Both give you a clean, modern facade. They fail in different ways, and that is usually the deciding factor.

Weight and structure

ACP is lighter and easier to form into curved fascias and canopies. HPL is denser and better suited to flat panelised elevations.

Fire performance

Ask specifically for FR or A2 grade ACP on anything above stilt plus four floors, and check the certificate rather than the brochure. HPL is available in fire retardant grades too.

Impact and scratching

At street level, HPL takes knocks far better. Trolleys, ladders and parked vehicles put dents in ACP that cannot be polished out.

Colour and finish life

Both hold colour well with a PVDF or UV stable finish. The difference shows in how repairs look: a single HPL panel can be swapped invisibly, while ACP repairs sometimes show a joint line.

Where we usually land

ACP above, HPL at the podium and entrance levels. It costs a little more than a single material and it stays looking new for far longer.