Melamine is a type of laminate surface with a plastic coating over plywood or fiberboard. Like laminate, melamine is made with paper and resin, pressed together with heat, but it’s cheaper to produce.

Melamine has different degrees that reflect the quality. Low quality melamine doesn’t have the lifespan of laminate. Textured thermal-fused melamine, on the other hand, is thicker and has the potential to outlast HPL.

Textured melamine offers a more dimensional appearance and texture for the paper designs within the resin compound, making the wood paper look and feel more like the real thing, for example.

Pros

• More affordable than laminate or solid wood
• Versatile in colors, patterns, and designs
• Durable
• Scratch resistant
• Sustainable and affordable

Cons

• Can’t be refinished
• Uses potentially harmful adhesives
• Lower quality wood material