Laminate vs Acrylic vs PU Finish
Laminate, acrylic and PU (polyurethane paint) are the three finishes that decide how your kitchen and wardrobe shutters look, feel and age. The carcass underneath can be identical — the finish drives 30–50% of a unit's price and most of its daily-life experience.
The bottom line
Laminate for durability and value, acrylic for gloss-forward kitchens, PU for seamless designer shutters and repairability — and a deliberate mix of the three for the best budget-to-impact ratio.
The comparison at a glance
| Criteria | Laminate | Acrylic | PU paint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look & feel | Hundreds of matte, textured and gloss designs | Deep mirror-gloss, rich solid colours | Seamless painted surface — matte or gloss, any RAL shade |
| Indicative cost (per sqft of shutter) | ₹150–450 | ₹600–1,200 | ₹900–1,500 |
| Scratch resistance | Good — best-in-class for daily abuse | Moderate — gloss shows scratches; needs care | Moderate — chips possible on impact |
| Repairability | Panel replacement only | Buffable for minor scratches; panel swap for damage | Re-sprayable — the only truly repairable finish |
| Edges | Visible edge band line | Matching acrylic edge band; near-seamless on good machines | Seamless — paint wraps profiles and routed shutters |
| Cleaning & upkeep | Lowest effort | Fingerprint-prone in gloss; frequent wiping | Easy wiping; avoid abrasives |
Laminate: the default for good reasons
High-pressure laminates from Greenlam, Merino or Century are the workhorse finish of Indian interiors: hardest-wearing surface of the three, the widest design library, and the lowest cost. Modern textured and super-matte laminates look far removed from the shiny 90s stereotype. Limitations are aesthetic — a visible edge-band line, and gloss laminate never reaches acrylic's depth. For kids' rooms, rental homes and heavy-use kitchens, laminate is often the smart pick, not the compromise.
Acrylic and PU: paying for depth and seamlessness
Acrylic sheets give that liquid, mirror-gloss depth premium kitchens are photographed in — at roughly two to three times laminate cost, with fingerprints and scratch care as the tax. PU sits at the top: sprayed and cured paint over an MDF/HDHMR shutter, so routed profiles, grooves and shaker panels get a seamless skin in literally any colour, matte or gloss. PU's unique advantage is that it can be sanded and re-sprayed years later; its risk is chipping on hard knocks and dependence on the sprayer's skill — insist on seeing finished PU work before committing.
How to mix finishes intelligently
Most premium Bengaluru homes mix all three: PU or acrylic on the kitchen and living-room showpieces, laminate inside wardrobes, on internal shelves and in low-traffic rooms. That keeps the visual budget where eyes land and the durability budget where hands land. Whatever you choose, the BOQ should name the finish, brand and thickness per shutter — “premium finish” is not a specification. All indicative rates above are typical Bengaluru market figures, excluding 18% GST.
What to check before you sign — with anyone
Whichever firm or approach you choose, these five items belong in writing before the booking amount leaves your account.
Payment schedule
Stage-wise payments tied to delivery milestones (design sign-off, material delivery, installation, handover) — never a large upfront share against nothing tangible.
Warranty document
A written warranty certificate stating years, what's covered (carcass, shutters, hardware, workmanship) and the claim process — not a verbal assurance.
BOQ itemisation
Every unit, material grade, brand and accessory as its own priced line. Lump sums and 'as per actuals' clauses are where overruns hide.
Delay penalty clause
A committed handover date and what the firm owes you per day beyond it, written into the agreement.
Cancellation & refund terms
What you get back if you exit at each stage, in writing, before you pay the booking amount.
What AesthetiX puts in the contract
95% quote accuracy
Fixed itemised BOQ; the final bill is contractually held within 5% of it.
₹2,000/day delay penalty
Committed 30–45 day handover — every late day, we pay you.
15/25-year warranty
15 years on the project, 25 years on modular units, in writing.
Branded materials, named in the BOQ
Hettich, Hafele, Blum, Century Ply, Greenlam, Merino, Asian Paints — brand and grade specified per line item.
Compare us on paper, not promises.
Every AesthetiX commitment above is written into the signed work agreement. Bring any competitor quote — we'll walk it line by line.