An A/A TFL Panel For Open Shelving, Exposed Casework, and Room Dividers
The SALT Saviola Rialto Hemlock A/A decorative panel is a thermally fused laminate panel finished in the same decor on both faces, so either side can show without a secondary operation. At 8 mm thick and sized at 83-5/16 inch by 110-1/4 inch, it suits thin-profile shelving, back panels, interior cabinet walls, and components where keeping mass low is a design requirement.
Key Features
- 13-hour water-resistant core — a vendor test result, not a wet-area rating, and useful where spills and humidity are routine.
- 100% post-consumer recycled core — the Gruppo Saviola board program is built entirely from reclaimed wood fiber.
- A/A grade construction means both faces carry the same decorative Rialto Hemlock finish, so no face is the wrong face.
- Flash Finish surface delivers a textured, low-sheen appearance that reads as natural wood without the maintenance real wood requires.
- 8 mm thickness keeps the panel light for large-format back panels, door insets, and thin-slab shelving where a 19 mm board would add unnecessary weight.
- 83-5/16 inch by 110-1/4 inch sheet size yields long, uninterrupted parts for tall cabinet runs or full-height closet backs.
- Thermally fused laminate face bonds the decorative layer directly to the board with no separate adhesive layer, so there is no glue line to open at a cut edge.
- CARB2 compliant hardwood particleboard core meets formaldehyde emissions requirements on commercial and residential specifications.
Where This Panel Fits the Job
At 8 mm, this panel is built for applications where a standard 19 mm board would be excessive. Back panels in frameless cabinet boxes, decorative room dividers, display case interiors, and retail fixture backs are the natural home for a sheet this thin. The A/A construction removes the need to track face orientation during layout, which speeds production runs where identical parts come off the same sheet. It also means the panel works cleanly as a floating shelf or open-rack component where an underside is as visible as the top surface.
The 83-5/16 inch by 110-1/4 inch sheet is long enough to produce full-height closet back panels from a single piece, eliminating a horizontal seam in a finished interior. Shops running tall wardrobe or pantry units will find this size more useful than a standard 4 by 8 sheet for that reason.
Surface, Core, and Construction
Rialto Hemlock is a wood-tone decor with a hemlock character — linear grain, mild figure, and a palette that sits between warm gray and natural tan. The Flash Finish surface gives it a light texture and a restrained sheen that photographs well and reads as calm in a finished interior. Because the face is thermally fused rather than bonded as a separate sheet, the panel machines cleanly and the face does not delaminate at the saw or router. Matching ABS edgebanding is available in this color, so cut edges can be closed to the same decor without a visible transition.
The CARB2 compliant hardwood particleboard core holds machine-driven fasteners reliably and stays flat across a wide sheet. Core type is confirmed for this SKU — do not assume it matches a different thickness or finish in the Saviola collection, as core can vary within a program.
Who Orders This Panel
Cabinet shops producing frameless European-style boxes use the 8 mm panel for back walls and interior dividers that would add weight and cost at 19 mm. Commercial fixture builders specify it for display case interiors where the sheet will be seen but not loaded. Designers working on closet systems appreciate the A/A construction because both faces of a divider read as finished without any additional step. Smaller shops handling renovation work reach for the tall sheet size when a kitchen or pantry back needs to run floor-to-ceiling in one piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is matching edgebanding available for Rialto Hemlock?
Yes. Matching ABS edgebanding is available in this color through the Saviola program. Order the banding alongside your panels so cut edges close in the same decor.
Can the 8 mm panel be used as a structural shelf?
The 8 mm thickness is suited for back panels, insets, and lightly loaded decorative shelves. For shelves carrying meaningful loads, a 19 mm panel provides substantially better support. Use this thickness where light weight and visual profile matter more than load capacity.
What does A/A mean on this panel?
A/A means both faces of the panel are finished in the decorative Rialto Hemlock decor to the same appearance grade. Either face can be the show face, so you do not need to sort parts by orientation during fabrication.
How does Flash Finish differ from other surface textures in the Saviola line?
Flash Finish is a specific embossed texture with a controlled low-sheen surface. The texture and gloss level are distinct from other finish families in the Saviola program. If touch and sheen consistency across adjoining panels matter, confirm all pieces share the same finish family.
Is matching HPL available for Saviola panels?
Yes. Saviola matching HPL is stocked in two sheet sizes: 73 inch by 120 inch and 60 inch by 120 inch. Order the 60 inch sheet if your shop cannot process the wider format. Both sizes carry the same Rialto Hemlock color.
The Right Panel for Every Visible Face
When the job calls for a thin panel that presents the same surface front and back, the Rialto Hemlock A/A panel in Flash Finish delivers a clean, consistent wood-tone decor at a weight and profile suited for backs, dividers, and open shelving where a heavier board would be the wrong answer.
