Stop Laminating Paper: 6 Reasons to Use Waterproof Paper Instead

Laminating paper is a practice that is widely used to help preserve and strengthen paper. It's a great way to help paper products last and withstand exposure to water, chemicals and rough handling; however, it is also a time-consuming and sometimes costly practice. You may be asking, so 'does laminating paper make it waterproof?' Technically it is only water-resistant, but thanks to advances in paper technology, durable paper solutions have been developed and manufactured to help!

Waterproof papers are synthetic: meaning that they are commonly made out of polypropylene resin and inorganic fibers, not wood pulp or natural fibers. Compared to laminated paper, waterproof paper is durable, tear-proof, chemical proof and fade-resistant right out of the package, so there is no additional process necessary.

We put together a list of the 6 reasons you should stop laminating paper and use waterproof paper instead!

1. Laminating paper can get expensive

We've found that one of the most common misconceptions about waterproof paper is that it is too expensive and that laminating paper is a cheaper option. Well, that just isn't true. In fact, using waterproof paper instead of laminated paper reduces costs by 50% in this example.

Looking beyond the fact that waterproof paper is initially less expensive than lamination, you also need a product that you can easily print on, that will support your project/needs and that does not need to be continually replaced; to have one product that can do it all is key.

2. Waterproof Paper Helps Save You Time

One of the ways waterproof paper saves our customers time is by removing the need for additional finishing after printing. Once a sheet of waterproof paper runs through a dry toner laser printer, it's ready to go. If you were to laminate a sheet of standard paper or card stock, you would have to perform the additional steps of inserting the paper into a pouch and running it through a laminating machine. This may not seem like it takes too much time, but when you combine all of the seconds it took to perform those extra steps, they quickly add up. Using waterproof paper offers you the convenience of printing your documents, menus, posters, signs or anything on demand!

3. Durability

Due to its synthetic composition, waterproof paper is super durable. Laminated paper is not as strong. It will eventually break down as peeling occurs and moisture seeps in. Waterproof paper, on the other hand, can withstand tearing, pounding rains, complete submersion under water, sub-freezing and high heat temperatures without even blinking. It also deters greases, solvents and chemicals.

4. Appearance matters

When it comes to a printed product, how it looks is crucial. Aesthetics are important and, let's face it, lamination doesn't look good in the long term. The initial appearance of a laminated piece is subjective; some people would say lamination always looks tacky, while others might say it looks shiny and fresh at the beginning of its life. But, as we discussed above, the piece will not hold up over time and will eventually crack or peel. Everyone can agree: that isn't a great look.

5. Print & image quality

Images and text printed on synthetic paper are crisp, clean and easy to read. Waterproof paper bears the appearance, smoothness and printability of standard paper. That's right! You can load it into your dry toner laser printer, just like you would with any standard paper. It comes in various weights, sizes, colors and can be punched or die-cut as needed. Waterproof paper can also be scored and folded - setting it further apart from laminated paper, which does not tolerate folding.

6. Versatility & variety of product types

Waterproof paper can be used for any product that would normally be printed on traditional paper, but could use more durability and a longer lifespan. It is perfect for menus, ID/membership cards, signage, door hangers, maps, license plates, passes, labels, manuals, permits and so much more. Waterproof paper is easily customizable and up to any challenge!

To learn more about waterproof paper and to order samples to try, visit us here. Know what you want and ready to buy? Visit our online store.

*This blog post was originally published on February 6, 2017, it was updated on May 9, 2018