Choosing the right home and office furniture or cabinet has never been more complicated, given the numerous look-alike materials available on the market.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of coloured melamine faced plywood. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

As trends have shifted away from solid wood for kitchen cabinets and furniture, the industry has embraced alternatives like plywood, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), and Melamine. Cabinet makers find these materials increasingly popular for modern design needs.

The challenge for many homeowners is distinguishing between these materials and determining which one suits their interior design best. This article will delve into the differences between plywood, MDF, and Melamine cabinets, covering their special features, quality, and durability to help you make an informed decision.

Check out our comparison between particleboard and plywood cabinets to know which one works best for your kitchen

Plywood Cabinets

Plywood is one of the most reliable materials for making furniture and modern kitchen cabinets. This is especially if you consider how expensive it is to build solid wood furniture.

The difference between plywood cabinet construction and solid wood is that while plywood is made up of thin sheets of wood glued together artificially, solid wood is made of homogeneous natural wood materials. In other words, with a low level of glue shear strength in plywood, the planes of wood will separate easily. That's why solid wood is generally considered stronger than plywood.

How Is Plywood Made?

Plywood cabinets are manufactured from multiple layers of softwood veneer glued together in such a way that the grain direction of each of the veneer layers is perpendicular to that of the adjacent layers.

What this means is that the grain directions are arranged in an alternating pattern to give the plywood maximum uniform strength.

These cross-laminated layers of wood veneers are wrapped together with moisture-resistant products like phenol-formaldehyde resin adhesive and forged under heat and pressure.

Although plywood is commonly made from softwood species, some can be derived from hardwood. Among the many variations of dimensions and thickness of plywood on the market today, the prevalent dimension is 4×4 feet and the most common measurement of thickness is ½-inch.

There are lots of alternatives to choose from when it comes to plywood. You can either go for the smooth, natural surfaces ideal for finishing works or the more inexpensive unsanded grades that can be used for sheathing. Of course, you can get them in multiple common thickness measurements and over twenty different grades.

Uses Of Plywood

One benefit of plywood is that since it's made of thin planes of wood veneers, it still has the looks of natural wood grains. So you can rely more on plywood if you are seeking natural wood looks but can't afford solid wood. This is unlike both melamine and MDF which although can substitute plywood in building cabinets might not be the right building materials depending on the strength and quality you are expecting.

Plywood can be used for various purposes, ranging from furniture, bathroom, and kitchen cabinet boxes to single-layer flooring, subflooring, roof, wall, and floor sheathing, webs of wood I-joists, structural insulated panels, and so on.

The lightness of plywood compared to MDF and melamine makes it more ideal for upper cabinets than the other two materials.

Do not paint your plywood kitchen cabinets without first reading this guide on how to properly paint your kitchen cabinets

Advantages Of Plywood Cabinet Construction

Some unique advantages of opting for plywood:

• Hardwood plywood is typically a highly durable material because of its great quality in strength. Plywood is fabricated with an alternating pattern of grains which makes it last longer than fiberboards (including MDF, HDF, and Particle board).
• The versatility of plywood allows the layers to be altered to afford both strength and beauty.
• It's available in a wide range of sizes, including extra-large sizes.
• Plywood is a very close substitute to real or solid wood but doesn't promote as much deforestation as solid wood products, thereby leading to more tree conservation.
• Plywood is cheaper than solid wood products.

Disadvantages Of Plywood Cabinet

Some downsides to plywood include:

• Some plywood constructions are made of a superior wood product on the outside but of inferior wood materials on the inside; hence, you can only get the right plywood grade from a trusted dealer. Contact Choice Cabinet right now
• The average plywood could be prone to water-related damage if exposed to a wet environment. That's why it's important to go for a water-resistant version so the layers don't detach.
• They can delaminate when subjected to prolonged hot weather conditions because of the layered sheets.
• Using nails on a plywood cabinet can break the material. Screws are strictly recommended.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) Cabinets

Fiberboards (especially MDF) are another option for those who want to spend a little less on a modern kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and interior furniture.

The material is made up of multiple wood fibers blended with wax and resin in the presence of high pressure and temperature.

In the market, fiberboards are categorized in densities. Different fiberboards are manufactured in different degrees of temperature and pressure which result in different densities of the material. That's why an HDF (High-density Fiberboard) requires more pressure and temperature than the MDF.

In short, the MDF material is somewhere between HDF and particleboard in terms of density, while the particleboard has the lowest density with a much bigger wood grain.

How Is MDF Made?

Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down softwood or hardwood particles into wood fibers using a defibrillator, then blending it with wax and a resin binder, and applying high pressure and temperature to forge it into panels.

MDF is generally denser than plywood and is made up of separated fibers as opposed to the plan sheets of plywood. But then MDF can be used as a building material similar in application to plywood such as cabinets. It is also typically stronger and denser than particle board which is made of chips and not fibers.

However, although MDF is a relatively heavy material in terms of making cabinets, a few lighter pieces of furniture can be derived from it.

See also: How to design a modern kitchen effortlessly and cost-effectively.

Uses Of MDF

MDF is primarily used for indoor applications since its prone to moisture-related damage. The material is available in raw form, or with a decorative coating, or a finely sanded surface. Hence, it's more like an ideal surface layer for furniture and the most available alternative to wood veneer. It can also serve as a good filler material.

MDF is also widely applied in furniture such as cabinets because the strong surface it provides is ideal for cabinet storage spaces, shelves, and speaker boxes. You can use the material for flooring as well because it feels comfortable to walk on.

Since it's available in different thicknesses and sizes, MDF also serves as a perfect material for temporary structures like booths.

Advantages Of MDF

Here are some key advantages:

• MDF is more cost-effective than plywood or real wood.
• It has a consistent smooth feel (without knot holes) all over the surface area with consistent strength as well.
• Unlike real wood, MDF promotes tree conservation since the production process mainly requires wood residuals.
• The smooth surface makes it easier for painting, screwing, and gluing.
• The smooth consistency of the material also makes it easier to cut through with tools such as a jigsaw or band saw.
• It can be used for multiple designs.
• The consistency and stability of MDF make it an ideal substrate for veneer work.

Disadvantages Of MDF

Some downsides to MDF are as follows:

Suggested reading:
DIY Plywood Shelves: Plywood vs. Solid Wood Comparison

• It's a very heavy material compared to plywood and would pose both logistical and installation issues.
• The poor resistance of MDF to water can make it soak up a high amount of water within a short time. That's why it's always recommended to apply an oil-based sealing product (primer).
• MDF is more prone to chipping and splitting, especially when working on the edge of the wood with screws. Moreover, repairing the chipped part is more difficult compared to real wood.
• In the process of cutting and sanding, it is advisable to use an industrial-grade mask. The reason is that MDF is known to contain a substantial amount of formaldehyde which can cause irritation, allergy, or even increase the chances of malignancies like cancer. The US and UK authorities have legislated that the minimal content of formaldehyde in home furniture shouldn't exceed 0.11ppm and 0.07ppm respectively. For safety reasons, experts suggest that new furniture made of MDF should be isolated until the formaldehyde smell ends. The room should also be well-ventilated to reduce exposure.

Melamine Board Cabinets

Melamine vs solid wood, Melamine vs plywood, or Melamine vs fiberboards is a bit complicated to be compared head-to-head.

Melamine is a popular plastic material for every modern cabinet builder which can either be used to laminate a design onto substrates like plywood or particleboard or can be used in building kitchen cabinets more specifically when integrated with MDF or Particle Board, which are made from wood chips to form HPL or TFL. That's why comparing melamine vs MDF or particleboard directly is a bit tricky.

One thing users love about Melamine is that the material is not only durable but also highly resistant to scratches and has numerous possibilities of hues and patterns. That's why Melamine fused with plywood is arguably the most sustainable option for cabinetry.

How Are Melamine Board Cabinets Made?

Melamine resin, although initially an organic compound is developed via polymerization as a tough and durable plastic material. In other words, Melamine is a chemical compound from an organic base and also a trimer of cyanamide.

Melamine Laminate is typically resistant to stain, heat, and fire. It's moisture and scratch-resistant and can be found in many colors, patterns, sizes, and thicknesses making it ideal for particleboard, plywood, or MDF applications. Melamine is more like small pieces of wood (particleboard) glued and pressed together and covered with a plasticized coating.

Uses Of Melamine

The word "Melamine" is arguably the most widely used, not only in cabinet construction but also in other industrial unrelated to construction.

For instance, Melamine (as a material) is not only used in building woodworks like shelves and cabinets but is the same resin that is applied in Formica and other laminated countertops found in the kitchen.

Melamine is also widely used in the construction of floor tiles. Melamine tile floors are, in fact, more glossy, resistant to scratch, less prone to staining, and easier to clean. Most importantly, they're relatively more cost-effective than porcelain or stone.

Due to the glossy nature of melamine encased boards and its ability to resist surface scratches, melamine makes an excellent material for producing whiteboards.

Advantages Of Melamine Wood

• Engineered products from Melamine are typically less expensive and have proven to be as reliable as possible.
• Melamine boards feature a uniform surface that is quite durable and resistant to scratch, stain, heat, and fire.
• The typical Melamine surface is waterproof and hence can be cleaned up with soap and water.
• The lack of wood grain in a Melamine board is one thing most people prefer, especially those who want solid colored cabinets, and melamine is always available pre-finished in a variety of colors.
• It offers a smooth finish that is ready to use without much construction waste.
• Cutting melamine is pretty easy as long as you have the right equipment. You can use a saw with a scoring unit and CNC routers as it helps to prevent chipping. It's also important to support the material while cutting to reduce the incidences of breaking.

Disadvantages Of Melamine Board

• Melamine board tends to bend and warp more easily when it comes under pressure from heavier loads.
• Melamine material is typically heavy due to its composite nature.
• Melamine boards are constructed with glues that can emit Volatile Organic Compounds "which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects", according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

For more Melamine impact-resistant plywood board information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Achieving the best cabinet design for your home starts with understanding the differences in qualities, features, and costs, including the pros and cons of each of the three common cabinet materials (Plywood, MDF, and Melamine) discussed in this article.

And hopefully, at this point, the disparities are crystal clear, making it easier for you to make the most of your budget to achieve your custom cabinetry need.

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 onto 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 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 of 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