Reading an acrylic specification
Three numbers and one process define an acrylic shutter, and a quotation that gives none of them is not a specification. Ask for sheet type, sheet thickness, board and bonding method.
| Element | What to specify | What you get if you do not |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet type | Cast PMMA | Extruded sheet — softer, more prone to edge crazing and solvent marks |
| Sheet thickness | 1.0 mm face, 0.8 mm balancing on reverse | Single-sided 0.8 mm, which bows within two monsoons |
| Substrate | 18 mm HDHMR or 18 mm BWP ply | MDF in a kitchen, which swells at the sink |
| Bonding | Hot press or PUR line bonding | Contact adhesive, which shows as bond shadow under gloss |
| Edge band | 2 mm matching acrylic or ABS, PUR applied | 0.8 mm PVC in an approximate colour |
| Protective film | Retained until handover | Panels scratched during civil works |
Mumbai rates, 2026
| Build-up | Rate (₹/sq ft elevation) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mm matte acrylic on 18 mm HDHMR, 2 mm band | ₹520 – 700 | Best value; anti-fingerprint versions at the top of the band |
| 1 mm matte acrylic on 18 mm BWP ply, 2 mm band | ₹620 – 850 | What we specify for kitchen base units |
| 1 mm high-gloss acrylic on HDHMR, 2 mm band | ₹560 – 780 | Reflective; needs a flat board or waviness shows |
| 1 mm high-gloss acrylic on BWP ply, 2 mm band | ₹680 – 920 | Kitchen fronts in a show scheme |
| Acrylic on aluminium frame profile shutter | ₹780 – 1,100 | Handle-less runs with a J or G profile |
An 8 ft × 7 ft kitchen tall unit elevation in matte acrylic on BWP is about ₹35,000–48,000 in shutters alone.
Scratches, heat and the two honest weaknesses
Acrylic is harder than laminate and much harder than membrane, but it is a polymer and it is glossy, so the scratches it does take are visible in raking light. Two practical consequences:
- Light scuffs can be polished out with a plastic polish and a foam pad — a genuine advantage over laminate. Deep scratches cannot; the panel is replaced.
- It softens above roughly 80–90°C. Keep acrylic shutters out of the 450 mm zone around a hob and never mount them directly over an oven vent.
- High gloss on a dark colour is the most demanding surface in any Indian kitchen. If anyone in the house cooks with turmeric and oil daily, specify matte.
- Solvent cleaners — thinner, acetone, nail polish remover — craze the surface instantly and permanently.
How it behaves in Mumbai humidity and near the coast
The acrylic sheet is inert; the assembly is not. Failures we see in Mumbai are all at the bond line or the board edge.
- Unbalanced panels bow. In a humid flat the exposed face and the concealed face take up moisture at different rates, and a 1 mm acrylic front over an unbalanced back will visibly cup on a 2 ft × 7 ft shutter.
- Base unit bottom rails swell where an edge is left unbanded. Under a sink in Versova, that is a two-monsoon failure. Band all four edges, including the bottom.
- Salt air dulls high gloss because the deposit is mildly abrasive when wiped. Within 2 km of the sea we suggest matte, or accept a light polish twice a year.
Care, life and BOQ wording
- Weekly: dry microfibre first, then barely damp. Wiping dust with a wet cloth is what puts swirl marks in gloss.
- Twice yearly on gloss: a non-abrasive plastic polish restores clarity in about twenty minutes per elevation.
- Realistic life: 12–15 years on matte, 10–12 on high gloss before the surface reads as tired.
- BOQ: “Shutters — 18 mm BWP ply faced with 1.0 mm cast acrylic sheet, 0.8 mm balancing sheet to reverse, hot-press bonded; 2 mm matching acrylic edge band, PUR applied on all four edges; protective film retained until handover.”
- BOQ: “No profiled, curved or post-formed elements to be executed in acrylic; such elements to be priced separately in PU.”
Specification summary
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material | Cast PMMA sheet, 1.0 mm |
| Balancing | 0.8 mm acrylic or laminate to reverse — mandatory |
| Substrate | 18 mm BWP ply (wet areas) or HDHMR (dry) |
| Edge band | 2 mm matching, PUR applied, four edges |
| Rate | ₹520 – 920 per sq ft elevation, ex-GST |
| Heat limit | Keep 450 mm clear of hob and oven vents |
| Repair | Polish light scuffs; replace panel for deep damage |
| Not suitable for | Profiles, curves, shaker doors, anything non-planar |
Frequently asked questions
Why is acrylic so much more expensive than laminate?+
The sheet itself is four to six times the price of a decorative laminate, and the bonding and edging are more demanding. You are buying depth of colour, a flatter face and the ability to polish out light damage. On a full kitchen the delta is typically ₹60,000–1,20,000 — real money, and worth it only if the flat face is the look you want.
Is matte or high gloss acrylic better for an Indian kitchen?+
Matte, in almost every case. Indian cooking puts oil aerosol on every vertical surface within two metres of the hob, and on high gloss that reads as a haze that needs weekly attention. Matte with an anti-fingerprint layer takes the same soiling and does not show it.
Can acrylic shutters be repaired?+
Light surface scuffs, yes — a plastic polish and a foam pad will take them out. Anything that has cut through into the sheet, or any impact damage at a corner, means replacing the panel. Keep the shade reference and supplier name in your handover file for exactly that reason.
Does acrylic yellow over time?+
Cast PMMA is UV stable and does not yellow the way a white PU film can. What ages is the surface, not the colour — micro-scratching gradually reduces gloss. In a room with strong afternoon sun, acrylic holds its colour better than any sprayed finish.
Can I mix acrylic shutters with PU on the same kitchen?+
Yes, and we often do. Flat slab doors in acrylic, profiled tall units or a fluted island front in PU, with the PU tinted to the acrylic shade against a physical sample. The two finishes read slightly differently in sheen, so we keep them on separate planes rather than side by side in the same run.