Melamine faced board is a panel (usually particleboard or MDF) with a decorative paper impregnated with melamine resin pressed onto the face. The result is a hard, low-maintenance surface in a wide range of colours and woodgrains, at the lowest cost of any cabinet finish.
What the surface actually is
The face is a thin resin-impregnated paper, typically 0.8–1.2 mm including the overlay, cured onto the board under heat and pressure. It is not a laminate in the HPL sense — there is no separate thick sheet — which is why melamine is cheaper and why it chips rather than delaminates when damaged.
Texture is produced by the press plate, not by the paper. A deep woodgrain texture and a flat matt finish can come from the same base paper, which is why two boards that look similar in a photograph feel completely different in person.
| Face | Thickness | Durability | Relative cost | Repairable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melamine | 0.8–1.2 mm pressed | Good, chips at edges | Low | No, only patch |
| HPL laminate | 0.6–1.0 mm bonded sheet | Very good | Mid | No |
| Wood veneer | 0.2–0.6 mm real timber | Good, needs top coat | High | Yes, refinish |
| Two-pack lacquer | Paint film | Good, shows wear | Mid-high | Yes, respray |
What it survives
Everyday kitchen use: water rings, mild detergents, warm plates and normal knocks. The surface is harder than lacquer and far harder than veneer, which is why it dominates rental, project and volume residential work.
It does not survive a hot pan, a sharp impact on an edge, or prolonged standing water in a joint. Those three failures are the same on every brand.
The one place it always fails
The edge. Melamine faces chip where the panel edge takes an impact, and once the face lifts at a corner, moisture gets under it and the chip grows. This is why edge banding quality matters more than the face: 1 mm PVC with a proper glue line protects the joint; 0.4 mm tape does not.
The second failure is at cut-outs — sink, hob and service holes — where the core is exposed. Seal them. A melamine surface is only as good as its edges.
Frequently asked questions
Is melamine the same as laminate?
No. Melamine is resin-impregnated paper cured directly onto the board; HPL laminate is a separate thick sheet bonded with adhesive. Laminate is tougher and more expensive.
Can melamine be repaired?
Only cosmetically. A chip can be filled with colour-matched wax, but the face cannot be blended. Doors with chipped edges are usually replaced.
Is melamine suitable for kitchen doors?
Yes, for volume and rental work where cost and durability matter more than depth of finish. It is not the choice for a high-end painted or veneered look.
What texture should I specify?
A light texture hides fingerprints and small scratches; a super-matt flat face shows every mark. Ask for a physical sample, not a photograph.
