The board core determines how strong the structure is, while the surface finish determines the color, the feel to the touch and how well it resists scratches. The three most common surfaces on engineered wood boards are Melamine, Laminate and Acrylic.
Melamine
Melamine is a resin-impregnated decor paper pressed directly onto the board core at the factory. The layer is thin, the surface is usually matt or lightly textured, and the range of colors and grains is very wide. It is the most economical option and durable enough for most furniture in the home: cabinet carcasses, wardrobes, shelves and desks.
Laminate
Laminate is a thicker sheet made of many layers of paper pressed together under high pressure, then glued onto the board core. Because it is thicker, Laminate resists scratches, knocks and heat better than Melamine. It suits heavily used surfaces such as kitchen cabinet doors, table tops, reception counters and bar counters.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a plastic surface layer with a mirror gloss or a smooth matt finish and an even, deep color. Acrylic doors look modern and are easy to wipe clean of grease, so they are widely used for kitchen and wardrobe doors. Gloss surfaces show fine scratches and fingerprints more than matt ones, so they should be wiped with a soft cloth.
Quick comparison
| Melamine | Laminate | Acrylic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Matt or lightly textured; many colors and wood grains | Matt, textured or embossed; many colors, wood grains and stone looks | Mirror gloss or smooth matt; even color |
| Scratch resistance | Fairly good | Good | Moderate for gloss |
| Heat resistance | Moderate | Better than the other two | Moderate |
| Price | Lowest | Higher than Melamine | Highest |
| Typical use | Carcasses, wardrobes, shelves, desks | Kitchen doors, table tops, counters | Kitchen doors, wardrobe doors |
Price difference
In our calculator, compared with the same cabinet in Melamine, surfaces in Laminate cost an extra 0.40 – 0.90 million VND per square meter and Acrylic an extra 1.00 – 1.60 million VND.
- Wardrobe 2.4 m long and 2.6 m high, Melamine doors, An Cường moisture-resistant MDF: about 18.7 – 23.8 million VND. See the calculation
- The same wardrobe with Laminate doors: about 21.1 – 29.2 million VND. See the calculation
- The same wardrobe with Acrylic doors: about 24.7 – 33.4 million VND. See the calculation
A common way to balance cost is Melamine for the carcasses and less visible parts, and Laminate or Acrylic for the doors and fronts. Colors and codes for each range are on the Materials page, and you can also try colors on cabinets before you decide.
