Applications
Corridor murals, classroom displays, library walls and soft play areas all have one thing in common: young users who touch everything. A clear liquid laminate helps printed graphics in schools and nurseries cope with hands, bags, pens and frequent cleaning, so the investment lasts beyond the first term.
Graphics in schools rarely fail from sunlight or weather. They wear out from contact. Landor lists the surfaces that see most handling in public buildings and schools, including classroom desks, posters and signage, library desks and reading areas, entrance and walkway graphics, countertops, and canteens and washrooms. Add rucksacks scraping along corridors, glue, paint and the daily wipe-down, and an unprotected print can look tired quickly.
Liquid lamination adds a clear protective layer over the ink that is designed to resist abrasion, water and many chemicals, and makes the surface easier to wipe. For walls, Landor’s water-based Wallpaper Matt gives a low-reflection finish, with satin and gloss available where a sheen is preferred.
Felt-tip and permanent marker are an occupational hazard in schools. Landor notes that its standard liquid laminates can sometimes act as a graffiti resist against many pens, but where marking is a known problem, its anti-graffiti coating is the more robust choice. Points to plan for:
Remove marks as soon as possible, using a soft cloth and an approved cleaner rather than scouring pads.
Nurseries and early years settings often combine printed walls with printed or vinyl-wrapped soft play: foam blocks, wall pads, mats and tunnels. Landor’s soft play coatings are formulated to flex with foam and vinyl when applied at the correct film build, and to make surfaces easier to wipe. Satin is the most popular all-round finish; matt reduces glare and hides minor scuffs; gloss maximises colour.
Always test on a sample of your actual material, and clean coated surfaces with mild detergents and non-abrasive cloths. Disinfectants can be used in line with the setting’s hygiene protocol once you have checked there are no adverse effects.
Many school jobs have to fit around term time. Landor’s water-based coatings are low-odour and intended for indoor application and use; it recommends standard ventilation while applying and a full cure before the area is used. Water-based products also clean up with soap and water.
Solvent-based aerosol sprays are a different matter. Landor advises keeping them away from anyone with respiratory or other sensitivities and, ideally, using them in a separate, well-ventilated room. For on-site work in classrooms and corridors, a hand-rolled water-based coating is usually the simpler option. Landor recommends installing wallcoverings first and then hand-applying Wallpaper Matt over them for the best wipe-clean surface. Check the product data sheet for drying and cure times before rooms are handed back.
Landor names schools and nurseries among the settings for ColourShield Safetouch, its anti-microbial clear coating, which it states is tested and tested to ISO 22196. It can be added to printed surfaces in canteens, washrooms or nursery rooms where the brief asks for extra hygiene support. It is intended to work alongside normal cleaning, not instead of it.
If you are unsure how a coating will behave on your media, Landor’s starter kit includes 100ml of the laminate of your choice, a roller tray and a foam roller or brush, which is enough to trial a few offcuts first.
Landor’s water-based coatings are low-odour and intended for indoor application and use. It recommends standard ventilation during application and a full cure before the space is used.
Yes, Landor suggests using its water-based coating as a primer and then applying the two-part anti-graffiti coating. The anti-graffiti layer itself is applied only once, because it is designed to repel further coats.
Use a soft cloth or sponge with warm water and a mild detergent, test any stronger product on a small area first, and avoid abrasive scrubbing, which can wear the coating.
No. Landor states that its anti-microbial options supplement routine cleaning and hygiene practices rather than replace them.
Call +44 1252 624411 or email info@liquid-lamination.co.uk for advice, samples and pricing.
