Abstract: An advanced composite or reinforcing substrate is produced with a decorative surface layer, made of a thin veneer of cloth, fabric, paper, wood, vinyl or other material, which is structurally, integrally bonded to the reinforcing substate by simultaneoulsy forming the decorative surface layer together with the substrate to partially or totally encapsulate the substrate and decorative surface layer together with substrate resins. When the resins are catalyzed and cured, a structurally strong and decorative unit as an integral element, results. The process for making the components is particularly suited to a pultrusion process.