An intriguing study released by Egger Wood Products compares the impact of material choice in a variety of projects, showing the impact not just in material cost, but also in labor cost.

In what Egger describes as a value engineering study, the report covers a luxury apartment kitchen, a bathroom, a retail store, and a restaurant/bar, listing alternative costs for the project done with thermally-fused laminate (TFL), high-pressure laminate (HPL), and with wood veneer.

Results show an overall cost savings of up to 79 percent for TFL over wood veneer and a savings of up to 37 percent for HPL over wood veneer.

“Our experience has shown that using a combination of TFL and laminates versus plywood and wood veneers for cabinet, furniture and interior design projects can save architects, designers and fabricators valuable time, money and resources,” said Lisa Thornton, Head of Marketing for EGGER North America.

The study was conducted using real world and speculative projects to compare the cost of EGGER’s Eurodekor TFL Particleboard to high pressure laminates (HPL) and wood veneers.

Cost estimates of real world and speculative projects demonstrate that customers can save valuable time and money by using thermally fused laminate (TFL) panels with laminates, according to Egger. TFL and laminates deliver both material and labor savings, resulting in total cost savings while maintaining comparable performance, according to the company. 

Metropolitan Kitchen 
by Nexis3
The Metropolitan’s apartments in Rochester, New York, utilize EGGER's H3090 ST22 Shorewood in Eurodekor TFL over a Walnut High Pressure Laminate (HPL) and a Red Oak veneer. EGGER’s TFL boards resulted in a material cost savings of 41% versus HPL and 85% versus wood veneers for a 450 sq. ft. per unit kitchen. TFL resulted in labor cost savings of 32% versus HPL and 58% versus wood veneers. Overall cost savings fare 37% versus HPL and 79% versus wood veneers. Pricing estimates by Jim VanHouter, Estimator & Business Development at Nexis3. 

Metroplitan Bathroom 
by Nexis3
In the Metropolitan bath and laundry rooms, cost savings continue in a 322 sq. ft. space. Material cost savings for TFL are 41% versus HPL and 85% versus veneers. Labor savings delivered 24% better value over HPL, and 37% over wood veneers. In the final numbers, TFL provides 35% better value than HPL and 79% better than veneers. Estimates by Jim VanHouter, Estimator & Business Development. Nexis3.

Residential/Multi-Family Closet Project
Thompson Millwork provided the estimates for this closet rendering, which features H1290 ST19 White Frozen Wood in Eurodekor TFL in varying thicknesses for the closet frame, shelving and island. The base and top trim uses W954 ST14 White in Eurodekor TFL, while the countertops use the same decor in Egger laminate. The use of TFL resulted in projected material cost savings of 33% versus HPL and 55% versus wood veneers. Projected labor costs showed a 3% savings versus HPL, and a 56% savings versus wood veneers. The final numbers resulted in TFL total cost savings of 21% versus HPL and 55% versus wood veneers. Pricing estimates for this project provided by Kevin C. Nolff, Head of Estimating at Thompson Millwork.

Restaurant and Bar Project
Thompson Millwork provided the estimates for this bar scene rendering, which features H3180 ST37 Brown Halifax Oak in Eurodekor TFL for the tables and bar backsplash. The same decor in laminate is used for the bar top. U963 ST9 Diamond Grey in laminate completes the look on the liquor shelf and façade. The TFL used in this rendering creates a projected material cost savings of 15% versus HPL and 54% versus wood veneers. Labor cost savings for TFL project to 25% over HPL and 47% over wood veneers. The final numbers show TFL savings of 21% versus HPL and 50% versus wood veneers. Pricing estimates for this project provided by Kevin C. Nolff, Head of Estimating at Thompson Millwork.

Retail Shop Project
The estimates for this shop rendering were provided by Thompson Millwork. The rendering features H1288 ST10 Stone Grey Frozen Wood in Eurodekor TFL in varying thicknesses for the shelving, display stand frame and check-out stand. A laminate version of the same decor is used on the display stand countertops. The TFL used in this rendering creates a projected material cost savings of 17% versus HPL and 58% versus wood veneers. Labor costs savings with TFL saving 43% versus HPL and 52% versus wood veneers. The final numbers show TFL savings of 34% versus HPL and 55% versus wood veneers. Pricing estimates provided by Kevin C. Nolff, head of estimating, Thompson Millwork.