{"title":"Melamine","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eDurable, low-maintenance, and cost-effective, melamine is a popular choice for modern cabinetry, shelving, and furniture projects. We offer a wide selection of melamine panels in a variety of colours, finishes, and woodgrain patterns—perfect for creating clean, contemporary looks with minimal upkeep. Made by fusing a decorative paper layer to particleboard or MDF core, melamine panels provide a hard, scratch-resistant surface that’s easy to clean and ideal for both residential and commercial interiors. It’s especially well-suited for closets, kitchen cabinets, garage storage, and office furniture, offering consistent quality and a sleek appearance. As a proudly Canadian company, Windsor Plywood is your trusted source for high-quality, hard-to-find materials and personalized service. Whether you're a DIYer or professional builder, melamine gives you a versatile and stylish solution for efficient, long-lasting results.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"melamine","title":"Melamine","description":"\u003c!-- INTRO --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMelamine is one of the most practical and widely used prefinished sheet goods in North American cabinetry and furniture manufacturing. A resin-impregnated paper surface is fused to an engineered wood core under high pressure, producing a hard, cleanable, and ready-to-use panel that requires no additional finishing. Ideal for cabinet carcases, wall units, closet organizers, shelving, and desktops. As strong as MDF, lighter than plywood, and dimensionally stable -- it will not bow or warp under normal interior conditions. White is always in stock; additional colours and patterns are available at most locations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- FEATURES --\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePrefinished surface -- no painting, staining, or sealing required after cutting and assembly\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eHard, durable melamine coating -- resists scratches, stains, and moisture at the surface level\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEasy-to-clean surface -- wipes down without absorbing liquids or odours\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eLightweight and easy to transport -- significantly lighter than plywood at equivalent thickness\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDimensionally stable engineered core -- will not bow or warp under normal interior conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eWhite always in stock -- additional colours and patterns available at most Windsor Plywood locations\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eUse a melamine-specific cutting blade to minimise chipping at cut edges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- SPECIFICATIONS --\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;\"\u003e\n  \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px 12px; background:#f5f5f5; width:40%;\"\u003eCore Type\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"padding:8px 12px;\"\u003eEngineered wood (particleboard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px 12px; background:#f5f5f5;\"\u003eSurface\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"padding:8px 12px;\"\u003eMelamine resin-impregnated paper -- fused under high pressure, prefinished both sides\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px 12px; background:#f5f5f5;\"\u003eThicknesses Available\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"padding:8px 12px;\"\u003e1\/2\" (12mm), 5\/8\" (15.8mm), 3\/4\" (18mm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px 12px; background:#f5f5f5;\"\u003eSheet Size\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"padding:8px 12px;\"\u003eConfirm with your local Windsor Plywood location\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px 12px; background:#f5f5f5;\"\u003eColours and Patterns\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"padding:8px 12px;\"\u003eWhite always in stock -- additional colours and patterns available at most locations\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px 12px; background:#f5f5f5;\"\u003eCutting Requirement\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"padding:8px 12px;\"\u003eMelamine-specific cutting blade recommended to prevent chipping\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px 12px; background:#f5f5f5;\"\u003eEdge Treatment\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"padding:8px 12px;\"\u003eExposed cut edges require edge banding -- matching melamine edge tape available in-store\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px 12px; background:#f5f5f5;\"\u003eAvailability\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"padding:8px 12px;\"\u003eIn-store -- some colours and thicknesses may be special order. Confirm with your local Windsor Plywood location.\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- COMMON USES --\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCommon Uses\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMelamine is the standard material for flat-pack and site-built cabinet carcases, closet organizer systems, laundry room shelving, office furniture, retail display units, and workshop storage. The prefinished surface makes it the practical choice for any application where visible interior surfaces need to be clean and washable without additional finishing labour on site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- PAIRS WELL WITH --\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePairs Well With\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor countertop surfaces that coordinate with melamine cabinetry, see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/arborite-counter-top-laminates\"\u003eArborite Counter Top Laminates\u003c\/a\u003e. For applications requiring a paintable, void-free engineered panel without a prefinished surface, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/premium-mdf\"\u003ePremium MDF\u003c\/a\u003e is available at Windsor Plywood. Matching melamine edge banding tape for covering cut edges is available in-store -- ask your local branch for the colours currently stocked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- PRO TIPS --\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePro Tips\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAlways use a melamine-specific triple-chip or negative-hook-angle blade. A standard wood blade will chip the melamine surface on the exit side of the cut -- scoring the cut line first with a utility knife also helps on cross-cuts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAll exposed cut edges must be covered with edge banding. Iron-on melamine edge tape is the fastest method for site work -- use a sharp chisel or edge trimmer to flush the overhang after bonding. Unfinished edges absorb moisture and will swell over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMelamine is heavy for its volume when full sheets are involved. Use panel-carry handles or a sheet goods cart for moving full sheets safely -- the particleboard core is brittle at unsupported corners and will chip if dropped.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- FAQ --\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to finish melamine after cutting?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe faces are prefinished and require no additional coating. However, all cut edges expose the raw particleboard core and must be covered with melamine edge banding tape before the panel is installed in a visible or moisture-exposed location. Unfinished edges will swell and delaminate over time if exposed to humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the difference between melamine and MDF?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nMDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is an unfinished engineered panel that must be painted, primed, or laminated after cutting. Melamine is MDF or particleboard with a prefinished melamine surface already bonded to both faces. Melamine is the faster choice for cabinetry and shelving where a finished surface is needed immediately. MDF is preferred for painted applications, routed profiles, and situations where the surface finish is applied on site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan melamine be used in bathrooms or kitchens?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nStandard melamine is suitable for kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanity carcases in normal residential conditions. It is not recommended for direct water contact or high-humidity applications without sealed edges. For wet area applications, a moisture-resistant MDF core melamine or a fully sealed construction is preferred.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat thickness should I use for cabinet carcases?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n3\/4\" (18mm) is the standard for cabinet carcases, fixed shelving, and structural panels. 5\/8\" (15.8mm) is occasionally used for lighter-duty shelving. 1\/2\" (12mm) is used for cabinet backs and lightweight dividers. For spanning distances over 900mm on horizontal shelves, 3\/4\" is strongly recommended to prevent sagging under load.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs white melamine always available?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nYes. White is stocked as a standard item at Windsor Plywood locations. Other colours and wood-grain patterns are available but may vary by location and may need to be ordered in. Confirm colour availability with your local branch before planning your project.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Windsor Plywood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50093155123498,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0927\/8622\/9546\/files\/Melamine-COLOURED.jpg?v=1754426006"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0927\/8622\/9546\/collections\/Melamine-COLOURED.jpg?v=1746294969","url":"https:\/\/www.windsorplywood.com\/collections\/melamine\/plywood-sheet-goods.oembed","provider":"Windsor Plywood","version":"1.0","type":"link"}