Plywood vs. Melamine: Which is the Better Material?


Whether it’s building cabinets, shelving, or other kitchen surfaces, plywood vs melamine are two materials you’ll need to be familiar with. Whereas solid wood was once the standard for cabinets, nowadays the trend is moving towards plywood, melamine, and MDF cabinets.

There are numerous reasons why these alternate materials are more popular today, as they possess a number of benefits over solid wood.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between plywood vs melamine, so you’ll be armed with the knowledge needed to choose the right material for you.

Why not Use Solid Wood?

So, why the trend towards using manufactured wood products over solid wood?

There are a number of reasons solid wood is less popular for kitchen cabinets and shelving.

Firstly, the cost is a factor. Solid wood is more expensive than plywood, MDF, or melamine, so it tends not to be used when the budget is a concern.

Secondly, solid wood is not ideal if you plan to paint your cabinets. Solid wood will have knots, and imperfections, and lacks the smooth finish of manufactured wood products. The trend nowadays is painted cabinets, so there is no need to splurge on solid wood if you plan to paint it anyway. In addition, painting solid wood is a bit of a waste, as it will hide the grain anyways.

Lastly, solid wood – especially in a kitchen setting with plenty of moisture and heat – will expand and contract which will lead to warping and bowing over time. Manufactured wood product is less likely to suffer from this in most cases.

What is Melamine?

Melamine is often confused for the engineered wood product which is coated in a protective melamine coating. Melamine itself is the protective plastic resin on the outside of the particle board, wood board, and other materials.

melamine cabinets
Melamine cabinets under construction. [Image source]
There are also solid melamine boards which sometimes get used in kitchen cabinets. Generally speaking though, melamine-coated boards are the better choice, as they have the ability to withstand the changing temperatures in a kitchen.

Melamine also has the advantage of being easy to clean, durable, and moisture-resistant.

What is Plywood?

Plywood is a type of engineered wood made from layers of wood veneer (called plies) which are then glued and pressed together to form a solid material. The veneer layers are positioned with their grain alternated – which helps to increase the strength and durability of the final product.

There are a number of different grades and species of plywood, including both softwood and hardwood plywoods. Softwood plywood is more popular than hardwood, and tends to be less expensive as well.

Plywood also comes in different grades, from A town to D. A-grade stuff is the cream of the crop, is flawless, and is smooth enough to be painted without sanding. D-grade is the lowest quality and is typically used in applications where the surface won’t be seen at all – like for subfloors or sheathing.

Also, consider that plywood will have different grades for the front face and the rear face. This is because for most applications – including kitchen cabinets – only one face of the plywood will be visible.

Plywood Pros and Cons

Advantages of using plywood:

Plywood is an easier material to work with than melamine boards. It’s easier to cut, sand, drill into, and do just about any shaping or cutting task with than plywood is. This is due to the melamine surface coating, which can crack or break, which will leave you with a useless section of melamine.

High-grade plywood also has the advantage of looking like natural wood. That means it can be treated with stain or varnish and left with its natural wood grain exposed. This is a great option for rustic, natural-looking kitchen cabinets, which are not possible with melamine board.

Plywood is also lightweight when compared to melamine board, so it’s a good choice for upper cabinets.

Disadvantages of using plywood:

Plywood is not waterproof and is prone to warping if it’s exposed to moisture for prolonged periods of time. It can also delaminate, which means the layers start to come apart if it’s exposed to high levels of heat over time.

When compared to melamine, the surface of plywood is much more uneven and often has to be sanded down to achieve a smooth finish. Plywood is also more expensive than melamine.

Melamine Pros and Cons

Advantages of using melamine:

Melamine features a smooth, easy-to-clean finish, which makes it a fantastic choice for kitchen shelves and cabinets. It also doesn’t need to be painted or stained, so you’ll save yourself some money and labor when compared to plywood.

The surface is resistant to scratches, stains, heat, and even fire. It’s also essentially waterproof as long as the surface has no cracks or holes in it. This is key for kitchen applications, as these areas tend to get a lot of wear and tear over time.

Melamine is also highly cost-effective, as it’s less expensive than plywood and much less expensive than solid wood. The lack of wood grain can be an advantage if you’re looking for solid-colored cabinets, as you won’t need to sand and cover them up with paint.

Disadvantages of using melamine:

Melamine is prone to cracking or breaking when placed under heavy pressure. Unlike plywood, melamine cannot be repaired once it’s damaged, so this can be an issue over time.

Melamine is also heavier than plywood, which means it can be more difficult to work with than plywood – particularly for upper cabinets.

Which One Should You Pick?

Ultimately, the choice between plywood vs melamine comes down to preference. Melamine works well for situations that require waterproofing and stain, heat, and fire resistance. It’s cheaper than plywood and does not require painting or staining.

Plywood, on the other hand, is easier to work with than melamine boards, is lightweight, and can be treated with stain and varnish to create a rustic-looking natural wood appearance.


Featured image source.


Denis Gardner

I've loved tinkering and fixing things for as long as I can remember. So, naturally, I gravitated towards DIY and home improvement when I bought my first home. Nowadays you can find me writing about my passions or messing around with my newest tool!

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