The Difference Between Melamine And Laminate Cabinets

Also called direct or low pressure laminate.

The difference between melamine and laminate cabinets.

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. Unlike vinyl melamine and laminate do not peel or bubble. Actually melamine is a type of laminate and there are a few different variations of laminate. Melamine and laminate cabinets are often confused with thermofoil yet they are vastly different materials.

Plastic laminate is typically available in more colors and patterns than melamine and for that reason is very commonly specified for the exterior of commercial cabinets. Technically speaking melamine is the glue used to saturate the layers of paper transformed into a solid plastic surface through thermal fusion. Melamine is a laminate but not all laminates are melamine. If you have checked your cabinets for peeling or bubbling but you re still unsure on what it is made out of it s best to give a professional polish shop such as dianella polishing a call.

Melamine is commonly used for interiors of cabinets and is far less expensive. A professional polish shop will be able to distinguish what hardware your cabinets are made from. It s what you get when thin paper is applied at 300 500 psi on a substrate board. Melamine is produced with a pressure of just 300 500psi while to make a laminate a pressure of 1400psi is required.

Direct pressure laminate otherwise known as low pressure laminate is what is commonly referred to as melamine. Also just like laminate the melamine surfaces have lower quality and higher quality products. If you check the corners and edges of your cabinet you should be able to tell whether it is melamine laminate or a vinyl cabinet. Although different enough to be considered a separate option melamine is technically a laminate product.

Laminate is more durable than melamine and more resistant to heat and chemicals. Excess is removed with a router. Melamine is cheaper than laminate as it is manufactured by a method which is not cost intensive. If you have.

Just like laminate melamine is made using paper and resin but the melamine costs less to produce.