One of the most difficult but important decisions an interior designer must make is the type of material to be used for the furniture. There are plenty of materials in the market with varied properties and characteristics. Two such materials are Melamine and Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF).
If you aren’t familiar with the difference between melamine and MDF, fret not; you’re in the right place! Let’s start with the basics 一
What Is Melamine Plywood?
Melamine Plywood is a type of wood similar to particle board but is much stronger and manufactured differently. Melamine is a thermosetting plastic resin combined with formaldehyde and then hardened by a heating process.
When wood is covered/laminated with melamine sheets, it provides a smooth and sleek surface finish. It is widely used because of its fire-retardant properties and high resistance to moisture, heat and stains.
Why Choose Melamine?
As mentioned previously, melamine is most commonly used in the furniture industry because of its resistance to heat, moisture and scratches. Besides that, some of the reasons to consider melamine include 一
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Crack-resistant
- Durable
- Budget-friendly
- Consistent grains
- Available in a range of thickness
What Can Melamine Be Used for?
If you do decide to purchase melamine plywood, the following are some of the ways you can use it 一
- Store fixtures
- Wardrobes
- Office furniture
- In entertainment centres
- As laminates
- As wood adhesives
- As surface coatings
- As moulding compounds
They are also used outside the furniture industry for manufacturing electrical parts, household goods, kitchenware products, fire retardant fabrics mainly used by firefighters, etc.
What Is MDF?
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) looks like real wood cut straight from a tree, but it is actually recycled bits of wood pressed together with an adhesive under high temperature and heat circumstances.
MDF is generally denser than plywood. It is made out of isolated fibres yet can be used as a construction material like plywood. It is also more durable and denser than particleboard.
Why Choose MDF?
Besides its durability, some of the reasons to choose MDF over other materials include 一
- MDF board price is cheaper compared to solid wood
- Eco-friendly since it’s made from a recycling process
- Can easily be stained in any colour
- Smooth and consistent surface
- Less warping issues
- Can work as a sound barriers
- Has fire resistance properties
What Can MDF Be Used for?
MDF Boards are incredibly easy to cut, shape, and paint; hence can be used for varied purposes. If you do decide to buy MDF boards some of the recommended uses are as follows 一
- Used in furniture like shelves and kitchen cabinets
- Used in building constructions due to its fire-resistant properties
- Used for skirting, architrave and other decorative pieces for home interior and exterior
- Used for roofing systems
Both MDF and melamine have their own disadvantages and advantages. But, both of them are better alternatives for solid wood and are budget-friendly. With that being said, if you ever need to purchase MDF or melamine plywood for your upcoming projects, reach out to our representatives at AK Plywood and get all the information, and the materials you need.
