Kitchen door finishes: compare the surface and the board beneath it
Reviewed by Bo, Project Manager at NOVARTE · Updated
Compare PET, melamine, HPL, 2-pac and real wood veneer for kitchen doors. Agree the substrate, edge detail, sample and care requirements before ordering.
The practical answer
NOVARTE can supply PET-faced, melamine-faced, HPL, 2-pac painted and real wood veneer doors. Compare the complete door: decorative surface, board core, edge, profile and backing. The finish name alone does not establish moisture, scratch or heat performance.
A finish is one part of a door
Based on NOVARTE workshop practice, we list the visible finish separately from the core board and edge detail. Two pale matt doors can look similar in a photograph but have different films, coatings, substrates and repair requirements.
Start with a physical sample that you can view under the intended lighting. Record the colour, texture or gloss, front and back finish, edge treatment and any routed profile. A photograph helps narrow the choice; it does not confirm an exact colour match.
Five finishes we can make
| Finish | What it is | Useful characteristics | Limitations to check | A suitable starting point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PET-faced board | PET decorative film bonded to a board | A choice of surface looks, often used for flat fronts | Film grade, backing, edge adhesion and cleaning instructions vary; do not assume all films share a rating | Flat-front kitchens and coordinated storage |
| Melamine-faced board | Resin-impregnated decorative paper pressed onto a core | Coordinated solid colours or printed woodgrain; the board is faced before edging | The cut edges and penetrations still need a specified detail; a woodgrain print is not real veneer | Repeated flat cabinet fronts and carcasses |
| HPL | A separate resin-and-paper laminate sheet bonded to a substrate | A surface and core can be specified separately | Check laminate grade, bonding, balancing/backing and the exposed edge; not every laminate has the same use rating | Flat surfaces requiring a documented laminate specification |
| 2-pac paint | A two-component sprayed coating system on a prepared substrate | Colours and profiles can be coordinated within the selected coating system | Surface preparation, curing, edge coverage and repair method matter; not every painted door is 2-pac | A defined painted colour and door profile |
| Real wood veneer | A thin layer of real timber bonded to a core and finished | Natural grain and variation, with an agreed grain direction | Variation between leaves and batches is expected; confirm matching, coating and care | Cabinetry where real timber character is part of the design |
Direct-facing, laminate and film are different descriptions
Melamine-faced board is often called direct-faced board. HPL is a separate laminate sheet bonded to a substrate. PET identifies a film material. These describe different constructions rather than a simple ranking of good, better and best.
Thermofoil is a broader term for a formed decorative film. Confirm the film chemistry and forming process: a vinyl-wrapped or thermofoil door is not automatically a PET-faced product. Use our Australia–US–UK glossary when comparing quotations.
Check the vulnerable junctions
- Agree the edge where a grip is routed and where a door meets a side panel.
- Ask for the selected supplier’s care instructions and heat clearances around appliances.
- Do not treat low odour, stain resistance or moisture resistance as universal claims: they depend on the specified board, finish and fabrication.
- Record the approved sample reference and how future replacement fronts will be matched.
Choose the next part of the specification
Use the same words on your drawings
Sources
NOVARTE supply scope is based on the owner-confirmed workshop brief of 30 October 2026. Linked technical information describes its named product or method; it is not proof of the materials supplied for your order or NOVARTE certification.
Common questions
Is PET the same as melamine or HPL?+
No. PET identifies a decorative film, melamine-faced board has resin-impregnated decorative paper pressed onto the core, and HPL is a separate laminate sheet. Compare the specified construction and technical data.
Can every finish be used for a routed handleless grip?+
Not every surface can be formed or finished in the same way. We review the chosen profile, substrate, exposed cut edge and coating or film process together before approving the section.
Does real wood veneer look identical on every door?+
Natural grain and colour vary. Agree the veneer selection, grain direction, matching approach and physical sample rather than expecting a printed or screen-perfect repeat.