How to choose custom cabinet panels correctly?

Commonly used panels for custom cabinets

Melamine board

If it weren't for the sensational news about tainted milk, many readers might not have known about melamine.

Melamine board, also known as (ecological board, melamine board, decorative panel, etc.), is the most commonly used board for making cabinets today. The base material of melamine board is (particle board, multi-layer board, density board, etc.). It becomes the melamine board we see after double-sided hot pressing and impregnation of colored paper on the basis of the corresponding base material.

Many decoration companies are accustomed to calling it particle board for convenience, but in fact there is a difference between the two, because particle board is only the base material (friends who can't distinguish between base material, finish and finished board can look up the previous content) and cannot be used directly to produce cabinets.

Ecological board (melamine board)

The ecological board adopts A+++ grade finishing sampling standards, which is very natural. The ecological board selects aerobic wood from all over the world, uses peeling equipment imported from Germany, precise assembly technology, and extracts non-aldehyde resin glue for bonding. The whole process from logs to finished products is monitored, and strict screening is carried out layer by layer to create healthy boards for villas and luxury homes.

Solid wood multilayer board

Solid wood multilayer boards are also called solid wood boards. Cabinet systems customized with solid wood multilayer boards have door panel core materials of multilayer boards or medium-density fiberboards. The advantages of solid wood multilayer boards are very prominent. They are strong in strength, strong in stability, and moisture-proof. They are very suitable for making cabinet bodies. However, they have disadvantages, that is, their flatness is not as good as particle boards and European pine boards, and delicate finishes such as high-grade gray cannot be suppressed.

Characteristics of solid wood multilayer board

Solid wood multi-layer boards eliminate space safety hazards. They are made by selecting aerobic wood from around the world, with A+++ grade core materials, which are rotary cut into slices. They are strictly screened layer by layer, with layers densely distributed vertically and horizontally. The entire process from logs to finished products is monitored, and it takes 100 processes to create solid wood multi-layer boards.

Excellence never stops, environmentally friendly adhesive, vertical bonding of adjacent single board layers, fully digital drying, deep penetration of plant resins to interconnect, and small internal stress of multi-layer board structure make the product achieve stronger anti-bending performance.

Blister board

The blister board used in custom cabinets is a density board, formed by vacuum forming or a one-step, seamless PVC film compression molding process. This board offers a rich variety of color options, realistic wood grain, and high-quality, pure, vibrant single colors. It's also resistant to cracking and deformation, scratches, heat, stains, and fading. It's the most mature cabinet board available and easy to maintain.

What should I pay attention to when customizing cabinets?

Choose environmentally friendly boards

At present, there are E0-level environmentally friendly panels in the Chinese market that are synchronized with European environmental standards. To identify them, we can first look at the authorization and then see whether the panel logo has the E0 environmental label. Most businesses dare not make a fuss about this.

The panels have all reached E0 environmental protection standards and have all been authorized.

Choose the right specifications

Available in 16mm and 18mm thicknesses, custom cabinets made with 18mm can more than double their lifespan, are less prone to deformation, and effectively protect countertops from cracking. While there's a significant price difference, experienced professionals recommend 18mm as the most reliable.

The board specifications and sizes are complete, 1220*2440*15*16*17*18mm, and personalized customization services can be provided.

Four major misunderstandings about cabinet panels

Misconception 1: Are moisture-proof and waterproof the same thing?

Many people equate moisture-proofing with waterproofing. This concept is actually inaccurate. Moisture-proofing is achieved by mixing a colorless moisture-proofing agent into the board base material. To distinguish it from ordinary boards, manufacturers add a green or red (green is more common, with red being considered more premium) color to the boards as an identification mark. However, moisture-proofing agents have no effect on the waterproofing properties of the board itself. Practice has shown that boards with and without moisture-proofing agents expand at the same rate when immersed in water. The so-called moisture-proofing only protects against moisture in the air.

Myth 2: Fireproof board is fireproof?

The name suggests that this board is fireproof, a misconception shared by many consumers. However, this term is incorrect. Refractory materials are not truly fireproof. The correct term should be "fireproof board." The term "fireproof board" originated in Taiwan. Any surface coated with melamine, such as melamine-coated board, possesses a certain degree of fire resistance. Fireproof board has a specific flame resistance time limit: it can withstand open flames for a certain period before a chemical reaction, i.e., carbonization, occurs. However, the flame resistance of so-called "fireproof board" can reach approximately 35-40 seconds. Within this range, open flames produce only black smoke that can be wiped off, without any chemical reaction. Naturally, the longer the fire resistance of fireproof board, the better.

Misconception 3: Can you tell the difference between boards just by looking at their appearance?

Quality depends on the material. Besides the processing, cabinets produced by small factories are often cheaper because of the material and cost. Low-quality boards can have a see-through surface, exhibit color variations, feel uneven, and have a brittle melamine veneer that easily peels under stress. A cross-section reveals uneven sawdust fibers, large gaps, and even debris like dirt, nails, and rocks. To reduce costs, many small, workshop-style factories use large amounts of low-quality urea-formaldehyde glue and skip cleaning. Their physical and chemical properties are incomparable to those of high-quality particleboard. While they may appear similar in appearance, their inherent quality differs dramatically.

Myth 4: Are domestic formaldehyde standards similar to those abroad?

Regarding testing standards, the European standard is 9mg. my country's standard for formaldehyde in artificial boards is 9mg/100g dry board, meaning 9mg of free formaldehyde is allowed in 100g of dry board. While this appears to be stricter and not much different from international standards, China also has another standard: a 30mg limit for surface-treated artificial boards. This standard provides strong protection for small manufacturers. Formaldehyde emissions are an important consideration when purchasing kitchen cabinets.

After reading this issue's sharing on how to choose panels for custom cabinets, I hope the above content can help you.

The result is a cabinet with good quality and long service life.