Lamin-Art revitalizes its Veneer-Art collection

Nothing can match the richness of real wood to help create warm and inviting spaces. But today's heavily trafficked commercial environments often require a level of durability that cannot be achieved with conventional wood finishes. Plus, economic and environmental realities are forcing many specifiers and architectural woodworkers to reconsider the impact traditional wood finishing can have on indoor air quality and on a project's budget.

For over 25 years, Veneer-Art® High-Performance Wood Veneer by Lamin-Art® has made real wood better by preserving its natural beauty while giving it the superior durability of high-pressure laminate. Yes, Veneer-Art is pre-finished and boasts the same scratch, dent and water resistance as HPL.

Now, we're introducing the next generation of Veneer-Art: a contemporary collection of 18 colors and species including traditional Cherry and Maple, to exotic Zebrawood, and eco-friendly Bamboo.

Made from nature. Made to last.
Veneer-Art is the only pre-finished veneer made from real-not reconstituted-wood. Each leaf in a panel of Veneer-Art is sliced, dyed, and hand-assembled. The sheets are book matched or slip matched to showcase the wood's distinctive grain structure, make specification simple, and provide a consistent appearance even over large areas.  

Also, our exclusive Tru-Grain^TM finish preserves the texture of the veneer while providing unmatched durability and stain resistance.  Veneer-Art won't stain, dent, or scratch.  That makes Veneer-Art an excellent choice for both vertical and horizontal high-wear applications including desktops, transaction counters, wainscoting, architectural doors, and elevator cabs; as well as all types of furniture, fixtures, and cabinetry.

Contributes to good indoor air quality.
Plus, because it is pre-finished, Veneer-Art saves money on finishing costs and helps reduce the harmful VOCs that are released in the shop or at the installation site.  That makes Veneer-Art a more sustainable and economical way to create warm and comforting healthcare, hospitality, and corporate office environments.

Available in several sheet sizes
Unlike other pre-finished wood veneers, Veneer-Art is stocked in 4' X 10' sheet sizes, but can also be ordered in 4' X 8' or a wide range of sizes specifically suited for architectural doors.  Coordinating edgebanding is also available for all items.

To see the new Veneer-Art line, request samples now, call your local Lamin-Art Architectural Representative to schedule a presentation, or visit www.veneerart.net.

Pearlescence.com getting rave reviews

This summer, we introduced the new pearlescence.com website in conjunction with the 25^th anniversary of this innovative product line, and the addition of new colors and new finishes.  With over 300 mix and match color/finish combinations, we felt the only way to do justice to such an expansive product line was to give it its own home on the web.  Apparently, many of you agree.  Specifiers have told us that they love playing around with the new pearlescence.com.  Particularly the interactive color wheel which lets you choose a color, then roll over the 6 unique finish options and watch the product's appearance change on your screen right before your eyes. 

Like what you see...you simply send it to your samples cart, and we'll send you a sample of that specific color and finish.  How easy is that?  Plus, we've packed the website with tons of Pearlescence product information, technical documents, stories of projects where Pearlescence has been specified, and a brief video featuring our Design Director and the inventor of Pearlescence, Hans Mutzke.  If you haven't seen it yet, head on over to www.pearlescence.com today.

Eco-Enable: Green Tips #12

The autumn leaves are falling and many of us will soon be spending our weekends raking or blowing them from our lawns (if you haven't already started).   While bagging or blowing are the most common methods for removing the fallen leaves from your lawn, here are a couple of alternative methods that could wind up saving you time and money on your spring gardening chores:

1. Use a mulching lawn mower:  Rather than rake, an inexpensive mulching mower will shred the nutrient-rich leaves, which is good for the soil underneath your lawn.  Be sure not to leave piles of whole leaves on the lawn.  This can suffocate grasses and other plants, especially when the leaves get wet and heavy.  If you don't want the shredded leaves on your lawn, use them as mulch to enrich your garden soil.

2. Compost: Dead plants and fallen leaves are considered part of the "brown" material mix for good compost.  The "brown" material needs to be mixed with "green" material, such as kitchen scraps, in a compost bin or anywhere in your yard that is easy to reach and gets at least 5 hours of sun daily to help it "cook".  After a few months, you'll have a great, nutrient-rich soil additive for your garden.

3. Make leaf mold:  This is the easiest way to get rid of fallen leaves, but it will take a lot of patience if you'd like to use it in your garden.  To make leaf mold, just find a place to put your leaves, and wet them down.  Without moisture the leaves lose nitrogen which slows the decomposition process.  With this basic method, it can take up to two years before leaf mold can be used as a soil conditioner.  You can speed the process up by shredding the leaves or placing them in lawn bags, poking a few holes, and wetting the bags of leaves thoroughly.