If you are not already familiar with melamine faced chipboard, often called MFC or Conti-board, you might be surprised by how common it is around you. It is a popular choice for furniture, cabinetry, shelving, wardrobes, and joinery tasks in the UK, owing to its affordability and good performance.
Melamine faced chipboard is a composite board made by bonding wood particles with resin and overlaying one or both sides with a melamine-impregnated decorative paper.
The overlay is cured under heat and pressure to give it durability and a smooth finish. It’s worth noting that the melamine surface is more durable than veneer and can come in pre-finished colours or wood grain patterns.
Here are some common applications and general uses for MFC:
Because it is easy to clean and pre-finished, MFC is ideal for kitchen carcass panels, shelves, and units.
MFC chipboard is utilised to construct shelves since it can be cut to any size and faced with different shades. Besides, you can edge your Conti-chipboard with either complementing or contrasting coloured edging tape to match any interior design.
MFC allows builders to create a seamless and personalised bedroom wardrobe without breaking the bank!
Because melamine-faced chipboard is light, decorative, and stable, it is often used for interior linings, such as in canal boats or caravans
There are various advantages of MFC chipboard. They include.
Note: While the Conti-board (face) chipboard is waterproof, if water penetrates the chipboard underneath, the dampness could distort melamine. Similarly, while melamine chipboard is robust and long-lasting, if the installation was done improperly so that the MFC chipboard damages the particleboard, the melamine could chip.
We offer a wide selection of melamine faced chipboard boards in various finishes (smooth, white, wood-effect etc.), sizes, and thicknesses.
Our boards are FSC® certified, where stated, giving assurance of responsibly sourced wood. You can also get trade prices and bulk discounts for affordable options that don’t compromise your construction.
We also offer edging tape to match or contrast with your boards and for proper edge finishing.
Get durable, decorative, and affordable board solutions in our melamine faced chipboard range. We have it in different styles, finishes, and thicknesses. Order today for a quick UK delivery.
Yes, it is possible to paint melamine faced chipboard even with the slick surface. However, this requires preparation of the surface with a high quality bonding primer to ensure the paint sticks. You should also clean and lightly sand it to dull the sheen and create a surface for the primer to adhere.
The process is simple and breaks down as follows:
Clean up the edge with a sander, router, or planer to ensure it doesn’t start chipping due to irregular edges.
MFC is more moisture resistant than other finished chipboard products due to the melamine overlay. However, if moisture makes it into the chipboard core through unbanded/exposed edges, it can cause swelling, distortion from internal stress, and chipping.
Melamine doesn’t peel off like paint since the resin hardens and keeps its structure over time. It can bend or warp from the chipboard swelling or from heavy loads, but it does not peel off by itself without some stress or exposure to harsh conditions over long periods.
EGGER W980 ST7 Platinum White is a melamine faced chipboard (MFC) panel with a smooth, durable melamine finish on both sides. Ideal for furniture, cabinets and interior fit out projects.
EGGER W980 SM Platinum White is a melamine faced chipboard (MFC) panel with a smooth, durable melamine finish on both sides. Ideal for furniture, cabinets and interior fit out projects.
EGGER U104 ST9 Alabaster White is a melamine faced chipboard (MFC) panel with a smooth, durable melamine finish on both sides. Ideal for furniture, cabinets and interior fit out projects.
EGGER W1000 ST9 Premium White is a melamine faced chipboard (MFC) panel with a smooth, durable melamine finish on both sides. Ideal for furniture, cabinets and interior fit out projects.
EGGER W1100 ST9 Alpine White is a melamine faced chipboard (MFC) panel with a smooth, durable melamine finish on both sides. Ideal for furniture, cabinets and interior fit out projects.
EGGER W1200 ST9 Porcelain White is a melamine faced chipboard (MFC) panel with a smooth, durable melamine finish on both sides. Ideal for furniture, cabinets and interior fit out projects.