Richlite
Paper Composite Panels
Richlite is an FSC® certified product, made from post-consumer recycled paper. Sheets of paper are stacked up and saturated with a phenolic resin, then heat and pressure are applied. The resin then thermosets permanently with zero off-gassing. Learn more about how Richlite is made.
First used in 1943, the U.S. military made drop boxes out of Richlite. Because these boxes were dropped from supply planes, they needed to be durable and waterproof. After World War II, Richlite was used for industrial applications at Boeing Airlines. Because of Richlite's durability and the way that it machines just like metal, Boeing has used Richlite for machine parts on their airplanes. Later on the material was used for skate ramps due to its smooth, flexible makeup.
Richlite has become a popular option for interior and exterior architectural surfaces and furniture. The durable, waterproof material is perfect for exterior cladding and rainscreens, but is also aesthetically pleasing enough for interior wall paneling, countertops and cabinetry.
Applications
- Counters & Table Tops
- Restaurant Surfaces & Furniture
- Retail Surfaces & Fixtures
- Kitchen & Bath Surfaces
- Interior Paneling
- Exterior Façade & Cladding
- Industrial & OEM Applications
- Flooring & Stair Treads
- Skateboard Ramps & Surfaces
- Guitar Fretboards
Benefits
- Durable
- Heat & Stain Resistant
- Safe & Sanitary
- Non-Toxic & Odorless
- Naturally Warm
- Milled with Standard Tools
- Beautiful Patina
- Extended Cantilevers & Long Spans
- Made in the USA
Certifications
- FSC® Certified
- Declare Red List Approved
- Potential LEED® Credits
- Kosher Certified
- GreenGuard® Certified
- AIA CEU Available
- NSF Certified Options
- Richlite's FSC number: NC-COC-002292
- EcoSupply FSC number: NC-COC-001604
Size Options
- 5’ x 12’
- 5’ x 10’
- 4’ x 12’
- 4’ x 10’
- Thicknesses range from 1/8” to 3”
Product Lines
As Richlite ages, its color will become darker, richer, warmer and more dramatic. Richlite has a "mottled" appearance, due to the variation occurring naturally within the fibers of the paper that Richlite is composed of.
Important Note: Richlite comes from the factory with a "mill" finish, see the information under Applied Finishes for more details.
Northwest Series
Richlite's Northwest line is available in FSC® Certified and recycled colors named after landmarks near Richlite's headquarters in Tacoma, Washington; Grays Harbor, Chocolate Glacier, Blue Canyon, Redstone, Black Diamond, Browns Point, Maple Valley (formerly r100) and Rosedale (NEW!).
Black Diamond
Grays Harbor
Chocolate Glacier
Browns Point
Maple Valley (r100)
Redstone
Blue Canyon
Rosedale
Heritage Series
Richlite’s original color, Natural, and the milestone products of Slate and r50 represent the company’s rich history. The Heritage Series is NSF certified.
r50
Natural
Slate
Cascade Series
The Cascade Mountain Range is the inspiration for Richlite Company's line of layered products. Rainier, Shasta, Adams, Hood, Little Tahoma and Baker are the six tallest peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range.
Rainier
Little Tahoma
Stratum Series
Richlite Stratum is an incredibly stable and balanced product that embeds either Birch or Bamboo ply between contrasting layers of paper. Available in any color from the Northwest Series.
Stratum Bamboo
Black Diamond Birch
Blue Canyon Birch
Grays Harbor Birch
Browns Point Birch
Chocolate Glacier Birch
Redstone Birch
Maple Valley Birch
Related Projects
Applied Finishes
PLEASE NOTE: Richlite panels are shipped with a mill finish.
The following images are finishes that can be achieved by a professional millworker or fabricator. Please consult the Richlite Fabrication Guide for more details.
Standard Richlite samples come with a leathered finish surface, 2 edges with a honed finish, and a mill finish back surface. Here is what comes in the Richlite Architectural Sample Box.
Requests for samples with finishes different than the standard sample are considered custom samples and will have longer turnaround time.
Honed Finish
Looking for more of a satin look? A simple sanding process and an applied finish will achieve a honed look.
Leathered Finish
Keeps the texture of Richlite, but an added applied finish enriches the color and adds a layer of protection.
Mill Finish
Straight out of the press and on to your application. No applied finish needed to appreciate our mill texture.
Possible LEED® Credits
Credits for All Colors
ID Credit 1-1.4 | Innovation & Design Process 1-4 Points for All Richlite lines
EQ Credit 4.4 | Low-Emitting Materials Composite Wood & Agrifiber Products Indoor air quality / No added urea-formaldehyde 1 Point for All Richlite lines and all products are GREENGUARD® Certified.
MR Credit 5.2 | Regional Materials 20% Extracted Processed & Manufactured Regionally Regional Materials: Base location: Tacoma, WA 98421 2 Points (1 Point in addition to MR Credit 5.1)
Color Specific Credits
MR Credit 7 | Certified Wood All colors are FSC® certified with the exception of Richlite r50 1 Point
MR Credit 4.2 | Recycled Content: 20% (post-consumer + ½ pre-consumer) Richlite Blue Canyon, Chocolate Glacier, & r100: 100% post consumer fiber Richlite r50: Minimum 50% recycled content 2 Points (1 Point in addition to MR Credit 4.1)
MR Credit 6 | Rapidly Renewable Materials All other Richlite colors minus those in MR Credit 4.2: 30% Eucalyptus Fiber 1 Point
AIA CE Course
| Product | Course Title | Credits | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richlite | Understanding Manufacturing, Applications and Benefits of Paper Composite Surfaces | 1 LU | Sign Up |
Technical Documents
| Title | Type | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Richlite Fabrication Guide | Fabrication Guide | Download (95.12 KB) |
| Richlite - CSI 3-Part Spec - Master Format 04 | CSI Spec | Download (7.22 KB) |
| Richlite - CSI 3-Part Spec - Master Format 95 | CSI Spec | Download (7.17 KB) |
| Richlite ASTM C1028 Coefficient of Friction | Lab Testing | Download (16.57 KB) |
| Richlite ASTM E84 UL Labs Richlite Class A Fire Rating | Lab Testing | Download (12.34 KB) |
| Richlite ASTM E90 04 Sound Transmission .50 | Lab Testing | Download (1.77 MB) |
| Richlite ASTM E90 04 Sound Transmission .75 | Lab Testing | Download (1.72 MB) |
| Richlite Brochure | Catalog/Binder | Download (4.91 MB) |
| Richlite Cantliever Spans | General Information | Download (71.35 KB) |
| Richlite CARB 2 EPA Emission Standards | Certification | Download (41.98 KB) |
| Richlite Care Maintenance 2019 | Care & Maintenance | Download (11.30 KB) |
| Richlite cascade ordering guidelines | General Information | Download (16.00 KB) |
| Richlite CNC | Fabrication Guide | Download (9.26 KB) |
| Richlite Commercial Residential Warranty | Warranty Information | Download (3.61 KB) |
| Richlite Cutting | Fabrication Guide | Download (7.20 KB) |
| Richlite Delivery Handling Storage | General Information | Download (14.78 KB) |
| Richlite Drilling | Fabrication Guide | Download (8.80 KB) |
| Richlite Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) | General Information | Download (1.69 MB) |
| Richlite EPA 8270 Lead Phthalates | Lab Testing | Download (70.96 KB) |
| Richlite Exterior Commercial and Residential Warranty | Warranty Information | Download (3.61 KB) |
| Richlite FSC Certificate 2017 2022 | Certification | Download (13.95 KB) |
| Richlite Greengaurd Gold Certificate Children Schools Program 2020 | Certification | Download (28.62 KB) |
| Richlite Greenguard Certificate Indoor Air Quality 2020 | Certification | Download (27.63 KB) |
| Richlite Interior Residential Warranty | Warranty Information | Download (3.60 KB) |
| Richlite JIS 2801 Antimicrobial | Lab Testing | Download (21.50 KB) |
| Richlite Kosher Certificate 2016 2017 | Certification | Download (29.89 KB) |
| Richlite Lab Top Chemical Resistance Test | Lab Testing | Download (60.42 KB) |
| Richlite Lacey Act Declaration Letter | General Information | Download (46.31 KB) |
| Richlite LEED Info | Certification | Download (10.29 KB) |
| Richlite Material Surface Options | Fabrication Guide | Download (15.66 KB) |
| Richlite MSDS | MSDS | Download (7.16 KB) |
| Richlite NSF Standard 51 Natural | Certification | Download (42.87 KB) |
| Richlite NSF Standard 51 Slate Black | Certification | Download (0.97 KB) |
| Richlite NYC MEA 482 04 | Certification | Download (14.27 KB) |
| Richlite Properties | General Information | Download (48.68 KB) |
| Richlite REACH Test Report | Lab Testing | Download (25.71 KB) |
| Richlite Routing | Fabrication Guide | Download (7.39 KB) |
| Richlite Seaming Gluing Fastening | Fabrication Guide | Download (12.71 KB) |
| Richlite Sizes Weights Thickness 2018 | General Information | Download (10.45 KB) |
| Richlite HPD | General Information | Download (11.32 KB) |
| Richlite Declare Certificate | Certification | Download (85.67 KB) |
Accessory Products
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