Speaking about kitchen remodel or kitchen renovation, wood is always a typical material to be associated with kitchen cabinets. The melamine kitchen cabinets and plywood kitchen cabinets, which are both manufactured wood products, are among the most trending choices of solid wood in today’s kitchen renovation. Before the homeowners decide either a melamine kitchen cabinet or plywood kitchen cabinet is the right for their dream kitchen cabinets, take a glance and compare the differences between plywood and melamine.
The Process of Plywood and Melamine Fabrication
Melamine Kitchen Cabinets
Credit: Esshelf
Melamine wood is a combination of compressed wood particles at the core. It is compressed onto a particleboard core under heat and pressure. It is a compressed wood particle core and is covered with a resin and paper finish to form an outside layer. Melamine also refers to a type of laminate, but not all laminates are melamine. Therefore, melamine kitchen cabinets are commonly seen in different colours, designs and patterns in the market.
A typical application of melamine as a substitute for solid wood is commonly seen in today’s renovations and remodelling, namely in kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, display counters, office furniture, whiteboards, and flooring.
Video Credit: The Home Depot
Plywood Kitchen Cabinet
Contrary to melamine kitchen cabinets where the thermal compression process is involved, plywood is manufactured differently, where it is made from thin layered sheets of wood, placed on top of each other perpendicularly, glued and pressed together to form a hard plywood board. In general, plywood consists of three to seven layers of veneer strips. Due to such a fabrication method, it tends to eliminate wood to split when nailed in at the edges. making the panel strong in all directions.
Apart from general application in carpentry and cabinetry, plywood is suitable for outdoor uses, roofing, flooring and other structural construction for its stability. This is because it is less prone to absorb and release moisture. In fact, plywood is widely used in furniture making since its ability to resist surface damage such as splitting, breaking or warping.
Characteristics of Melamine and Plywood in Kitchen Cabinet
Melamine kitchen cabinets are resistant to many common issues related to the kitchen. It has high nitrogen content by nature, hence it is heat resistant and flame retardant. Melamine has high resistance to scratches, oil and mild acids, and is easy to clean, melamine kitchen cabinets are popular as an ideal option for kitchen countertops.
If you are looking for a natural wood grain look, perhaps plywood is a better option for your kitchen cabinet, as it is a very close substitute to solid wood but it does not promote as much deforestation. This can be illustrated in this project, where this kitchen renovation project involves European style plywood kitchen cabinet installation with a sleek and minimalist design.
Plywood vs Melamine Kitchen Cabinets in Installation
The reason for choosing melamine kitchen cabinets is melamine offers an array of choices and wide range of selections. Melamine offers many different designs, colours and patterns which you can choose from based on your liking, whereas plywood has very limited designs and they look similar in common.
As far as the constructions and installation in kitchen remodelling are concerned, the tendency of melamine to bend under load is higher than plywood if you are likely to subject it to heavyweights for a prolonged period. The installation of melamine kitchen cabinets must be done with extra caution to prevent damage, especially the hinges and the glides are strong enough to hold.
While both plywood and melamine are durable materials, plywood is lightweight yet strong, hence it is a better option for upper cabinets in dry kitchens. As plywood has strong and durable properties, the cabinets have a very extended and long life. In addition, plywood is more significant when hanging large wall cabinets. It is less likely to run into the risk of collapsing under its own weight. It has a good screw and nail holding capacity which is easier to handle. The surface of the plywood is less smooth than the melamine.
Question: plywood vs melamine — which is easier to clean? To associate this aspect with both materials, melamine is easier to clean than plywood. This is because melamine has a flat and smooth surface. Despite the differences in both materials, melamine and plywood can be applied for a similar variety of purposes such as cabinetry, making furniture, and even flooring. Both materials are relatively versatile.
The Price
Budget is always the major aspect when the homeowners are about to make a decision to choose the materials for kitchen cabinets. As the thickness of melamine is thinner than plywood, it is less expensive than plywood in general. If the budget and durability of the material are simply your main concern to be taken into consideration, melamine could be your option. Though melamine can be less expensive and can be painted, it takes a little effort to paint if you are looking the flexibility or wear resistance, ie. changing colours based on your liking anytime.
Assuming that lightweight, durability and water-resistant properties are your main considerations for your kitchen cabinet project, plywood could be your option, especially for wet kitchens where daily activities namely cooking, cleaning and maintenance are largely involved.
There are many factors involved in kitchen renovation projects, which in turn affect how much each material would cost and the functionalities. Hence, it is important to take all aspects into consideration before making a final decision for your ideal kitchen cabinets.
In the end, the choice often comes down with own liking and preference. We offer free consultation services to help you guide through the process of designing your dream kitchen. If you need professional kitchen cabinets ideas and consultation, head on to Ampquartz where this is the right place for you.
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