May. 26, 2025
When you’re choosing your residence hall furniture and deciding on the specs, you’ll inevitably choose what materials you want.
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Should it be totally solid wood, including the top? Or should you get solid wood or plywood substrates with laminate tops, or all laminate?
Whatever the selection, your furniture is probably going to include edge banding. Why?
Because it’s an important part of the construction. And depending on where we use it in the cabinet, it improves the longevity of your furniture.
In this short guide—part of our Nuts & Bolts Series for operational and facilities leaders—you’ll learn some of the basics of edge banding.
So let’s start at the beginning. What is edge banding?
It’s actually kind of simple, and the video below will help you understand it even better, but this is a simple overview to get you started.
Here’s the basic non-technical idea.
Plywood, particle board, and other manufactured wood cores like MDF have rough, unfinished, unprotected, and generally unsightly edges.
To account for that, some clever folks developed technologies that allow you to glue different bands of glossy finished material to those rough edges to match the tops and sides.
Those narrow bands or strips are called edging tape, and they range in thickness from 0.018-inch to 5mm thick and come in 250 ft rolls.
The thicker edging is used in high traffic and commercial environments because it provides greater resilience and impact resistance. For example, the military requires a thicker ⅜” solid wood edge banding for maximum impact resistance.
And edge banders are the industrial grade machines that apply the edging tape to the raw edges of the wood panels with a hot-melt adhesive or glue.
Edge banding serves both functional and aesthetic purposes.
Functionally, edge bands perform some key duties for your furniture. First, they keeps moisture out serving as de facto seals on the edge of the core material. Second, edge banding improves durability and resilience by providing impact resistance. If you’re using solid wood edging, it can also add to the overall strength of the furniture.
Aesthetically, edge banding covers up unsightly rough edges and creates a glossy finish to match your tops and sides. You can also create radial edges to soften sharp angles.
Where can you expect to find edge banding in your furniture? That depends on your overall material specification.
A solid wood product won’t include any edge banding, except where we can’t use solid wood. Wardrobe doors, for example, are made of veneer core plywood or MDF.
And even when we use solid wood for case sides and drawer fronts, many customers still use high pressure laminate tops. Those tops need edge banding.
If you’re using plywood or laminate as your material specification, that needs edge banding too.
DCI uses edge banding in places you might not expect, like plywood bed decks. Why? Because a fully sealed deck prevents bed bugs. You can read more about bed bug mitigation here.
DCI doesn’t use edge banding on cabinet backs or drawer bottoms because they are already embedded (sealed) in dato grooves. Likewise we don’t edge band internal plywood drawer parts because it doesn’t add value.
You should note that some manufactures don’t use edge banding where they should—like on the bottom and back edges of plywood cabinets. That’s a problem because moisture, even small amounts, can destroy unsealed furniture.
What are the edging tapes made from? There are different materials, and we’ll just focus on a few here.
1. PVC is the most popular material for edge banding on case good tops. Pros: It’s inexpensive, durable, and boasts a long life. It doesn’t require any finishing process. It’s also easy, albeit tedious, to repair. Cons: You can’t recycle it. It doesn’t biodegrade. Once it’s blemished, you can’t refinish it. (NB: ABS—Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene—is an eco-friendly alternative to PVC because it’s both recyclable and safe to incinerate.)
When it comes to PVC, we recommend 3mm edging in general because it goes on cleaner, quicker, and with better adhesion. Another advantage is that you get a graceful radius and a nice soft-looking finish. In general, we avoid .5mm edging because the corners tend to be too sharp.
2. Solid Wood is still a favorite for case good tops in many woodworking camps. It’s durable, recyclable, easy to fix and refinish, strong, stiff, and economical.
Benefits: it’s more resistant to chipping than veneer edge tape. Solid wood glues are more reliable and less prone to peeling than veneer and PVC. It provides additional dimensional support to plywood and mdf. Climate neutral manufacturing. Cons: Difficult to use for curves.
We offer solid wood edge banding for tops in a range of thicknesses. And you can apply it internally or externally.
When it comes to solid wood we recommend 9.5mm on case good tops.
As we explain below, at DCI, we believe the best way to apply wood edge banding is “internally” with a HPL top. Why? Because in our experience, it’s incredibly durable and never requires additional service.
3. Wood Veneer is the most common edge banding material for plywood cabinet sides, drawer fronts, and MDF wardrobe doors. It’s made from thin slices of wood—typically oak, maple, ash, walnut, birch, and mahogany—that are joined together in a roll using finger jointing.
It usually features a heat-sensitive glue backing. And it comes in a range of thicknesses, so it’s important to use the right one depending on the application.
Pros: It’s attractive, durable, and strong. It provides a clean solid-wood look, and it’s pre-sanded to absorb stains and finishes and seamlessly match your wood. Cons: It’s not heat resistant. Avoid putting it near a heater. It doesn’t do well in high-use environments.
According to RA Learning Center, there are at least four methods of applying edge banding. There are a lot of things to say about each of these but for now, here’s a simple list of application methods and mediums.
There’s no doubt, edge banding is essential to most campus and dorm furniture. When applied improperly, or used incorrectly in critical components, it’s a huge maintenance issue.
One issue you might find in furniture that has edge banding is that it peels. Why?
Sometimes, for different reasons, the adhesive can fail. When that happens, the edge banding will start to peel away from the edge.
Peeling can also happen because of rough use. For example, .5mm edging doesn’t provide much resistance to impact. Therefore you don’t want to use it on the front end of a case side. If you do, your edging might start to peel.
chimeda supply professional and honest service.
If your furniture starts to peel, we can fix it. Just reach out to your local DCI account rep, and we’ll take care of it for you.
Generally speaking, we recommend PVC edge banding for projects where budget is the first and driving priority. That is not to say there is anything wrong with this material. There are just fewer steps in the manufacturing process and the raw material is less expensive.
Solid wood edge banding is more expensive because it’s labor intensive and the material is higher quality. And with more steps involved in the manufacturing process, we consider this a premium solution. As we alluded to above, internal solid wood edge banding with HPL tops are probably our strongest and most durable solution.
We choose to use a hot melt glue for our adhesive solution because it’s user friendly and provides a great seal. We apply the glue to the edge while it’s still hot and then apply the banding, pressing it to the side.
Ambient temperature plays an important role in the edge banding process. We need to regulate the temperature of both the building and our materials. In essence, we need a warm environment for the optimal adhesion process. It can’t be cold in the building.
And finally, you need a good clean glue edge for the process to work. At DCI, we have state of the art machinery that improves the glue edge and squares it up perfectly.
It’s our responsibility to edge band correctly. But you should know, there are still choices you’ll need to make when evaluating edge banding options.
Those choices can feel daunting if you don’t live and breathe this stuff like we do. Our experts will help you navigate your edge banding options to ensure you get the right product for your project.
Our goal is to help you understand the process and give you confidence that our products are designed based on years of manufacturing experience and time-tested performance in the field.
Here is a stripped down version of edge banding. Of course, when building furniture for Higher Education and Military customers, we do this on an industrial scale. But this video will help you visualize the process in its simplest form.
Choosing the right edge banding material can feel like a tough decision—especially when both ABS and PVC bring unique advantages to the table. Do you prioritize durability, eco-friendliness, or cost-effectiveness? Each material has its strengths, and understanding these differences is key to selecting the best option for your project. Let’s break it down and help you make an informed choice.
ABS and PVC edge banding each offer distinct advantages, making the best choice depend on your project’s priorities. ABS is an eco-friendly, non-toxic material known for its durability, impact resistance, and recyclability, making it ideal for sustainable or high-traffic projects. PVC, on the other hand, is highly versatile, cost-effective, and available in a wide range of colors and finishes, perfect for achieving precise design aesthetics. Choosing between the two comes down to balancing environmental considerations, budget, and the specific demands of your application.
When it comes to creating high-quality furniture or cabinetry, it’s the little details that make all the difference. One of those critical details is edge banding. Edge banding isn’t just about covering exposed edges—it’s about enhancing the durability, aesthetic appeal, and overall lifespan of the product. In modern design, edge banding serves as both a protective layer and a key design element that can completely transform the look and feel of your project.
Among the many materials available, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) are the two leading contenders in edge banding. Both materials are widely used for their unique properties, but choosing between them can be challenging. Should you opt for the strength and eco-friendliness of ABS, or is the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of PVC a better match for your needs? The answer depends not only on the specific demands of your project but also on how you balance factors like durability, aesthetics, and environmental impact.
Selecting the right edge banding material is crucial because it can dramatically affect the performance of your product in the long run. Whether you’re building a sleek modern kitchen or designing office furniture meant to withstand heavy use, the edge banding material you choose will influence everything from appearance to wear resistance. Make the right choice, and you’ll have a product that stands the test of time—get it wrong, and you may face issues like peeling, discoloration, or even environmental concerns down the line.
Understanding the core differences between ABS and PVC edge banding starts with the materials themselves. ABS, short for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is a thermoplastic polymer known for its toughness and impact resistance. It’s made up of three main components: acrylonitrile, which adds chemical resistance, butadiene for flexibility, and styrene to enhance durability and rigidity. This unique combination gives ABS its excellent balance of strength and flexibility, making it a popular choice for projects where resilience is key, such as high-traffic areas or frequently used furniture.
On the other hand, PVC, or Polyvinyl Chloride, is one of the most versatile plastics in the world. Its chemical structure, which includes chlorine atoms, makes it inherently more fire-resistant than ABS. PVC edge banding is prized for its flexibility, which allows it to adhere seamlessly to curves and corners, making it an excellent option for intricate designs or furniture with complex shapes. Moreover, PVC’s cost-effectiveness and availability in a wide range of finishes—such as high-gloss, matte, and wood grain—make it a go-to material for large-scale production.
When it comes to heat resistance, ABS holds the upper hand. It can withstand higher temperatures without warping, making it suitable for environments where heat exposure is a concern. PVC, while not as heat-resistant, excels in terms of its weather resistance, which is why it’s often chosen for outdoor furniture or spaces with high moisture exposure.
Ultimately, the choice between ABS and PVC often depends on the specific demands of the project. If your focus is on impact resistance and the ability to handle tough environments, ABS is the stronger candidate. If flexibility, ease of application, and cost are your top priorities, PVC might be the better fit. The key is aligning the material’s properties with the functional and aesthetic needs of your project.
When it comes to aesthetics and design flexibility, both ABS and PVC edge banding offer distinct advantages, but they cater to different design needs. ABS, with its naturally smooth surface and matte finish, is often preferred in modern, minimalist interiors where a clean and understated look is key. Its color retention is exceptional, meaning the material doesn’t fade easily even after prolonged exposure to light. This makes ABS an ideal choice for furniture that needs to maintain a fresh, consistent look over time.
PVC, on the other hand, is the true chameleon of edge banding materials. Available in an astonishing variety of finishes, from sleek high-gloss to rustic wood grains, PVC provides unmatched versatility for designers. Whether you’re aiming for a luxurious lacquered look or a natural, earthy vibe, PVC can be customized to achieve almost any aesthetic. Its ability to replicate intricate textures and patterns, such as marble or metallic effects, gives PVC the edge when it comes to creating statement pieces or matching complex design themes.
One of PVC’s greatest strengths is its adaptability to curves and irregular surfaces, making it the go-to material for projects that require a high degree of customization. Whether you’re working with a uniquely shaped cabinet or a curved table edge, PVC’s flexibility ensures a seamless application. Meanwhile, ABS, although more rigid, excels in creating sharp, clean lines—perfect for geometric or contemporary designs where precision is critical.
In the end, the decision between ABS and PVC often comes down to the desired finish and design complexity. For projects that demand a wider range of textures and finishes, PVC offers the most creative freedom. However, if you’re looking for a more refined, matte appearance with superior long-term color retention, ABS is the ideal choice. Both materials support modern design trends, but each shines in different ways depending on the look you want to achieve.
Durability is a critical factor when choosing edge banding, and both ABS and PVC bring distinct strengths to the table. ABS is renowned for its impressive impact resistance, making it ideal for environments where edges are constantly subjected to knocks and bumps. Whether it’s a busy kitchen, an office space, or furniture in a commercial setting, ABS can take a beating without showing significant signs of wear. This resilience makes it a popular choice for heavy-use areas where durability is non-negotiable.
PVC, while not as robust in terms of impact resistance, compensates with exceptional scratch resistance. Thanks to advanced surface treatments, PVC edge banding often features a protective coating that keeps surfaces looking smooth and new, even after long-term use. This is particularly valuable for high-traffic furniture like kitchen cabinets, retail shelving, or children’s furniture, where maintaining an unblemished surface is a priority.
When it comes to weather tolerance, the two materials diverge further. ABS has an advantage in handling heat exposure, making it less likely to warp or deform in hot environments. However, it’s not as resistant to UV rays, meaning prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause fading over time. This limits its effectiveness for outdoor use or areas with strong natural light.
PVC, by contrast, shines in environments with moisture and sunlight. Its water-resistant properties make it the go-to choice for spaces like bathrooms or kitchens, where moisture is a constant factor. Additionally, PVC is better equipped to handle UV exposure, making it a viable option for outdoor furniture or areas with heavy sunlight. It won’t crack, peel, or fade easily, ensuring a long-lasting appearance even in challenging conditions.
In terms of longevity, both materials can offer years of reliable performance when used in the right settings. ABS typically comes with longer warranties for indoor applications, while PVC’s resistance to moisture and UV exposure makes it the better choice for humid or sunlit environments. The decision ultimately depends on the specific demands of your project and the conditions in which the edge banding will be used.
As environmental consciousness grows, the sustainability of materials like ABS and PVC is under greater scrutiny. ABS, while durable and widely used, is a petroleum-based plastic, meaning its production involves the extraction of fossil fuels. The manufacturing process for ABS is energy-intensive, leading to higher carbon emissions. Moreover, while ABS is technically recyclable, the infrastructure for recycling it is less developed compared to other plastics, limiting its sustainability appeal in many regions.
PVC, by contrast, has had a more complex environmental reputation. Traditional PVC production involves the use of harmful chemicals like chlorine, and disposal can release toxic substances if not handled properly. However, the rise of eco-friendly innovations has given PVC a green makeover. Modern manufacturers are now using water-based inks and phasing out harmful plasticizers, making PVC edge banding far less toxic than it once was. In particular, water-based PVC films, which eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have dramatically reduced the environmental impact of PVC production and application.
One of the biggest advantages of PVC is its long lifespan. Because it’s durable and resistant to weathering, PVC edge banding often doesn’t need to be replaced for many years, reducing waste in the long run. Additionally, PVC is becoming more recyclable, with advances in material recovery processes allowing it to be reused in new applications.
The growing demand for sustainable materials is influencing both consumers and manufacturers. More buyers are seeking eco-friendly options, not just for the sake of environmental responsibility, but also for indoor air quality and health concerns. As a result, many companies are prioritizing the development of greener PVC products, with water-based options leading the charge. Ultimately, while ABS has its place, PVC’s evolving eco-friendly credentials make it a strong contender in today’s sustainability-driven market.
When it comes to cost, ABS and PVC edge banding each offer distinct advantages depending on the scope of your project and budget. Generally, PVC edge banding is the more affordable option. Its production costs are lower, making it an attractive choice for large-scale projects where budget constraints are a concern. For furniture manufacturers or contractors working on high-volume jobs, such as cabinetry or retail shelving, PVC provides excellent value without sacrificing quality, especially with the wide range of finishes and designs it offers.
ABS, while typically more expensive upfront, presents a different kind of value. Its durability and impact resistance mean that furniture or fixtures edged with ABS are likely to last longer, particularly in high-traffic or heavy-use environments. This can result in fewer replacements or repairs over time, offering a long-term cost advantage for projects where durability is crucial, such as office furniture or commercial applications. In essence, while the initial cost of ABS may be higher, its long lifespan could save money in the long run.
The trade-off between upfront cost and long-term value is one that must be carefully considered. For projects that prioritize aesthetic variety, quick installation, or large-scale production, PVC is usually the better financial choice. On the other hand, if the project involves areas prone to heavy wear and tear—think busy kitchens, office spaces, or public facilities—investing in ABS might provide better long-term returns, thanks to its resilience and reduced need for maintenance.
Ultimately, the right material for your budget depends on balancing immediate costs with the expected lifespan of the product. Large projects with tight budgets often lean towards PVC, while projects that demand high performance and durability may find ABS worth the extra investment. Understanding these cost dynamics ensures you get the best value for your specific needs.
Choosing between ABS and PVC edge banding comes down to understanding the specific demands of your project. ABS stands out for its superior impact resistance, heat tolerance, and long-term durability, making it ideal for high-traffic environments or commercial settings where furniture will face heavy use. Its slightly higher upfront cost is balanced by its long lifespan, which can save money on maintenance and replacements over time. If your project requires durability above all, ABS is the way to go.
On the other hand, PVC shines in terms of design flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and resistance to moisture. With a wide variety of finishes—from matte to high-gloss and even realistic wood grains—PVC is perfect for projects where visual appeal and budget are priorities. Its ability to handle moisture makes it particularly well-suited for kitchens, bathrooms, and even outdoor spaces. Furthermore, with the rise of eco-friendly, water-based PVC options, it’s becoming an increasingly sustainable choice for those focused on environmental impact.
In the end, the decision should be based on the specific conditions your project will face. Are you working in a high-wear environment? ABS might be your best bet. Is flexibility in design or cost a major factor? PVC is likely the better choice. By carefully weighing durability, aesthetics, and budget, you’ll be able to select the material that best meets your project’s unique requirements. Whatever you choose, the right edge banding will elevate both the function and look of your final product.
Are you interested in learning more about ABS Edge Banding? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
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