What Is an Arborite Table Top?

Arborite table tops offer an alternative to softer and more vulnerable wood table tops. Arborite is a laminate wood finish that is hard and resistant to scratching and other forms of damage. Although Arborite can resemble a laminate wood, it is actually a composite material that is made of a type of plastic, rather than wood. Does this Spark an idea?

Composition

Arborite laminate consists of a high-pressure thermoset plastic on the outer surface. However the actual composition of the entire surface includes several layers. The core material is a multilayer paper material that is held together with a resin that gives it strength and stiffness. Only the outer layer is plastic-like in its composition. This gives an Arborite tabletop a decorative finish.

Durability

One of the primary advantages to using an Arborite finish on your tabletop is the durability of the material. Arborite is scratch-resistant and also resists other types of impact that might cause dents or dings in a wooden tabletop. Arborite is fairly easy to repair also if it is damaged. A synthetic resin is used to fill in and seal off any blemishes that may occur.

Selection

Arborite also offers variety in terms of the number of possible designs. According to the Arborite website, the material comes in over 200 different colors and can even be created to mimic woodgrain so that the tabletop appears to be natural, rather than synthetic. Aside from the woodgrains, a number of different solid designs are also available. It is also offered in premium textures that resemble stone.

Maintenance

Maintenance of an Arborite tabletop is fairly simple. In most cases, it can be wiped clean with a wet cloth. The use of harsh chemicals is not recommended and the use of any cleaning agents results in the need to wipe off any residue with a wet cloth. Cleaning agent residue can cause the finish to fade over time. Arborite also recommends using a heat-resistant pad to avoid any blistering or peeling of the laminate surface.