18mm White Melamine Faced Plywood

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Melamine Plywood Details

Melamine-faced plywood offers a remarkable blend of strength, versatility, and aesthetic appeal. Crafted with a sturdy core of cross-laminated wood veneers, these panels are faced with a smooth, long-lasting melamine surface that provides excellent resistance against moisture, stains, and wear.

While the melamine surface adds aesthetic value, the plywood core ensures exceptional durability and dimensional stability. This combination makes melamine-faced plywood an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, including countertops, shelving units, and high-traffic areas.

One of the standout features of melamine-faced plywood is its versatility. These panels can be easily cut, routed, and shaped to suit your specific project requirements, allowing you to bring your creative visions to life with precision and ease.

For projects that require lightweight materials or easy manoeuvrability, our thinner melamine-faced plywood sheets offer the perfect solution. These panels are easy to work with, making them a popular choice for DIY enthusiasts and hobbyists alike.

Alternatively, if you're tackling a project that demands exceptional load-bearing capabilities, our thicker melamine-faced plywood sheets provide the stability and strength you need. These sturdy panels are ideal for countertops, heavy-duty shelving units, and other high-stress applications, ensuring your creations can withstand the test of time.

If you are unsure about what specific thickness you will need, get in contact and we can be sure to assist you.

Uses & Applications

Here are some of the most common uses for melamine ply:

• Cabinetry and Furniture: Melamine plywood is widely used in the manufacturing of cabinets, shelving units, wardrobes, desks, and various types of furniture. The melamine facing provides a smooth, easy-to-clean surface that can withstand daily wear and tear.
• Countertops and Workbenches: The moisture-resistant and stain-resistant properties of melamine plywood make it an excellent choice for countertops in kitchens, bathrooms, and workshops. It offers a durable surface that can withstand spills and heavy use.
• Retail Displays and Signage: The smooth, uniform surface of melamine plywood makes it suitable for creating retail displays, product showcases, and signage. It provides a clean, professional look and can be easily cut and shaped to meet specific design requirements.
• Garage and Basement Storage: Melamine plywood's moisture resistance and strength make it a popular material for building garage cabinets, shelving units, and other storage solutions in damp or humid environments.
• Recreational Vehicle and Marine Applications: The moisture-resistant properties of melamine plywood make it suitable for use in motorhomes, caravans and boats, where it can be used for cabinetry, countertops, and other interior components.

Melamine Faced Ply Board Specifications

Manufacturer's Datasheets

For the full technical details, download the manufacturer's datasheet here:

Riga Mel Melamine Plywood

Frequently Asked Questions

What thickness should I use?

18mm melamine-faced plywood is suitable for shelves, countertops, and other furniture-based projects. Our thicker 24mm sheets provide extra sturdiness for heavy-duty uses, often used in commercial vehicles, trailers, boats and more.

Is melamine plywood heat resistant?

While melamine facing is fairly heat resistant compared to wood veneers, excessive heat can still cause damage. It should not be used as an unprotected cooking surface.

What is the difference between melamine and phenolic plywood?

Melamine plywood has a resin-impregnated decorative paper surface, while phenolic plywood has an overlay film made from phenolic resins. Melamine provides a smoother, more attractive finish suitable for visible surfaces, while phenolic is more industrial-grade.

Is melamine MDF better than melamine-faced plywood?

Melamine MDF (medium-density fiberboard) tends to be denser and has a smoother, more consistent surface than melamine plywood which has a veneer face over the wood plies. However, plywood is generally stronger and more rigid making it preferable for larger spans or weight-bearing applications.

How can I cut melamine plywood

Use a fine-toothed blade designed for plywood or laminates and make cuts slowly to prevent chipping the melamine surface. Generally, carbide-tipped blades work best.