Gran Tour Texture and a Deep Chocolate Tone Built for A/A Work
The SALT 5 A/A Decorative Panel in GSAM3 Chocolate delivers a rich, warm brown woodgrain on both faces, surfaced in the Gran Tour finish family and built on a 19 mm TFL construction. At 61 inches by 110-1/4 inches, it is sized for full-height cabinet boxes, open shelving, and room-visible components where neither face can be hidden.
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.
- CARB2 compliant — meets the California formaldehyde emission limits that commercial and residential specifications ask for.
- CARB2 hardwood particleboard core — the substrate the decor is fused to.
- A/An A/A construction means both faces carry the same Gran Tour decorative surface, so the panel works wherever either side may show.
- Gran Tour finish is a deeply textured wood-pore emboss that adds tactile depth to the Chocolate decor.
- 19 mm thickness suits standard cabinet box construction and pairs with 23 mm edgebanding on a square edge.
- TFL surface fuses the decorative paper directly to the particleboard core, leaving no glue line to open at the cut edge.
- 61 inch by 110-1/4 inch sheet size provides coverage for tall cabinet runs and yields efficient cross-cuts for standard door heights.
- Matching ABS edgebanding is available in this color to close cut edges so face and edge read as one surface.
Where Gran Tour Chocolate Earns Its Place
Open-frame shelving and bookcase backs are where an A/A panel justifies itself — the back of the shelf is as finished as the front, and no secondary veneer operation is needed. Chocolate sits warm against painted interiors and natural wood accents, which makes it a reliable choice for entertainment centers, home office built-ins, and retail fixture interiors where a guest or customer sees the cabinet from multiple angles. The 61-inch width also clears most tall pantry carcasses without a horizontal seam, keeping the grain run uninterrupted on a long vertical face.
TFL Construction and the Gran Tour Emboss
SALT 5 panels are thermally fused laminate: the decorative face is pressed directly into the board under heat, not bonded with a separate adhesive layer. The Gran Tour finish family carries a pronounced wood-pore texture that reads clearly under raking light and registers as genuine depth under the hand. Because the emboss is consistent across both faces of the A/A panel, a revealed edge banded in matching ABS completes the component without a visible change in surface character. The 19 mm particleboard core holds confirmat screws and cam locks without pre-treatment, and the board machines cleanly on a panel saw without surface delamination.
Right Panel for the Right Shop
Cabinet shops running production boxes will appreciate the 61-inch width, which nests efficiently against standard 24-inch and 30-inch part lists and reduces rip waste compared with a wider sheet. Designers specifying a warm-toned interior for a residential or light commercial build get a consistent, documented color code — GSAM3 — that can be matched across edgebanding and reordered reliably. Small custom shops working one-off pieces benefit from the finished A/A construction: no secondary finishing step and no concern about which face is oriented outward when the piece is assembled. The panel is an indoor product; it is not rated for exterior, high-humidity, or wet-area installation.
Does the A/A designation mean both faces are identical in quality and appearance?
Yes. On a SALT 5 A/A panel, both faces carry the same decorative surface to the same appearance standard. Either face can be the show face, which is the practical reason to specify A/A over an A/B panel when both sides of a component may be seen.
Is matching HPL available for SALT 5 Chocolate so I can carry the color onto a countertop?
No. Matching high pressure laminate is not available for the SALT 5 collection. If a countertop or high-wear horizontal surface in this color is needed, plan that into the material selection early — the panel program does not extend to HPL.
What edgebanding width should I order for a 19 mm panel?
A 23 mm ABS band is the standard choice for a 19 mm panel. It gives enough overhang on both faces to trim flush cleanly. Matching ABS edgebanding is available in the GSAM3 Chocolate color through the same program.
Can I use this panel for a bathroom vanity or laundry room cabinet?
The SALT 5 core is a standard particleboard, not the water-resistant formulation. For cabinet boxes in wet-adjacent areas like vanities or laundry rooms, consider a collection with a rated water-resistant core. This panel is best suited to dry, indoor environments.
How does the 61-inch width differ from a standard 4-by-8 sheet in practical layout?
A standard 48-inch sheet forces a seam or a rip on most 24-inch-deep cabinet boxes run side by side. The 61-inch width clears two 28-inch parts or a full 24-inch box side plus a door blank from a single rip, reducing saw setups and offcut waste on a production run.
A Finished Panel That Works as Hard as the Shop Does
GSAM3 Chocolate in the Gran Tour finish gives a production run or a custom piece the same result: both faces ready, the color consistent and reorderable, and the edgebanding match available when the job calls for a clean edge.
