Richlite is made of layers of paper and phenolic resin. It is heated and compressed to become a solid sheet
material.

1. Industrial: A structural grade for machine tooling in marine and aircraft industries. CNC router beds &point-to-point vacuum pods are common applications.
2. Commercial Kitchens: RS1000 (Baguette) through Reed Products for commercial kitchen cutting and prep surfaces.
3. Marine Industry: Whalelite for structural marine purposes.
4. Skatelite: The internationally top selling product for skateboard parks. Not quality controlled for color like Richlite Architectural panels and sold only for ramp applications through ramp fabricators.
5. Richlite: Finish grade material for counter top, mill work and architectural use. FSC Certified line includes all colors listed below, R50 and R100 are recycled content material.

• Colors
  • Chocolate Glacier
  • Browns Point
  • Yellow Island
  • Blue Canyon
  • Green Mountain
  • Redstone
  • Black Diamond
  • R50
  • R100
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  1. Striations: Richlite has a "mottled" appearance, which patterns in a striated effect lengthwise. This is less apparent, but present on dark colors. Including the Black Diamond. These qualities are due to the natural variation in the paper used to make the material.
  2. Seams: The seams will look similar to wood and veneers. Seams should be displayed where they make design sense. Consider the impact of the striations when determining seam placement.
• Patina & Aging
  1. Over time and with use Richlite will develop a seasoned appearance that is characteristic of the material. There will be more luster or burnishing in areas of heavier use. Overall it will appear softer and deeper in color and pattern.
  2. Aging is a process that begins immediately and may, like cherry and mahogany, may take a number of years to complete. It is similar to the manner in which natural wood products oxidize and age over time. The speed of aging will be affected by amount of natural light the product is exposed to. Typically the process is noticeable after one to three months.
  3. The effect of aging in Richlite Surface is primarily a result of the resin component, which begins 2010 Fabrication and Sales Guide Page 2 as pale amber and deepens to a rich shade of sienna.
  4. The color of Richlite is the result of the combination of the paper color used and the color of the resin. Therefore, the result of aging is that Richlite colors darken, become more dramatic, rich, and warm. In general color change is minimal in dark color range & more pronounced in lighter colors. The process of making the product does not allow absolute control over the color of the final product. Slight variations between sheets will become closer over time as they age.
     • R100 & Baguette: Since the paper color is neutral, the color you see is purely that of the resin. It first appears a pale, amber color and over many years darkens to sienna, very similar to an old fir floor.
     • R50 & Browns Point: First appears as a medium brown, and ages into a warmer, honeybrown.
     • Green Mountain: First appears cool green-blue and develops into a warm, olive green.
     • Blue Canyon: First appears as a dark cobalt blue and darkens more toward navy, eventually becoming almost black.
     • Redstone: First appears as a deep wine red, than darkens slightly and becomes slightly warmer.
     • Black Diamond: No change.
     • Yellow Island: Similar to baguette but lighter and more yellow in color (not recommended on locations subject to standing water as water marks may be visible).
     • Chocolate Glacier: Darkens to rich brown-black
• Finish
  1. Richlite looks very natural, is non-porous, and has a matte finish. The surface of the manufacturer provided samples is a 150 grit random orbital finish buffed with a medium (maroon) scotchbrite pad. Richlite does not maintain a polished or highly sanded (more than 150 grit) finish as recommended by the manufacturer. We have found this finish is the best balance for initial look and feel and eventual wear and patina.
  2. Richlite Enhancer is the most maintenance-free sealant, which enhances the finish and color.
  3. Rejuvenator/Polish: Howard Naturals polish is an easy to apply rejuvenator/polish that can be used by the end user on a regular basis.
• Surface and thickness
  • Richlite is a pressed product and is not cast or extruded. Due to this process, there are slight variations in the thickness of the panels. Please see attached tolerance sheet for dimensional specifications. The surface texture is a result of the pressing process and has a “mill finish” that is similar to a matte laminate or melamine. The mill finish is not protected in shipping with a film and may get light scratches in the handling process. As a testament to Richlite’s durability, we have seen panels that were improperly handled in shipping turn into beautiful finished product. This mill
    finish should be sanded as specified by fabrication instructions to both remove any light scratches from handling the material and to have a consistent final installed product. 2010 Fabrication and Sales Guide Page 3
• Durability
  • Richlite is an incredibly durable product but it does scratch. The scratches will eventually become part of the patina and are typically superficial. Due to its high impact resistance, gouges or cracks are uncommon. Because of the way it is manufactured with stacked sheets of paper, the edge can be prone to chipping if not eased or radiused appropriately. It stands up well to anything acidic but alkaline products may pull the color from the product after prolonged exposure.
• Environmental Impact
  1. LEED credits are applicable to Richlite depending on the location of your project and the specific requirements and goals of the project. Contact your distributor for more the most current information on this aspect.
  2. Richlite is considered a green product. Certifications include FSC, Greenguard Children & Schools and Rainforest Alliance Certified. Richlite is a member of the USGBC.
  3. As of 2009, Richlite has implemented WE technology in the manufacturing process. This has lowered our emission footprint dramatically. See WE technology presentation for more details.
  4. Richlite is continually working on ways to make the product and the manufacturing process as environmentally sensitive as possible.
• Care & Maintenance
  1. Regular Maintenance
     • End users should always be given the attached C + M sheets below
     • Affected by alkaline: soap, papayas, beets, and liver.
     • No Comet or bleach based products.
     • Murphy's Oil Soap is recommended, Simple Green works well for difficult spots.
     • Plain yogurt will pull stains from lighter colored material.
     • No abrasives. This includes scrubbing powders and all types of scouring pads, even nylon ones.
  2. Professional Refurbishing: As desired, contact dealer or fabricator. Three options defined below and detailed instructions provided in C + M sheets.
     • A basic reseal: Soap + water. Reapply Richlite Enhancer
     • Scotchbrite + reseal: Soap + water. Sotchbrite with random orbital sander, soap + water, reapply Richlite Enhancer
     • Full finishing process: Sand, scotchbrite, re-apply Richlite Enhancer.