What are the advantages of compact HPL table tops?

Garden tables are made from a wide range of materials, some of which are more durable and easier to maintain than others. Choose a compact HPL or high pressure laminate table top for a durable garden table that is perfect for outdoor use. To choose the perfect garden table and understand the pros of HPL tables, use our guide.

HPL is a composite material that was originally used to make urban furniture in public places, as well as worktops in hospitals, laboratories and the food industry, and even decorative façades in the construction sector. Although still relatively new to the world of furniture manufacturing, HPL is starting to be used as a coating by some professional outdoor furniture brands .

LAFUMA MOBILIER has chosen this ground-breaking material for their garden tables. Before going into all the benefits of HPL, let’s take a look at how it is made. HPL is compact high pressure laminate. It is usually made by layering multiple sheets of recycled kraft paper or wood fibre (70%) and saturating them with phenolic resin (30%). The plastic resin is thermosetting, meaning that it hardens under the heat pressure. More specifically, it is a combination of phenol-formaldehyde resin for the middle layers and melamine-formaldehyde resin for the surface layer. With a reduced formaldehyde content (below European Union standards), HPL is chemically inert. The different paper layers saturated with thermosetting resin are then compressed (laminated) under very high pressure and at a high temperature (over 150°C). This results in a very hard, dense sheet which can stand the test of time. A final sheet of decorative paper is placed on top and covered in a protective overlay.

Make sure you don’t confuse laminate panels with melamine surface panels (MSP). The melamine layer is much thinner than the laminate sheet, making it more fragile and less resistant to impact and scratches.

What is the best material for a garden table ? While wooden, metal and plastic tables all have their advantages, there is no comparison with HPL. They are hard-wearing, easy to maintain and contemporary — the best of all worlds.

By understanding how HPL or compact high pressure laminate is made, it is easier to see why it lends itself so well to outdoor use if properly maintained. Various different tests on the life cycle of HPL have shown it to have an estimated lifespan of approximately 50 years. By way of comparison, wooden garden furniture has a lifespan of approximately 15 years. With the ability to withstand high temperatures (up to 180°C), there is the added benefit of being able to place dishes straight out of the oven onto an HPL table top. HPL is easy to maintain and can be cleaned using soapy water. A simple sponge or soft cloth will easily remove all dirt and grime. However, abrasive sponges and any maintenance products containing abrasive substances should be avoided when cleaning HPL.

By choosing a high-density HPL table, the number of possible finishes is endless. HPL it is highly resilient and pleasant to the touch. Furthermore, it can be made to look like natural materials, such as wood, marble or even steel. HPL is also available in a wide range of colours and textures. True to our minimalist style, at LAFUMA MOBILIER we design simple and elegant garden tables. The ANCÔNE table offers a mineral, slate-like look for a particularly contemporary feel, as does the lighter cement coloured imitation polished concrete, whose table top pairs perfectly with its white aluminium legs.

For both our ANYTIME garden tables and our even more high end ANCÔNE range, LAFUMA MOBILIER has opted for a durable table top in compact high pressure laminate (HPL). Our goal is to provide garden tables with superior performance than those currently on the outdoor furniture market. Highly resistant, hygienic, and easy to maintain, HPL is the interior and exterior design material of the future. Our ANYTIME tables are available in three options: a square table that seats 2 people, a small rectangular one that seats 2 to 4 people, and a larger one for 4 to 6 people. All three folding tables have a solid 6 mm thick HPL table top with a particularly modern slate (‘mineral’) finish. Our ANCÔNE garden tables come in three finishes: ‘Mineral’, ‘cement’ and ‘mica’ (new collection). With a table top just 10 mm thick, they provide an elegant and stylish finish.  Our ANCÔNE table comes in a 6/8 seater version or an extendable 8/10 seater version to accommodate more people at mealtimes.