Planning your kitchen cabinet can be satisfying but can also be a hassle as it takes up a lot of time.
From the design, durability, cost, maintenance up to the life span, it certainly isn’t an easy task to decide.
However, a kitchen is a place where you spend quite a large amount of time.
Hence, do take your time to weigh the pros and cons of the material of your choice.
If you are torn between an aluminium kitchen cabinet and melamine kitchen cabinet, I am here to lessen your burden.
Read on for a detailed comparison between these two kitchen cabinets.
1. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Environment Friendly
2. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Durability
3. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Material
4. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Installation Difficulty
5. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Termites Resistant
6. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Moisture Resistant
7. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Heat Resistance & Fire Retardant
8. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Chemical Resistant
9. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Care & Maintenance
10. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Hygienic & Non-Toxic
11. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Variety (Colors & Design)
12. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Uniformed Finish
13. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Weight
14. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Abrasion Resistant
15. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Cost
Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Comparison
There are a number of characteristics we should consider when comparing between aluminium kitchen cabinet and melamine kitchen cabinet.
Before I get into the details, have a look at the simplified version of the characteristic’s comparison in the table below:
| No. | Characteristics | Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet | Melamine Cabinet |
| 1 | Environment Friendly | Yes | No |
| 2 | Durability | High | Moderate |
| 3 | Material | A lower density of metal | Synthetic material |
| 4 | Installation Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| 5 | Termites Resistant | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Moisture Resistant | Yes | Less |
| 7 | Heat Resistance & Fire Retardant | Yes | Moderate |
| 8 | Chemical Resistant | Yes for most chemical | Yes for most chemical |
| 9 | Care & Maintenance | Easy | Moderate |
| 10 | Hygienic & Non-Toxic | Yes | No |
| 11 | Variety (Colors & Design) | Variety of colours and with a modern clean outlook | More variety |
| 12 | Uniformed Finish | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Weight | Light | Heavy |
| 14 | Abrasion Resistant | No | No |
| 15 | Cost | Cheaper in long run | Cheaper in short run |
1. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Environment Friendly
Aluminium is a recyclable material and hence it is more environmentally friendly compared to melamine.
Melamine material has to be manufactured in a factory because it consists of a mixture of few different things such as wood particles, papers, resins and glue.
During its manufacturing, chemical waste products such as formaldehyde will emit into the air which isn’t good for our environment.
Also read: Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Wood (15 Detail Comparison Factors)
2. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Durability
Melamine kitchen cabinets are considered durable as it is reasonably resistant to common problems such as moisture, heat and stains.
However, aluminium kitchen cabinets are more durable than melamine because it has a higher resistance to all of the issues stated above.
3. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Material
Melamine is made of compressed wood particle material and is quite strong if it is manufactured well.
Also read: 13 Mistakes To Avoid During Aluminium Kitchen Renovation
Some manufactures do not make a thorough process and end up with a product that can be easily damaged during installation or usage.
Aluminium material is sturdier compared to melamine, but it is important to keep in mind that there are different grades of aluminium out there.
Do be wary of certain companies which will offer you a much lower quotation for your aluminium kitchen cabinets as it is highly likely they are using a lower grade aluminium.
Expert Tips:
Get reliable and professional companies to handle your kitchen cabinets to avoid any major problems in future.
For aluminium kitchen cabinets, a company such as BLENO is very reliable and will provide you with higher quality aluminium kitchen cabinets.
4. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Installation Difficulty
It is more difficult to install melamine kitchen cabinets as it does not pair well with most nails and screws and is easily damaged if not handled in a proper manner.
Also read: How To Select The Best Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet
The installation of aluminium kitchen cabinets is less complicated, can be easily installed and it does not damage easily.
Expert Tips:
The installation process of kitchen cabinets is as important as the material itself as it affects the sustainability and lifespan of your cabinets.
An experienced company (i.e. BLENO for aluminium kitchen cabinets) will provide you with a solid kitchen cabinet as they take careful steps during installation.
5. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Termites Resistant
Aluminium kitchen cabinets are 100% free from any sort of termite’s attacks.
Generally, melamine kitchen cabinets are also free from termite issues as it has a tough coating.
However, there is a small chance of termite attack if the coating chips off drastically, exposing the internal wood particles.
Also read: 6 Most Popular Types Of Kitchen Layouts for Malaysian Homes
Expert Tips:
A trustworthy company will provide good quality melamine cabinets which are manufactured professionally and hence will not have any termite issues.
6. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Moisture Resistant
You do not have to worry about any water seepage when you have an aluminium kitchen cabinet as its material is not absorbent.
Melamine material is more susceptible to moisture damage (even if compared to solid wood) and could eventually affect the stability of the cabinets.
Expert Tips:
Immediately wipe dry any water spillage on your melamine cabinets surfaces and avoid installing melamine kitchen tabletop close to your sink area.
7. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Heat Resistance & Fire Retardant
Aluminium material is the safest choice for your kitchen cabinets when it comes to heat and fire resistance.
Due to the aluminium material characteristics, not only it doesn’t burn easily but it stops any spread of fire.
Melamine material doesn’t burn as easily as wood but it doesn’t stop the spread of a fire breakout.
8. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Chemical Resistant
Both aluminium and melamine material has good chemical resistance for most types of chemical exposure in the kitchen.
Also read: How To Choose Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Door
The protection layer on the surface of an aluminium material which is created by the bond of oxygen makes it strong enough to withhold any normal chemical damage.
A well-manufactured melamine kitchen cabinet is also less vulnerable to harm from chemical exposure.
9. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Care & Maintenance
When it comes to care and maintenance, you can never go wrong with an aluminium kitchen cabinet.
Just a damp cloth with mild detergent can easily clean up any mess on your aluminium cabinet surfaces and there is very minimal maintenance needed.
Similar to aluminium kitchen cabinets, melamine material is also easy to care for as it also just requires a damp cloth with mild detergent to wipe of stains.
However, when it comes to stains like paint, curry and turmeric powder (some og Malaysian favourite flavouring), you would need to scrub harder with a cloth.
Expert Tips:
As melamine is not high in moisture-resistant, make sure that the surface is dried up after cleaning it with a damp cloth.
10. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Hygienic & Non-Toxic
Aluminium is more hygienic and non-toxic compared to kitchen cabinets made from melamine.
Aluminium material is also odourless even after installation.
The installation of melamine kitchen cabinets requires the usage of strong glue which give out an unpleasant smell that can last for months.
On top of the smell, melamine emits a certain type of chemical and when mixed with strong glue, it can stink your eyes.
11. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Variety (Colors & Design)
One of the top reasons people choose melamine kitchen cabinets is because they can provide various types of designs and colours.
You can play around with the wide variety of designs and colours to suit your kitchen concept with melamine.
Also read: Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet 3G vs 4G
Some have a misconception of aluminium cabinets that it looks like commercial kitchens you find in restaurants with just one choice of “colour” which is natural silver.
This is untrue as there are actually various colours and sleek aluminium kitchen cabinet designs you can choose from.
There are even designs that replicate the outlook of wooden finish kitchen cabinets.
Expert Tips:
Professional companies like BLENO have an expert team that can assist in providing the design of your dream kitchen.
12. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Uniformed Finish
Rest assured on obtaining a uniformed finishing for both aluminium and melamine kitchen cabinets.
Both aluminium and melamine kitchen cabinets are manufactured in a well-controlled factory environment with the exact same finishes as the samples chosen by you.
Expert Tips:
Insist to have a look at the exact material sample used for your kitchen cabinet to ensure you get the exact colour and design of your choice.
13. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Weight
One of the major cons of a melamine kitchen cabinet is the weight which is quite heavy compared to aluminium kitchen cabinets.
It can be a huge issue if the melamine kitchen cabinets are not installed with the proper brackets.
Melamine kitchen cabinets require the usage of heavy-duty brackets especially for the wall-mounted cabinets.
14. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Abrasion Resistant
Unfortunately, both aluminium and melamine kitchen cabinets are not fully abrasion-resistant as they are receptive to scratches and dents.
One of the let-downs of melamine is when it chips off and the insides are exposed making it look very unattractive.
Aluminium only has about 1/3 of the stiffness compared to a material like steel and hence are susceptible to dents.
Expert Tips:
Decrease the chances of exposing your aluminium kitchen cabinets to abrasion by choosing a much thicker aluminium material.
BLENO provides good quality material for all of its aluminium kitchen cabinets with reasonable pricing.
15. Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine Cost
Although melamine costs lesser than aluminium kitchen cabinets, this is only for the short run as aluminium kitchen cabinets last longer.
If you are planning your kitchen for your own usage, it is better to go for aluminium kitchen cabinets as it lasts longer and it is more cost-effective.
Expert Tips:
Generally, the cost of aluminium kitchen cabinets cost about RM400-600 per foot run whereas melamine kitchen cabinets cost about RM300 per foot run.
However, the lifespan of an aluminium kitchen cabinet can last for 50 years compared to melamine which is about 10-15 years if cared properly.
Aluminium Kitchen Cabinet Vs Melamine: Which Is Better?
Firstly, there are no perfect material as every material used for your kitchen cabinets has its own pros and cons.
Both aluminium and melamine kitchen cabinets are good choices, and it would also depend on your budget and the requirements of your kitchen design and outlook.
However, if you are looking for a kitchen that requires lesser care and maintenance, you should seriously consider aluminium kitchen cabinets even if it cost more initially.
More importantly, make sure you choose a reliable and trustworthy company to handle your kitchen construction.
For aluminium kitchen cabinets, you can never go wrong by engaging BLENO as they are one of the pioneers in Malaysia and is a reputable company.
