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Republic Elite has almost 5 decades of experience manufacturing, installing & selling multifamily kitchen cabinets. We are an innovator & a USA based manufacturer. As you consider your design aesthetic & budget, we know a multitude of choices flood your brain. From door styles to color choices, we are here to help simplify the process.

Let us look at the primary differences & similarities between painted, thermofoil & melamine cabinetry collections.

Paint Grade

If you select painted cabinets for your multifamily kitchen cabinets, they will be made with “paint-grade” wood, which really means a wood that offers a flat surface and is free of knots and heavy grain patterns. Some examples are Birch, Maple, Poplar, and a couple of composite wood materials known as MDF and HDF.

MDF is an acronym for Medium-Density Fiberboard. MDF is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibers, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high and pressure. It is denser than plywood. Republic Elite offers paint grade in only framed cabinet door styles.

Thermofoil

Thermofoil cabinets are a unique type of multifamily kitchen cabinetry made using a vinyl that is heated, pressurized, and vacuum sealed onto an MDF core. Thermofoil cabinets come in many colors, styles, and finishes — even made in textures that resemble solid wood. For a trendy, minimalist look for your multifamily kitchens. Thermofoil cabinets are an affordable and beautiful option.

The appearance of Thermofoil cabinets is simple but beautiful and on-trend. With a smooth finish, Thermofoil cabinets give any kitchen a modern, minimalistic look and feel. This is perfect if you desire a clean, simple aesthetic. Republic Elite offers thermofoil in only frameless cabinet door styles.

Melamine

Melamine cabinets work well in all multifamily kitchens. Melamine is a laminate that is made by heat-sealing a substrate, such as pressed wood, medium-density fiberboard, plywood, or similar material between paper saturated with thermally fused melamine resin or TFM.

TFM paper can be printed with almost any color or pattern before being heat-bonded to the substrate material. Once attached, the melamine hardens to form a decorative surface that is scratch-resistant, colorfast, and exceptionally durable. All these characteristics make melamine cabinets a popular choice with multifamily designers. Republic Elite offers melamine in framed & frameless for your next multifamily project.

Once you have decided which collection you want to pursue with your multifamily kitchen cabinet project, this automatically narrows the number of color selections available for you to choose from.

If you are looking for further guidance, please connect with your Republic Elite account manager. We can provide you samples, value engineering ideas & real-world advice to ensure your multifamily kitchen cabinet project is a success. Rely on Republic.