When comparing melamine to solid wood style cabinets, melamine offers a less expensive option. A wood veneer is a very thin piece of wood that is shaved and applied to another piece of wood like a plywood or particle board. It’s what you get when thin paper is applied at 300-500 psi on a substrate board. Whereas, solid wood grain can vary in pattern and color, even in the same order. In many cases, using solid wood simply is not an affordable option. You may be wondering why cabinetmakers do not often use solid wood when constructing cabinets. Will a job relocation be in your immediate future? Melamine vs Laminate It is during the time when we are getting made cabinets for our kitchens or other furniture items that require pasting of a veneer at the top that we hear terms like melamine and laminate. Melamine – Melamine starts with a compressed wood particle core. Melamine is a popular option for cabinetry for a number of reasons. This has been discussed and debated online in articles and forums with no clear cut winner that I can tell. Both types of wood are good and we cannot declare any one of them the ultimate winner. Despite popular belief, wood is not always the superior choice; in some situations MDF Board might be the better material. PRIVACY POLICY | SITEMAP HTML XML, Melamine vs. Plywood Cabinet Construction, Custom Bathroom Vanities Personalize your Space, Why Granite Countertops Remain The Most in-Demand Kitchen Surfaces. Both melamine and plywood are cost-effective, durable products that will provide quality construction. MDF Wood vs Solid Wood: The Verdict. Here is a brief description of each of these two materials: What Is Melamine? Most of the time, the interior of a cabinet will have a veneer of some sort -- either a melamine veneer or a real wood veneer. or block board. They are lighter, stronger and hold up better than an MDF cabinet box – but that’s a conversation for another post. Melamine Vs. Wood Shelving The length and weight of the shelves will determine if melamine or natural wood is a better building material Image Credit: graphicnoi/iStock/Getty Images Melamine is a type of man-made wood manufactured from real woods. Thermofoil, Laminate, and Melamine are all materials that can be affixed to the surface of wood or MDF doors to give them new life. Kitchen cabinets are intended to hide the mismatched dinnerware and … Melamine Benefits. They are affordable. By contrast, plywood is made from thin sheets of wood, layered and glued together. The advantage of using a wood veneer on the entire center panel is that you can get a consistent grain pattern. How Do You Install Crown Molding on Kitchen Cabinets? Here are a few things to keep in mind about the features of each product: In the end, the choice often comes down to preference. Hi there, I am building a new home and will be doing white shaker cabinets in the kitchen. This is a compound of melamine and pine fibre that is subsequently covered with a polyester film. 4 years ago. Melamine vs wood What Is Melamine Wood? Need help re melamine or wood white kitchen cabinets. Kitchen cabinets are intended to hide the mismatched dinnerware and … Melamine kitchen cabinets are an affordable option for budget-conscious homeowners. Melamine is the same resin used in Formica and other laminated countertops. Also, both are durable, scratch resistant, and easy to wipe down. Here is a primer on why these products are used, and the pros and cons you will want to consider as you decide which material is right for your kitchen cabinets. But, also because it is so darn hard to construct with without getting chips. Melamine cabinets are resistant to many of the common issues presented in a kitchen, whether it be excessive moisture, heat or stains. Some come with Euro style hinges for easy adjustments (others with lesser cost piano hinges). First of all I am talking about the doors, and drawer fronts, not the cabinet box. Over the years through testing and experience that we have found Melamine is more water resistant. Low cost. Let the battle begin: MDF vs. wood … or even a Hybrid door (wood framing with a MDF center panel)? It really depends on the coating used with the wood product. Melamine Vs. Wood Shelving The length and weight of the shelves will determine if melamine or natural wood is a better building material Image Credit: graphicnoi/iStock/Getty Images Melamine is a type of man-made wood manufactured from real woods. If you are still unfamiliar with melamine cabinetry, take a peak at the cabinets the next time you are in a hospital, doctors, dentist or commercial office. Melamine can offer consistent finishes, even within the same order because it’s manufactured within a controlled environment. Some wood veneers are only manufactured in thin strips that are six inches in width. Melamine is an affordable option for cabinets and with proper care and maintenance, it will last as long as your cabinets do. A melamine veneer is a very thin layer of plastic also called thermofoil. It is durable, comes in a wide variety of colors, is inexpensive, and has a uniform finish. Kelly Jedlic. It’s what you get when thin paper is applied at 300-500 psi on a substrate board. Finally, we talk about what are the best situations to use either. Generally speaking, the term veneer describes a very thin layer of material that covers another thicker material. melamine vs mdf cabinets. In contrast, plywood can have knot holes, defects. Unlike natural wood, damaged paper coating cannot be repaired through sanding. The prices on all of these options vary, but interestingly enough, you don’t seem to save that much more than you would by simply buying new cabinets with these affordable surfacing options. As a woodworker, you may find that you have to work with several different materials other than wood. Thermally fused melamine is a combination of melamine and formaldehyde chemically fused together into larger, and some say safer, molecules. I would first eliminate the Hybrid door as a possible selection. Image Credit: Trevor Cox. Melamine – Melamine starts with a compressed wood particle core. Laminate cabinets are build with medium-density laminate — a combination of wood byproducts and resin glued together under heat and hydraulic pressure. Due to the composite nature of the material, traditional melamine can be quite dense and heavy. Compared to solid wood cabinets, melamine cabinets are offered at a much lower price point. It provides far more benefits than solid wood. Protect them from heat and clean up major spills quickly, and these cabinets will serve you well for the next decade. Plywood still offers the look of natural wood grain since it is made from layered sheets of wood. Cutting melamine is easily done with the right equipment. Lehi, Utah 84043 USA It is rare for cabinets to be constructed entirely from solid wood these days, and manufactured wood products are often used to build the cabinet boxes. This […] Uniformed Finish: The Melamine also offers unchanging finishes because it is crafted within the disciplined environment while the wood grain may vary in many colors and … which used in black melamine furniture, bathroom cabinets, red oak cabinets… Cabinets constructed from plywood are lighter, making them a great option for upper cabinets. Supporting the material while cutting is also important to prevent breaking. So you will see the wood grain strip, before they have to go to another pattern. Disadvantages. If the melamine splinters it not only will show the compressed wood core but also be much more susceptible to moisture penetration. In fact, white melamine is the melamine board used in the past. A melamine veneer is a very thin layer of plastic also called thermofoil. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The Melamine is probably the most durable surface that you can put in kitchen cabinets. A wood veneer is a very thin piece of wood that is shaved and applied to another piece of wood like a plywood or particle board. Mon - Thurs: 8am - 7pm ETFri: 8am - 5pm ETSat & Sun: ClosedClosed National Holidays. It offers a smooth. Both are applied to the cabinet interiors and shelves, which are typically made from plywood or particle board. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. This makes it a cost-effective product with little waste. The lack of wood grain is actually preferred by many people who want solid colored cabinets, and melamine can come prefinished in a variety of colors. This is what makes melamine furniture, like cabinets, office desks, and display counters, so popular! Solid wood is often the material of choice, but melamine, a man-made engineered wood material, is also a very popular option. Moving is a pain in the butt! These characteristics add up to make Melamine a serious contender to solid wood and MDF. Their making process sees variations of pressure and temperature resulting in different densities… Wood Veneers vs. Melamine Veneers. Solid wood is often the material of choice, but melamine, a man-made engineered wood material, is also a very popular option. Choosing custom cabinetry with melamine interiors can help to bring the cost down a little bit as it is cheaper than wood veneer options and is definitely cheaper than finishing the interior of the cabinets. Under pressure, melamine can crack or break, but it will not split. (Not to … Watch this episode as we discuss which material you should use for cabinet doors in your new home: MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or wood. Melamine cabinets are resistant to many of the common issues presented in a kitchen, whether it be excessive moisture, heat or stains. However, melamine does have a place and a purpose, and if you know how to build with melamine, you can produce some budget-friendly spaces. Also called direct or low-pressure laminate. In fact, the manufactured wood products like melamine may be preferable in these cases, as they provide a completely smooth surface free from knots or other imperfections. It offers a smooth, easy to clean finish that is ready to use without much construction waste or need to paint or stain. In contrast, plywood can have knot holes, defects. Melamine board vs chipboard which is better? If you’re looking for low-cost, trendy cabinets you can install right away, thermofoil cabinets are an excellent choice. Melamine is an organic compound, a derivative of cyanamide. Melamine kitchen cabinets are made by heat-sealing a substrate (pressed wood, medium density fiberboard or plywood) between paper saturated with thermally fused melamine resin. It is heated on as a very thin layer on top of a particleboard or plywood (the underlying material may vary). Some have thicker 1” shelves and back panels to keep bugs and moisture out. Neither is superior to the other. Melamine panels and plastic laminate, used to build cabinets, office furniture and display counters, and white boards are often referenced interchangeably, but the two materials are slightly different. Melamine wood is a combination of compressed wood particles and resin at the core. This is because they both have their pros and cons. But when it comes to cabinet doors, we highly recommend MDF Wood. Typically because it creates a lower quality cabinet than other materials. It's the next best thing to signing up yesterday. Surface Comparison: Laminate vs. Veneer vs. A wood veneer is a very thin piece of wood that is shaved and applied to another piece of wood like a plywood or particle board. The same goes for plywood. Compared to solid wood cabinets, melamine cabinets are offered at a much lower price point. The cost difference is another consideration, as premium quality wood costs more than a manufactured product like melamine or plywood. Of course, different types of wood have varying levels of strength. If you want a low price, but more sophistication than melamine, polyester cabinets are a good choice. We explore what is MDF and compare with wood on costs, durability and staining. Both are applied to the cabinet interiors and shelves, which are typically made from plywood or particle board. Not all wood garage cabinets are the same either. Melamine is a very thin, plastic layer that is applied using heat. As such, that form of melamine is thought to be harmful if ingested. Although different enough to be considered a separate option, Melamine is technically a laminate product. The truth is, both have their pros and cons for a kitchen remodel. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. One main reason is that solid wood expands and contracts and can experience cracking, bowing, sagging, or warping. The wood veneer on the cabinet door might be over a plywood or even over a hardwood, but the top layer is still a wood veneer. We offer wood cabinets for sale in over 20 door styles and a wide array of finishes, including white painted cabinets with MDF centers to resist humidity. Business Hours: I have to say melamine is a low quality material in my opinion. Share this post: Technically speaking, melamine is the glue used to saturate the layers of paper transformed into a solid, plastic surface through thermal fusion. by Aurora Wood Works Visit us at http://www.aurorawoodworks.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuroraWoodWorksLtd Generally, plywood is more expensive than melamine. Both materials plywood and melamine are made from real wood the difference being the glue that is holding them together. Wood Vs. Melamine. 1520 North State Street The particleboard can be made from sustainably-grown wood and is glued together with moisture-resistant products. Under pressure, melamine can crack or break, but it will not split. Primarily, Wall Beds made of melamine are very cost effective and come in a variety of colors and patterns. From contributor K: I have a bunch of reasons why I don’t use melamine boards: 1. If you are looking to paint dark cabinets, inhibit heavy stains and prevent tannin seeping from wood, the Sinsser Cover Stain primer is everything that you need. Melamine offers a smooth, uniform surface that is very durable, moisture resistant, and easy to clean. Unlike solid wood that can vary in grain patterns and colour, even within the same order, melamine offers a consistent finish since it is manufactured in a controlled setting. While all cabinetry requires a steady and knowledgeable hand to install correctly there is a greater risk of splintering the melamine than wood or MDF. The home remodeling industry thrives on shorthand and nicknames. The glues used in the construction of melamine boards can emit. 9:00 am -5:00 pmMonday to Friday Although cost will vary depending on your chosen upgrades and the size and shape of your kitchen, expect to pay between $1,000 and $5,000 for a basic 10-foot galley layout. 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