Direct Pressure Laminate vs High Pressure Laminate

DPL vs HPL, Which laminate should I select. It seems that there is always a battle and now direct pressure laminate vs high pressure laminate? Your shopping for laminate, see it priced anywhere from under a dollar per square foot up to several dollars a square foot. You hear the terms direct pressure, high pressure, low density, high density. Sales people often talk about scratch and dent resistance and rarely density. Most laminate flooring is a long-time installation. The lamination process makes a difference for long time use. You should know the difference between direct pressure laminate and high pressure laminate?

DPL vs HPL Laminate Flooring, Will it be a Knockout?

There are major differences between “Direct Pressure Laminate flooring (DPL)” and “High Pressure Laminate flooring (HPL).”

Direct Pressure Laminate Flooring – DPL

In the battle direct pressure laminate vs high pressure laminate, direct pressure will win the battle in price.

The more common and lower in price among the laminated flooring products is Direct Pressure Laminate – DPL laminate flooring. Made up of 4 layers, the stabilizing layer, core layer, decorative layer and the wear layer. Fusing of layers takes place at 300 and 600 pounds per inch (PSI) of pressure and around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. DPL will costs less and perform best with low to moderate traffic.

High Pressure Laminate Flooring – HPL

In the second round of the battle direct pressure laminate vs high pressure laminate, high pressure will win the battle in durability.

HPL laminate flooring comes at a higher price but is more durable. High Pressure Laminate – HPL is made in 5 layers vs. the 4 layers of DPL. HPL backing and top wear layers are treated separately, and then fused directly onto the core. PSI of 1300+ fuses the layers together, significantly more pressure than used in the DPL process. This creates a stronger floor that will perform better in a higher traffic situation.

Without a doubt, HPL will perform better in higher residential traffic situations and for commercial use making high pressure laminate a knockout in the battle of direct Pressure laminate vs high pressure laminate.

The North American Laminate Association Tests Laminate Flooring