PARTICLE BOARD OR MELAMINE VS PLYWOOD
Over the years many customers have found themselves in front of an important decision for their cabinet box material selection: particle board or plywood. One of the most frequently asked questions we get at Cabinets Quick is what's the difference between these two materials, and is plywood really superior to melamine aka particle board.
So let's talk about melamine first. Melamine is basically the outside two layers, it's thermally fused on to a particle board core, and forms a hard outside layer. Because there are so many different colors and finishes available melamine is called melamine even though it has a particle board core. Particle board is actually wood chips glued together, then compressed into a board. Many people have a bad experience with particle board because they've experienced a low quality board or have been misled with something that looks like melamine but is actually called 'printed paper' and the density of the particles are much less than what we use, value engineering at its best.
Particle board is made by taking wood chips recycled from the lumber industry and then compressing them. Vendors like Ikea use 60 pound density board, this board is less compressed and it's less likely to hold up, along with that the outside show/finish layers are very thin or not melamine. We use 90 pounds density boards which means that the board is compressed to 90 pounds of pressure per square foot. This is a commercial grade board, at Cabinets Quick we also use a board with pine in the core as compared to others who use different fillers.
Some pros to a melamine are that it comes in a lot of different colors and finishes. It also is very cost effective and has a wipe clean surface. The surface won´t age and it's able to wipe clean and stand-up to abuse or harsh environments. Some of the cons are it has a bad reputation, it is also heavier than plywood and it's not as strong as plywood.
Then you have the different kinds of plywood, but before we talk about plywood, there is a material which is a combination of plywood and melamine. This board has a plywood core with melamine outside faces. Many people want to have a white interior but don't want to have the particle board core of melamine. This is an in between material with the best of both worlds. In terms of cost this is still the same cost if not a little bit more than a regular prefinished maple plywood.
Now let's take a look at the different plywood materials, plywood is made out of layers of thin wood and then the ply layers are stacked together with glue between each ply holding everything together. Then the two outside out-side show/finished layers are prefinished with an environmentally friendly UV coating or left unfinished to be custom finished later.
Some of the pros and cons to using prefinished maple plywood: A pro is that plywood is a little bit stronger than melamine, it is also lighter than melamine. The screw holding strength is about equal to both melamine and plywood with plywood being slightly stronger. A con is plywood dings and dents easily on the faces and the surface will age because it is real wood.
Let's take a look at what prefinished maple plywood is. When a sheet/board of plywood is purchased, we can get it as a natural unfinished maple veneer on the outside to show layers, generally used when the customer wants to have a custom stained finish. The alternative to this is to have a board with a finish already on it. We call this prefinished maple plywood because the material comes to our factory with a durable UV finish on it. This is very cost effective because the cabinets don't have the expense of having finished applied after it's made.
Many people are also concerned about water resistance. Over the years through testing and experience that we have found Melamine is more water resistant. That may be surprising considering that historically people had bad experiences with melamine or what was called melamine. Both materials plywood and melamine are made from real wood the difference being the glue that is holding them together. In melamine the wood chips are compressed and coated with glue much like a big ball of dough. Why is this important? Because the wood is coated with glue and therefore prevents water from migrating through. The outside melamine faces are also water resistant. Plywood is made up of multiple layers with each layer having a glue line. Water will still migrate through the layers and then ultimately degrade the glue lines between the plies. The outside two layers of plywood are also wood so have less water resistance.
So why all the bad experiences with Melamine? This simple answer is unfortunately many people were sold something completely different to what they were expecting to receive. We at Cabinets Quick are working to change this with articles like this to educate people about cabinets and what they should expect when they purchase cabinets from any vendor.
There is a new plywood out in the marketplace. Well, not necessarily new, but new to be used for cabinets instead of drawers and it's called Baltic Birch. This material is basically wood from the Baltics glued together in multiple layers, many more layers than regular plywood. The pros to this, is its lightweight, is much stronger than regular plywood, and this material actually has a water resistant glue line. You can identify the glue being used by looking at the edge where you can see the glue line being a darker color between the layers. The dark glue color represents that the glue is water resistant, but this plywood still has some of the same problems of regular plywood where the layers of solid wood and water were still wick through. It also has similar pros and cons to regular plywood as well.
A solution that we found over the years to the water problem is to put sealer edging on every exposed edge. When we put the sealer edging on there no water penetration into the material. We do this for many jobs we do by the ocean or when a finished cabinet look is desired. This also is a pro for melamine because even if there is a little more cost for sealing every exposed edge it is less expensive than using plywood overall on medium to larger jobs.
So what should you have your cabinets made out of? The answer to this boils down to the look and feel you would like for your cabinets. Both the materials plywood and melamine are used in the industry as a staple.
5 Advantages of Melamine Faced Chipboards
Melamine-faced chipboards are engineered wood formed by mixing machined wood chips with a plastic resin. Wood grains are repeatedly printed onto Melamine film and then heat processed onto a sheet of chipboard. Modern production technologies help produce real wood that look like sheets, to give your surfaces a detailed and customized profile. Melamine sheets have a plethora of advantages and can be spotted in almost every household on walls, floors, and furniture. It can also be seen in commercial buildings and boats among other imaginable surfaces. In this post, we share 5 advantages of melamine faced chipboards. Read on.
1. Affordable
Using wood to cover surfaces like the ones mentioned above is the traditional way most are accustomed to, but it costs a lot more.Melamine-faced chipboards are cost-effective, lightweight, and the most convenient material that can be used in planes, boats, and movable cabinets.
2. Water-resistant
Wood soaks up water and liquids while metal surfaces develop rusting and corrosion when exposed to such conditions. Melamine chipboards will not soak liquids easily making them less susceptible to water damage. Being water-resistant makes them a bathroom and a kitchen necessity.
3. Durable
The resin used in the manufacture gives the sheets and chipboards a prolonged lifespan of more than 30 years. They maintain the structure of furniture by holding screws very tightly with the varying layers of wood grains. Melamine sheets are easy to clean and keep shining surfaces scratch-free due to the presence of the resin.
4. Customizable
It requires a lot of money to change the entire furniture in your house. You can install melamine faced chipboards on your walls in solid colors or different patterns. The production process allows you to customize your furniture surfaces also by covering with melamine sheets.
5. Aesthetic Appeal
The sheets go beyond the extent of protecting furniture surfaces and add elegance to old furniture with an attractive finish. It is very consistent throughout, so cut edges appear smooth and doesn't have voids or splinters.
Closing up
Whether you are constructing a new building or considering renovating your current spaces and furniture, melamine sheets are the best way you can achieve it affordably with an aesthetic appeal, personalisation and durability. When buying melamine faced chipboards, search the internet for the best manufacturer and remember to compare warranties, product range, and prices.
Share this:
Twitter
Facebook
Like this:
Like
The company is the world’s best Lituo Decoration Materials supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Loading...
Related
Learn Benefits of Melamine boards cut to size
Melamine boards are a very versatile building product. It is all around us every single day of our lives. For example melamine board is used in kitchens, cupboards, shop furniture, wardrobes and many other pieces of commercial or household furniture. But what are the benefits? Here in this blog we can check the benefits of melamine boards cut to size.
What is melamine?
Melamine, melamine resin medical name triamino triazine, alias use melamine, cyanamide, tri polyamide. using melamine is a vital nitrogen-heterocyclic natural chemical uncooked substance. The melamine formaldehyde resin chemical is often used to make plastics. glues and flame retardants.
What are melamine boards?
Melamine board is a versatile type of board with many different applications and uses from bedroom furniture like wardrobes to kitchen cabinets.Melamine provides a wealth of finishes, making it a highly versatile product that is commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms and offices. The melamine surface can be textured or patterned to mimic the pattern of real wood or it can be colour-matched for a bold and contemporary look. From office furniture to kitchen worktops and shop counters, there are many uses for Melamine, making it a great material to work with for both DIY projects and commercial environments. Melamine furniture is constructed from a manufactured-wood substrate, like Melamine or plywood, that has been covered in melamine laminate.
What are the benefits of melamine boards?
The melamine boards cut to size have beautiful surfaces, convenient construction,wear-resistant and scratch-resistant. So the scope of application is still very much. Including the customization of office supplies. and the use of plates in home decoration melamine furniture , like cabinet wardrobes, bathroom cabinets. and the other.
Durable: The melamine boards cut to size are highly durable, and could last extremely well making it exactly apt for furniture.
Comes in different colors: Well, these boards are an amazing resource for your DIY projects. They come in a range of colours some which resemble wood grains.This makes it useful in every interior.
Easy to clean: The cleaning process of the board is extremely simple making it famous among people in the uk.
No extra Sanding and finishing: The Melamine boards cut to size doesn't need extra sanding and finishing this is an added advantage.
Waterproof: The Melamine board cut to size is splash proof and is ideal for the kitchen.
Resistant: Resistant to heat, moisture, stains and dirt. To enhance moisture resistance you must keep up maintenance on the outer finish.
What are the applications of Melamine boards?
Melamine Board saves money and time because the application process doesn't require sanding or finishing as with solid wood products. But where are they mostly used? Let's check
Kitchens: Probably the most common use of melamine boards cut to size is the construction of kitchen cabinets and frames. These can then be used with a wide range of kitchen doors and accessories.
Shelving: Since melamine boards cut to size are too friendly, it is a simple matter to cut Melamine boards to any size and they can also be faced with any one of a huge range of colours. To help with matching other interior design choices, it is also possible to use edging tape in complementary or contrasting colours.
In the Bedroom: Melamine boards are perfectly suited for the construction of bespoke cabinets, wardrobes and other bedroom furniture. This means that creating custom bedroom furniture for a fraction of the cost of buying a new set can be easily accomplished for a small fraction of the cost.
Wardrobes: You can also use melamine boards cut to size to construct bespoke bedroom cabinets and wardrobes. It's possible to create a unique fitted bedroom wardrobe for the fraction of the cost.
Whiteboard: Melamine board is a stain-resistant product that is hard and durable plastic. The fact that it is stain resistant makes it the perfect product to use in the manufacturing of whiteboards.
Insulation: Melamine boards cut to size are resistant to heat, cold, moisture, insects and do not mold or warp. These qualities make melamine board a perfect material for insulation.
Final Thoughts
Melamine Board comes in many colors and thicknesses and textures; it is ideal for cabinets, countertops, furniture and shelving. They are ideal for homes and offices alike. The important thing to keep in mind is to check whether the melamine boards cut to size are taken from the right company. Cut and edge are well known cutting and edging services in london who could be your ideal choice for melamine boards cut to size. We have a configuration tool that allows you to use our wood cutting service 24/7 and place your board cut to size orders.
For more Furniture PVC Edge Bandinginformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Comments
0