Laminam (Large Format Porcelain)
Stone that weighs like paper
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Laminam is a Large Format Porcelain Panel (LFPP) manufactured in Italy by pressing at 15,000 tonnes and firing at 1,200°C. Sizes: up to 1,620 × 3,240 mm. Thicknesses: 3, 5, 12, 20 mm. Water absorption < 0.1% (EN 14411 Bla, ASTM C373). Bending strength: 35–50 MPa (thin panels). Key advantage: 3 mm thickness at 3 m² area — weighs only 15 lbs/sq ft (compare: granite 20 mm = 11 lbs/sq ft). Laminam reproduces the textures of marble, stone, concrete, metal, and wood with photorealistic accuracy. Composition: 100% natural ingredients (clay, feldspar, quartz), no resins or adhesives — fully recyclable.
TECHNICAL PASSPORT
In our practice Laminam is the alternative to natural stone where weight and thickness are critical: cladding existing cabinetry, cabinet fronts, kitchen backsplashes, and hung panels. 25+ projects in the last 5 years. Primary scenario: the client wants 'Calacatta marble' on a kitchen front, but natural stone 20 mm = 110 lbs/sq ft (the cabinet can't handle it). Laminam 5 mm = 25 lbs/sq ft → solved. Second scenario: a seamless 10.5 ft countertop from a single slab — no joints, no pattern matching. Third: vertical cladding (walls, columns) — 3 mm panel glued to the substrate like tile. Competitors: Dekton (Cosentino), Neolith (TheSize), Sapienstone (Iris Ceramica). Laminam is the Italian original, since 2001.
Varieties & Types
Laminam 3 mm (I Naturali / Calce / Oxide)
$$$Italy, Fiorano Modenese — collections for wall cladding
Ultra-thin panel for facades and walls. Weight: 1.5 lbs/sq ft. Flexible — bends around radii from 16 ft. Format: 1,000 × 3,000 mm, 1,200 × 3,000 mm. Textures: natural stone, concrete, oxidized metal. Not for load-bearing horizontal surfaces.
Laminam 5 mm (Diamond / Blend / Fokos)
$$$$Italy — collections for countertops and fronts
Versatile thickness for furniture fronts and countertops on a substrate. Weight: 2.5 lbs/sq ft. Bonded to MDF/plywood for rigidity. Textures: Calacatta, Statuario marble, concrete, terrazzo. Format: 1,620 × 3,240 mm — the largest in the range.
Laminam 12 mm (IN-SIDE)
$$$$$Italy — structural panel for countertops
Self-supporting thickness: no substrate needed for countertops up to 32 in deep. Weight: 6 lbs/sq ft. Through-body pattern (IN-SIDE) — the edge reveals stone texture. Edge is finished like stone (polished, mitered). Format: up to 1,620 × 3,240 mm.
Laminam 20 mm
$$$$$Italy — for outdoor countertops and architecture
Maximum thickness: for outdoor countertops, sills, stairs. Weight: 10 lbs/sq ft — still lighter than granite. Frost resistance: 100+ freeze-thaw cycles. The only outdoor-rated option in the range.
Advantages
- ✓Ultra-light — 3 mm panel = 1.5 lbs/sq ft (granite 20 mm = 11 lbs/sq ft)
- ✓Giant format — 1,620 × 3,240 mm: wall, countertop, or front from a single piece
- ✓Water absorption < 0.1% — absolutely non-porous, absorbs nothing
- ✓Non-combustible (A1) — the highest fire-safety class, suitable for ventilated facades
- ✓Heat resistance up to 300°C — a hot pot leaves no trace
- ✓UV stability — inorganic composition never fades, suitable for building facades
- ✓Hygienic — non-porous surface resists bacteria (kitchen-safe)
- ✓Eco-friendly — 100% natural minerals, fully recyclable
Limitations
- ⚠Thin-panel fragility — 3 and 5 mm crack under point loads without a substrate
- ⚠Requires professional installation — cutting, trimming, bonding: not a DIY material
- ⚠Edge chipping — sharp impacts chip the edge (especially 3 and 5 mm)
- ⚠Costly processing — specialty blades, wet cutting, porcelain adhesive
- ⚠Limited edge options — 3–5 mm: edge = thin panel face; 12 mm: polished IN-SIDE edge
- ⚠Not reliably repairable — a crack through the panel = full replacement
Applications
Kitchen countertops — Laminam 12 mm self-supporting or 5 mm on a substrate (MDF/plywood). A seamless 10.5 ft slab — no joints. Calacatta and Statuario textures — indistinguishable from natural marble, yet non-porous. No sealing needed.
Furniture fronts — 3–5 mm Laminam bonded to MDF. Minimal weight means no hardware overload. Stone, concrete, and metal textures — premium appearance at manageable weight. Ideal for kitchen fronts.
Wall cladding — 3 mm panel bonded to substrate like tile. 1,000 × 3,000 mm format: minimal joints. For kitchen backsplashes, bathrooms, hotel lobbies. Stone textures deliver a seamless natural-stone look.
Reception desks — Laminam 12 mm as the front panel. Looks like a 110 lb marble slab, weighs 6 lbs/sq ft. Irreplaceable for hung structures. The IN-SIDE edge shows through-body pattern.
Bar countertops — Laminam 12 mm as the bar top. Heat-resistant (to 300°C), won't absorb wine or coffee, won't stain. A single 10.5 ft panel covers the full bar length with no seam.
Outdoor surfaces — Laminam 20 mm: terrace countertops, sills, stairs. Frost-proof for 100+ cycles. UV-stable — won't fade. Light — 10 lbs/sq ft vs. 20+ lbs/sq ft for 40 mm natural granite.
Pricing & Economics
Pricing Factors
- ·Thickness — 12 mm costs 2.5–3× more than 3 mm
- ·Collection — I Naturali (marble) costs 20–40% more than Calce (concrete)
- ·Format — 1,620 × 3,240 mm costs 15–25% more than 1,000 × 3,000 mm
- ·Finish — polished costs 10–20% more than matte
- ·Edge processing — mitered / polished IN-SIDE edge from $9/lin ft
- ·Installation — vertical (walls) is 20–30% less expensive than horizontal (countertops)
Care & Longevity
Daily Care
Wipe with a damp cloth or mild detergent. Laminam doesn't absorb stains — even wine and coffee wipe clean without trace. Matte textures: soft cloth. Polished: microfiber.
What to Avoid
Don't drop heavy objects on thin panels (3–5 mm without substrate) — a point impact = chip or crack. No metal scouring pads — they scratch polished surfaces. Don't strike the edge — 3–5 mm edges are fragile.
Periodic Maintenance
Stubborn stains: household cleaners with pH 2–12 are safe for Laminam. Limescale: citric acid. Marker/pen: acetone (safe for porcelain). Grout: standard epoxy grout.
Professional Care
Edge chips: porcelain repair compound (color-matched). A crack through the panel: replace segment or entire panel. Restoration cost: from $18 per chip; panel replacement: material cost + installation.
Expert Reviews
Average Rating · 5 expert reviews
«Switched to Laminam 12 mm three years ago — no regrets. Cuts like stone but weighs half as much. The 10.5 ft format means a kitchen counter from a single piece. The IN-SIDE edge — clients can't believe it's not natural marble. Key: wet cutting, diamond blade, respirator — the dust is fine.»
«Laminam is a lifesaver for wall cabinets: 5 mm + MDF = a front with Calacatta texture at 30% of real-stone cost. But the thin 5 mm edge looks 'not stonelike' — we solve it with a 40 mm false edge (two layers). For countertops: 12 mm only — the client needs to feel solidity.»
«Laminam 3 mm on walls — beautiful but nerve-wracking. The panel flexes; if you carry it flat, it can snap. Vertical only! Adhesive must be two-component — standard won't hold. Cutting on CNC — a manual cutter works only for straight lines. The result is gorgeous, but the labor is 3× that of regular tile.»
«Laminam 12 mm I Naturali Calacatta — 10.5 feet with zero seams. Two years in: wine, beet juice, lemon — wipes off. I set hot pots down without a trivet — not a mark. My friend with a marble counter is jealous — she has permanent wine stains. I have: zero.»
«Laminam 3 mm on a hotel's ventilated facade — 4,300 sq ft of cladding. Weight: 1.5 lbs/sq ft vs. 6+ lbs/sq ft for stone. The subframe is aluminum — colossal savings on steel. The Oxide texture — metallized, not a single guest realized it's porcelain. Downside: impact resistance — kids kicked a ball, one panel cracked.»
Frequently Asked Questions
Not if bonded to a rigid substrate (18 mm MDF or 18 mm plywood). The substrate handles bending loads; Laminam takes the surface stress. Without a substrate, 5 mm is brittle in flexion. For self-supporting countertops (no backer) — 12 mm minimum. Our standard: 5 mm Laminam + 18 mm moisture-resistant plywood.
Both are large-format ceramic panels. Laminam (Italy, since 2001) — the format pioneer, pure ceramics (clay + feldspar + quartz). Dekton (Spain, Cosentino, since 2013) — ultra-compact with added glass particles. Performance is comparable. Laminam goes thinner (from 3 mm); Dekton starts at 4 mm. Laminam offers more texture choices. Dekton has wider North American distribution.
Wet cutting with a diamond blade on a CNC machine — the standard. A manual tile cutter works for 3 mm (straight cuts only). For sink and hob cutouts — CNC router with diamond bit + water cooling only. The edge after cutting is ground and polished (like stone). Cutting generates fine silica dust — work with respirator and water.
Yes — Laminam withstands up to 300°C without marks. Porcelain is fired at 1,200°C — household pots (170–400°F) won't damage the surface. However, a sudden thermal shock on a thin panel (3–5 mm on substrate) could theoretically cause stress — in practice we've never seen it happen.
Perfectly — water absorption < 0.1%, resists moisture, mold, and bacteria. A 3 mm panel on a wall — minimal joints, easy installation. 12 mm — vanity top. Unlike natural stone — no sealing required. Grout: epoxy (Mapei Kerapoxy, Litokol Starlike) for complete waterproofing.
Neither. Laminam is a Large Format Porcelain Panel (LFPP). Composition: 100% natural minerals (clay, feldspar, quartz) pressed at 15,000 tonnes and fired at 1,200°C. No resins, no polymers. Essentially a man-made stone from natural components. The difference from tile: format (up to 10.5 × 5.3 ft vs. standard 24 × 24 in).
Specialized two-component adhesive for thin ceramic panels: Mapei Keralastic T, Litokol Litoelastic EVO, Ardex AF 180. Standard tile adhesive (C1/C2) is NOT suitable — insufficient bond to thin panels and no elasticity. For bonding to a substrate (MDF, plywood) — polyurethane adhesive (PUR). Coverage: 10–16 oz/sq ft.
Laminam 12 mm (self-supporting): from $90/sq ft with edge processing. Laminam 5 mm + 18 mm substrate: from $60/sq ft. A typical 20–30 sq ft top: $1,800–$4,800. For comparison: natural quartzite 20 mm = $240–$720/sq ft, natural marble 20 mm = $150–$600/sq ft. Laminam is less expensive than stone at comparable aesthetics.
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