TFL Cabinet Doors for Architects & Specifiers

What thermally fused laminate is

Thermally fused laminate (TFL) is a decorative paper saturated with melamine resin and fused directly to a substrate, usually particleboard or MDF, under heat and pressure. The surface and core become one panel. It is not high-pressure laminate (HPL), which is a separate sheet glued to a core, and it is not thermofoil, which is a vinyl film wrapped over MDF. Detailed comparisons: TFL vs HPL, TFL vs thermofoil, TFL vs melamine.

Specifying TFL cabinet doors

A complete TFL door specification needs six things:

1. Decor: manufacturer name and decor code (for example a Wilsonart or EGGER code). TFL Door builds in the full ranges from Wilsonart, Formica, EGGER, ARAUCO, Kronospan, ALVIC, Uniboard, Roseburg, Panolam and Funder.
2. Door style: 1-piece slab, 3-piece slab, 5-piece shaker or glass-ready frame.
3. Stile and rail width for 5-piece doors: 2", 2.25", 2.5" or 3".
4. Thickness and edge: 3/4" doors with matched edgeband.
5. Substrate: standard, or MR-50 moisture-resistant substrate for wet areas.
6. Boring: hinge boring pattern if doors are to be bored before shipping.

TFL door construction details

• 1-piece slab: a single TFL panel, edgebanded on all four edges.
• 3-piece slab: a slab face with applied vertical members for a framed look.
• 5-piece shaker: two stiles, two rails and a center panel, all in TFL, with the stile and rail width you specify.
• Glass-ready frame: a 5-piece frame prepared for glass.
• Drawer fronts and trim: matching drawer fronts and TFL trim in the same decor.

Photos and dimensions for each style are on the TFL door styles page. Inset, overlay and frameless conventions are covered in inset vs overlay.

Submittals, samples and lead times for TFL doors

Physical TFL samples are available for submittals and finish boards. For the decor you select, the manufacturer's own technical data sheet is the reference document for surface performance; ask and we will point you to the current one.

Stocked colors ship fastest. Unstocked materials are quoted individually and generally take about 2 weeks depending on availability. Local pickup in Birmingham and expedited priority service are available.

Doors are manufactured at 1520 12th Street, Birmingham, AL 35228. The equipment page and the 360° facility tour show the shop.

Warranty on TFL cabinet doors

TFL Door cabinet doors carry a limited lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects, material defects and delamination, with exclusions for alterations, modifications and misuse. The full text is published on the home page under the warranty section. Care instructions that keep the warranty valid are on the care and maintenance page.

TFL door questions architects ask

What substrate is used in TFL cabinet doors?

Standard TFL panels use particleboard or MDF cores. An MR-50 moisture-resistant substrate is available for baths, laundry rooms and commercial wet areas.

What thickness are TFL Door cabinet doors?

Doors are 3/4" thick with matched edgeband.

What stile and rail widths are available on 5-piece TFL doors?

Stile and rail widths of 2", 2.25", 2.5" and 3" are standard.

Can TFL doors be specified by manufacturer decor code?

Yes. Specify the manufacturer and decor code, for example a Wilsonart, Formica, EGGER or ARAUCO code, and TFL Door builds in that decor.

Where are TFL Door cabinet doors manufactured?

In Birmingham, Alabama, at 1520 12th Street. Doors ship nationwide or can be picked up locally.