{"id":26353,"date":"2026-07-21T23:41:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/vakelitis-i-melamini\/"},"modified":"2026-10-01T10:11:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T07:11:59","slug":"vakelitis-i-melamini","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/vakelitis-i-melamini\/","title":{"rendered":"HPL or Melamine? What's the Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"answer\">\n<h2>In short<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cBakelite\u201d and melamine are both laminates, coverings over a wooden base, but they differ radically in construction. The <strong>bakelite<\/strong> (correctly: HPL, High Pressure Laminate) is many layers pressed together at high pressure and temperature, with better moisture resistance and a more stable edge. The <strong>melamine<\/strong> is a single decor sheet on chipboard, more economical, with a wide range of colours and wood effects.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bakelite is not \u201cone\u201d material:<\/strong> it is a spectrum, from basic versions up to Fenix, which is a premium category.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Melamine is the right starting choice,<\/strong> not \u201cinferior\u201d, simply a different tier.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Both are matt<\/strong> in the houses we curate. If you want gloss, the conversation is about lacquer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Two laminates, different construction<\/h2>\n<p>In the Greek market the term \u201cbakelite\u201d is used every day for HPL. Both options, HPL and melamine, belong to the same family of materials. Their difference is not in appearance but in how they are made.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>HPL<\/strong> is made from multiple layers of paper impregnated with resins, pressed at very high pressure and temperature. The result is a solid sheet with real \u201cbody\u201d: better moisture resistance, a more stable edge and a more \u201csubstantial\u201d feel to the touch.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>melamine<\/strong> is chipboard with a sheet of melamine covering, heat-bonded to the base. In <a href=\"\/en\/brands\/gentili-cucine\/kitchen\/time-collection\/\">Gentili Time<\/a>, for example, the melamine door is <strong>22 mm<\/strong>, made of chipboard of class <strong>E1 and CARB2<\/strong>, with an ABS edge glued with polyurethane adhesive. It offers good resistance for the everyday use of a kitchen.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika-400w.webp 400w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika-800w.webp 800w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika-1200w.webp 1200w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika.jpg 2000w\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1233\" sizes=\"(max-width:820px) calc(100vw - 44px), 776px\" alt=\"\u039a\u03bf\u03c5\u03b6\u03af\u03bd\u03b1 Pedini Materika \u03bc\u03b5 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03c6\u03ac\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9\u03b5\u03c2 Fenix \u03c3\u03b5 \u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03ad\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03af\u03b4\u03b1\"><\/p>\n<h2>Bakelite is not a cheap material, it is a spectrum<\/h2>\n<p>Here we always make one clarification to those who visit us in the showroom: HPL is not one fixed quality. It is a spectrum of materials, from basic postforming versions to very advanced materials such as <strong>Fenix<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Fenix is a new-generation laminate from the Italian <strong>Arpa Industriale<\/strong>, with a matt, almost velvety surface that, in the manufacturer's words, leaves no fingerprints. It also has a property no other material has: <strong>surface micro-scratches are repaired with heat<\/strong>. In the Italian houses Fenix is classed together with matt lacquer, not with melamine. In <a href=\"\/en\/brands\/pedini-cucine\/kitchen\/materika\/\">Pedini Materika<\/a> the smooth door with the 30\u00b0 cut is also available in Fenix NTM.<\/p>\n<p>Melamine, on the other hand, remains a very smart starting point. The premium materials are its natural upgrade, not its \u201copposite\u201d, and we always show you this with real samples in your hand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"funnel\"><a href=\"\/en\/brands\/gentili-cucine\/finishes\/\">Fenix &amp; Gentili finishes \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika-09.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika-09-400w.webp 400w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika-09-800w.webp 800w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika-09-1200w.webp 1200w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-materika-09.jpg 2000w\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1233\" sizes=\"(max-width:820px) calc(100vw - 44px), 776px\" alt=\"\u039b\u03b5\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03c1\u03b1 \u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03b9\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03ac\u03c0\u03b9\u03b1 Pedini Materika \u03bc\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b1\u03c4 \u03c5\u03c6\u03ae\"><\/p>\n<h2>Colours &amp; finishes: what range there is in practice<\/h2>\n<p>The most frequent question after \u201cwhat is bakelite\u201d is \u201cwhat colours does it come in\u201d. The answer has two parts that are usually confused: the <strong>decor<\/strong>, that is, what the surface shows, and the <strong>Finish<\/strong>, that is, whether it is matt or glossy.<\/p>\n<h3>The decor: solid colours and wood effects<\/h3>\n<p>The range is not small. In Gentili's current price list the Fenix doors are offered in <strong>twelve solid shades<\/strong>: Bianco Kos, Grigio Chiaro, Beige Arizona, Castoro, Grigio Londra, Grigio Antrim, Bromo, Rosso Jaipur, Verde Comodoro, Blu Fes, Cacao Oronico and Nero. Not only neutral whites and greys, but also red, blue and green, and alongside them a separate series with wood effects.<\/p>\n<p>At Sira, the same 22 mm door is offered in matt laminate, in Fenix or in PET Cannet\u00e9: three different surfaces on the same shell. And melamine offers a similar range: Gentili has <strong>ten melamine shades available immediately<\/strong>, from Bianco Alpino and Cappuccino to Cemento Beton and Old Naturale.<\/p>\n<p>How does Fenix look in a real kitchen? In <a href=\"\/en\/gentili-time-fenix-rosso-jaipur-kitchen-skiathos\/\">Skiathos<\/a> we designed a Gentili Time with doors and worktop in <strong>Fenix NTM Rosso Jaipur<\/strong>. In <a href=\"\/en\/gentili-fenix-nero-momenti-wardrobes-ilioupoli\/\">Ilioupoli<\/a>, Gentili doors in <strong>Fenix NTM Nero Ingo<\/strong>, soft-touch and anti-fingerprint, with an HPL worktop in a wood effect.<\/p>\n<h3>The finish: a clarification is needed here<\/h3>\n<p>Many people look for \u201cglossy bakelite\u201d. In the houses we curate <strong>it does not exist<\/strong>. We read the current Febal, Gentili and Sira price lists: glossy laminate, glossy HPL or glossy Fenix do not appear even once, while glossy lacquer appears dozens of times. Fenix is matt by design, which is exactly its point.<\/p>\n<p>So if you are asking for gloss, the right conversation is not about bakelite but about <a href=\"\/en\/kouzines-laka\/\">lacquer<\/a>, and we explain the difference in the article <a href=\"\/en\/mat-i-gyalisteri-kouzina\/\">matt or glossy kitchen<\/a>. If you want a matt feel, resistance to fingerprints and rich colour, bakelite, and Fenix in particular, is exactly what you are after.<\/p>\n<h3>Where you will see the real colour chart<\/h3>\n<p>Nowhere on a screen. A matt surface changes appearance completely depending on the light, and a sample in your hand tells you in two seconds what no photograph does. We have the sample books in the showroom, and the Gentili Time in Fenix Nero is set up there; <a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\">book an appointment<\/a> and we will go through them together.<\/p>\n<h2>Bakelite as a worktop<\/h2>\n<p>Bakelite is not only a door. As a <strong>worktop<\/strong> it is water-resistant chipboard <strong>V100<\/strong> with low formaldehyde content (<strong>CARB P2<\/strong>), covered with HPL. It is the most versatile material in length: it reaches <strong>418 cm in one piece<\/strong>, like no stone, and comes in edge thicknesses of <strong>2, 4 and 6 cm<\/strong>. The <strong>compact HPL<\/strong> is a solid sheet <strong>12 mm<\/strong>, the same material throughout the thickness, and gives the slimmest profile.<\/p>\n<p>We state the limit openly: <strong>it is not a material for hot cookware<\/strong>. The manufacturer itself asks that you do not place a pot or iron on it. If you cook intensively, we suggest Fenix, quartz or sintered stone. A Fenix worktop is even offered with an integrated sink in the same colours, as in the <a href=\"\/en\/sira-eva-acqua-di-mare-fenix-worktop-kitchen-sounio\/\">Sounio<\/a>, where a classic Sira Eva has a Fenix NTM worktop in deep burgundy with a sink of the same surface. All the worktop materials are in our <a href=\"\/en\/pagkoi-kouzinas\/\">kitchen worktops guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>HPL or melamine, side by side<\/h2>\n<table class=\"tbl\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Characteristic<\/th>\n<th>HPL (Bakelite)<\/th>\n<th>Melamine<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Construction<\/td>\n<td>Multiple layers, pressed at high pressure\/temperature<\/td>\n<td>Single decorative sheet on particleboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Moisture resistance<\/td>\n<td>Very good<\/td>\n<td>Good for everyday use<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Edge \/ trim<\/td>\n<td>More stable, more \"substantial\"<\/td>\n<td>Simpler<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Range of colours\/finishes<\/td>\n<td>Wide, with advanced versions (e.g. Fenix)<\/td>\n<td>Very wide, affordable wood-look finishes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>As a worktop<\/td>\n<td>Up to 418 cm in one piece, 2\/4\/6 cm edge, no hot cookware<\/td>\n<td>It is not among the worktop materials in our guide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Market positioning<\/td>\n<td class=\"rng\">\u20ac\u20ac\u2013\u20ac\u20ac\u20ac<\/td>\n<td class=\"rng\">\u20ac\u20ac<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>For the overall picture, read the full <a href=\"\/en\/ylika-kouzinas\/\">kitchen materials guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-arke-02.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-arke-02-400w.webp 400w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-arke-02-800w.webp 800w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-arke-02-1200w.webp 1200w, https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/mcg-collections\/images\/pedini-cucine\/pedini-cucine-modern-arke-02.jpg 2000w\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1233\" sizes=\"(max-width:820px) calc(100vw - 44px), 776px\" alt=\"\u039a\u03bf\u03c5\u03b6\u03af\u03bd\u03b1 Pedini Arke \u03bc\u03b5 \u03be\u03cd\u03bb\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2, \u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03af\u03b4\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03c4\u03ac \u03c1\u03ac\u03c6\u03b9\u03b1\"><\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<section class=\"mcg-faq\">\n<details>\n<summary>Is HPL a cheap material?<\/summary>\n<p>Not necessarily. HPL is a spectrum of materials, not one quality: from basic, economical versions to advanced materials such as Fenix, which is classed among the premium fronts together with matt lacquer.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>What is Fenix?<\/summary>\n<p>A new-generation laminate from the Italian Arpa Industriale, with a matt, almost velvety surface that leaves no fingerprints. Its surface micro-scratches are repaired with heat. It is offered both as a door and as a worktop.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Does melamine hold up in the kitchen?<\/summary>\n<p>Yes, it offers good resistance for everyday use: moisture, cleaning, light knocks. It is a sound, smart starting choice, especially when the range of colours and wood effects it offers covers what you want.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Can I put a hot pot on a bakelite worktop?<\/summary>\n<p>No. The manufacturer explicitly asks that you do not place a pot or iron directly on it. If you cook intensively, we suggest Fenix, quartz or sintered stone.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Bakelite or lacquer: which should I choose?<\/summary>\n<p>HPL gives stability, resistance and, in its advanced versions, a very contemporary matt feel; lacquer gives a uniform, \u201cdeep\u201d colour, and is the only one of the two that can be glossy. It depends on the use and the style you want, and it is exactly what we look at together with you in the design study and the 3D design.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"also\">\n<p><strong>See also:<\/strong> <a href=\"\/en\/ylika-kouzinas\/\">Kitchen materials guide<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/en\/pagkoi-kouzinas\/\">Kitchen worktops<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/en\/ti-einai-i-laka\/\">What is kitchen lacquer?<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/en\/collections\/\">All collections<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u03a3\u03b5 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03bc\u03af\u03b1 \u00ab\u0392\u03b1\u03ba\u03b5\u03bb\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2\u00bb \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03af\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b1 \u03b4\u03cd\u03bf laminate, \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cd\u03c8\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9 \u03c3\u03b5 \u03be\u03cd\u03bb\u03b9\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b2\u03ac\u03c3\u03b7, \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c6\u03ad\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03c1\u03b9\u03b6\u03b9\u03ba\u03ac \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03c5\u03ae. \u039f \u03b2\u03b1\u03ba\u03b5\u03bb\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 (\u03c3\u03c9\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac: HPL, High Pressure Laminate) \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ce\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03b9\u03b5\u03c3\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b5 \u03c5\u03c8\u03b7\u03bb\u03ae \u03c0\u03af\u03b5\u03c3\u03b7 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03af\u03b1, \u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b7 \u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c7\u03ae \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03c5\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03af\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b9\u03bf \u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03cc \u03c3\u03cc\u03ba\u03bf\u03c1\u03bf. \u0397 \u03bc\u03b5\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03af\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03bc\u03bf\u03bd\u03cc \u03c6\u03cd\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf \u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03ba\u03cc\u03c1 \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9 \u03c3\u03b5 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03af\u03b4\u03b1,&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[899],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-odigoi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26353"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27156,"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26353\/revisions\/27156"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobilcasa.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}