A Beginner’s Guide to Melamine Kitchens
So, melamine… what’s it all about?
Melamine is sometimes misunderstood and it’s not uncommon for people to have misconceptions about it.
That’s why we have decided to put together this handy Beginner’s Guide to Melamine Kitchens.
What is Melamine?
Well, we may as well get the ‘science bit’ out of the way first.
It is essentially a board of raw particle board substrate with paper that is resin-infused and decorated with a particular grain or colour that is fused to both sides of the board.
When heat and pressure are applied to the resin, it seals the substrate.
The end result is a melamine cabinet door!
What Makes Melamine Good for Kitchen Cabinets?
The product can be designed to reproduce the feel and look of wood grain, paint, metals, and other materials on cabinetsand cabinet doors.
One major advantage of melamine cabinets is that they can replicate to perfection a wide range of different wood grains.
In fact, it can create the effect of any wood under the sun, such as oak, walnut, or beech.
That gives melamine kitchen cabinets genuine versatility.
The Extra Special Feature of Melamine
Because hardwoods are natural materials, no two doors or cabinets can have exactly the same patterns of wood grain.
While it’s true that some homeowners find this fact an appealing feature of natural hard woods, melamine cabinets provide greater consistency.
The grain of hard woods will always vary depending on the nature of the material.
Cabinets That Deliver a Consistent Wood Grain Look
Melamine will always deliver a more consistent and uniform wood grain than natural woods.
This is because textured melamine cabinets are created from printed images.
The Perfect Look
If you want a wood grain look and you want perfect consistency that is constant across the kitchen, then textured melamine cabinets are the way forward.
They provide the perfect look, time after time.
Is Melamine Only Used to Replicate Wood Grains?
No, it is much more versatile than that.
The material first came to homeowners’ attention because of the way that it can so successfully mimic the look of a wide range of natural wood grains.
It provided an accessible and readily available alternative to natural hard woods.
Melamine is No One Trick Pony
But melamine is certainly not a one trick pony.
It also comes in a vast range of solid colours.
Not only that, it also has another great feature:
It has the capability for decor matching, both by texture and surface.
All this means that there are literally hundreds of different melamine colour options on the market.
The Alternative to Wood Grain Cabinets
Wood grains remain popular on the kitchen cabinet market. However, solid colours, such as black, grey, green, and blue, are some of the most popular solid colour options right now.
All these and much more can be found in solid colour melamine.
Is Melamine a Laminate?
Yes, it is a laminate. But what does this actually mean?
Essentially, its designation as a laminate means that melamine is a more stable substance than natural solid wood and wood veneers. This is because, unlike woods, it is not prone to warping.
It Will Not Warp
All types of natural woods will expand and contract according to temperature fluctuations or changes in humidity. This ‘breathing’ of the wood is completely natural and not necessarily anything to worry about.
However, its susceptibility to expansion and contraction means that warping can occur over time.
On the other hand, melamine will not.
What Are the Different Types of Melamine?
There are a wide range of grades and types of melamine available. This is largely a concern for manufacturers rather than consumers.
All homeowners really need to know is that the highest-priced grades feature fused coatings and are generally made with thicker paper sheets.
Textured melamine is the most common style.
Is Melamine Durable?
The durability of the material is second to none.
It is a very durable product that is particularly noted for being stain-resistant and not prone to damage from excessive heat or moisture.
Other laminate materials can be prone to delaminate and deteriorate but melamine does not peel.
This is because the paper sheets are permanently fused to the particle board.
Chipping, however, can become an issue. If not dealt with, chips can leave the substrate exposed, and this can then be prone to water damage.
But no product surface is perfect and as long as the finish is not compromised, water damage will not become a problem, unlike with natural woods.
Melamine Cabinets: The Verdict
All in all, you can see that melamine cabinets are an excellent choice for the kitchen.
It is such a versatile material that gives you a variety of options.
You can give your kitchen a makeover with replacement cabinet doors, safe in the knowledge that the look of melamine cabinets will always impress.
Not only that, you also know that a melamine cabinet is as tough and durable as anything else on the market.
Why not get in touch with the Kitchen Warehouse team to find out more?
