Can Melamine Boards Be Used to Cover an Indoor Ceiling?

Melamine Boards

• Melamine boards constitute one of the many types of engineered wood boards available. Engineered wood entails any wood manipulated by humans to create a new material. Two types of melamine boards exist: medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard. Both of these materials consist of admixtures of glue and wood, pressed into panels and hardened. MDF contains individual wood fibers, while particleboard contains wood chips or shavings. Melamine is a type of waterproof plastic coating applied to the board, which forms the outer layer of the material. MDF or particleboard forms the core of the panel.

More on Melamine

• Melamine coating makes material easy to clean and gives it an even, flat, shiny surface. Because of this, the material appears commonly in kitchen applications, such as cabinet doors, shelves and walls. The construction of shelving constitutes the most common use of melamine. Some pet enclosures, such as dog crates, contain melamine bottom trays, to expedite the cleaning of waste. The material comes in a limited number of colors, mostly white and sometimes black. Some manufacturers produce melamine boards with a faux-timber finish.

Melamine for Ceilings

• You can use particleboard and MDF panels to cover ceilings. Because of this, you can also use melamine for the same purpose, as the only difference between melamine boards and MDF, or particleboard, panels lies in the coating. Keep in mind that melamine boards appear most commonly in shelving units, meaning if you cover your ceiling with them, your ceiling may look like the inside of an Ikea book shelf. Confer with an engineer or contractor before using melamine on a ceiling that supports something heavy, like a fan. The material is durable in bookshelves and kitchen cabinets, but may not possess the strength required to support very heavy items over long periods of time.

Sound Dampening

• Both particleboard and medium density fiberboard possess sound dampening qualities. When used as a ceiling material, these two types of panels can help reduce noise levels in interior environments-- particularly those without other dampening measures, such as carpets or sound insulation. Melamine boards provide this same benefit. In fact, some companies, such as Acoustical Surfaces, Inc, use melamine to make sound insulation and dampening equipment, such as baffles. If you prefer cacophonous interiors, avoid the of use melamine.