Start with the job each panel needs to do. A visible door, cabinet side, long shelf and curved feature may need different specifications, even when they share a colour. Choosing a board means considering its core, surface, edges and fabrication requirements together.
Whether you are briefing a joiner or preparing a trade order, use the questions below to build a clear material specification. There is no single board that suits every component. The useful choice is the exact product your supplier or fabricator can confirm for the intended application.
Separate the core from the surface
The core is the material beneath the surface. MDF is made from wood fibres; particleboard uses wood particles. Melamine-faced board combines a decorative surface with a specified substrate. That distinction matters: polytec publishes separate technical data for its melamine-faced MDF and moisture-resistant particleboard. A colour name or the word melamine alone does not identify the complete panel.
Compact laminate has a different construction, using resin-treated papers pressed under heat and pressure. Check its own current fabrication guidance rather than applying instructions for a timber-based board. Record the full product reference, thickness, finish and component name. Resolve differences between the quote and drawing before production.
Describe the conditions of use
Tell your supplier whether the panel will be indoors or outdoors and whether it may encounter splashes, prolonged damp, heat or direct sunlight. Include whether it is a horizontal working surface or a vertical decorative face.
For example, polytec describes its melamine-faced MDF and melamine-faced MR particleboard as interior products for low-to-medium humidity where accidental wetting may occur. This does not establish suitability for outdoor exposure or permanently wet conditions. Check the exact product documentation and proposed installation, including cut edges, joints and nearby services.
Confirm supports, curves and edges
A board name and thickness alone do not establish a suitable shelf span, load capacity or fixing arrangement. Show the intended use and support positions, then ask the person responsible for the design to confirm the board, hardware and construction together.
For a curved feature, confirm the substrate orientation, finished shape and surface treatment as one assembly. Imperial’s bendy MDF guide explains the questions to resolve before ordering. Ask your fabricator to confirm the proposed curve for the exact product and finished construction.
Identify every visible edge and its finish. An exposed plywood edge, a painted edge and matching applied edging give different results; compare actual samples where possible. State whether dimensions are before or after edging. The cabinet edging guide helps you prepare that part of the specification.
Your material decision worksheet
Complete one set of answers for each component. Keep unresolved questions visible so they can be confirmed before the order proceeds. Use the same part names on this worksheet, your drawings and the cut list. If two panels share a finish but have different jobs, keep their specifications separate so the supplier can check each component without making assumptions.
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What is the part called and what will it be used for?
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Where will it be installed and what exposure should be considered?
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What are the product reference, core, thickness and surface finish?
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Which faces are visible and which way should grain or pattern run?
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Which edges need finishing and what treatment is required?
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What supports, hardware and machining are proposed?
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Which technical document and revision support the selection?
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What still needs confirmation from the supplier or fabricator?
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If the material changes, review the machining, hardware and finish too. A substitution may affect more than the colour.
Choose your next step
Buying material: Browse Imperial’s plywood range and use the plywood buying checklist to compare suitable listings. Confirm the exact variant and current availability before ordering.
Requesting machining: Send your worksheet, drawings and cut list with a CNC machining service enquiry. Use the CNC order checklist to organise part IDs, dimensions, face orientation and revisions. Confirm accepted files, included work and the final material specification before production.
Technical sources
polytec glossary; Melamine MDF technical data (July 2026); MR particleboard technical data (May 2026); Compact laminate technical data (May 2026).
Supplier examples explain material selection and do not identify Imperial’s stocked range.