2020-02-10
Why Melamine Faced Chipboard is Great for Kitchen Cabinets
We make sure that every element of your bespoke kitchen meets the highest standard, but that doesn’t mean we always use the most expensive material possible. In the case of cabinet interiors, we think that Melamine Faced Chipboard is the best material. Here’s everything that you need to know about MFC.
What is MFC?
MFC stands for Melamine Faced Chipboard. Chipboard is an engineered wood product made from woodchips and resin. Melamine is a thermosetting plastic that is applied to paper (the paper can be printed with a pattern to make it look like wood). These Melamine ‘faces’ are then glued to the chipboard to make the finished product.
What qualities of MFC make it a great choice for cabinet interiors?
MFC is resistant to moisture. It won’t change shape if it gets wet. It is also a highly scratch-resistant material. Heavy pots and pans can be stored on MFC shelves without damaging your cabinet interiors. Finally, MFC can be cleaned very easily by wiping down the surface with disinfectant – ideal for a hygienic kitchen.
What’s the difference between MFC and MDF?
MDF is a different type of engineered wood product – Medium Density Fiberboard. MDF is denser than MFC. We prefer to use MFC because MDF has some quite serious drawbacks. Lower grades of MDF have a tendency to swell and warp if allowed to get wet repeatedly and screwing into the side of MDF can cause it to split.
Why not timber throughout?
We use high quality timber in many areas of our hand-built kitchens – so why not in cabinet interiors as well? The simple answer is that we are not out to rip you off. MFC is a cheaper product that is equally if not more suitable for the purpose. Timber will stain and scratch more easily than MFC.
Where do we source our MFC?
Our MFC is manufactured to a high standard by engineered-wood specialists Orma. Orma Melamine Faced Chipboard panels are made of 100% natural wood which offer very high stability and durability – the industry standard is 20% up to 30% recycled wood combined with natural wood.
How sustainable is MFC?
The trees that are chipped to make Orma MFC come from from sustainable forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
