pressure Laminate (HPL)

HPL is produced by layering paper and resin together and fusing them with intense heat and pressure. The process transforms the resin to plastic and the paper into one solid laminate sheet.

This creates an incredibly strong and durable surface material. HPL is water resistant and is considered one of the best decorative materials, favoured particularly in washroom environments.

Along with it’s incredible durability, it’s unbelievably versatile.

It is resistant to abrasion, impacts and general wear and tear.

It’s water resistance makes it perfect for schools offices and toilet areas. The decors we hold for online orders are on colours and finishes.

Solid Grade Laminate (SGL)

This dense, self-supporting panel is a much stronger alternative to HPL. Offering excellent durability, it’s best suited to high traffic environments.

SGL is constructed from high quality dyed paper, and is impregnated with phenolic resin. The thermosetting process strengthens the panel, giving it a black core. The cores exterior displays two decorative surfaces.

Durability is the key focus of SGL. It’s best suited in areas where performance is paramount, such as:

• Swimming pools
• Spas
• School toilets
• Wet rooms / Changing rooms
• Clinical furniture

Above all, it’s extremely impact resistant and is completely water and liquid proof, making it perfect for humid areas too. On Bridgewater Direct this board is compact grade laminate. Read compact grade or melamine cubicles before you specify a wet room, and order compact grade panels cut to size when you only need the boards.

Solid Surface Materials

Solid surface products are a super high quality waterproof material offering stupendous performance properties.

The material can come in any desired shape and size, completely customised to exact needs.

We use a variety of different suppliers for our solid surfacing, such as Corian, Hanex and Staron.

Solid surface materials work for any interior environment, both dry and wet. If damaged, it’s easily repairable to look like new.

These materials can be perfectly utilised for washroom furniture and reception areas to add some extra flair to a space. Perfect for when performance is paramount. Solid surface stays made to order with us. For a laminate top with a coved upstand, see the washroom worktops guide.

So which is best for you?

To find out what material will be best for your project, give us a call and we’ll find the perfect finish for you. If the job is a toilet cubicle, start with how to choose a toilet cubicle material. School jobs also have school cubicles and Ofsted. The full set of notes is in all washroom guides.