By "wood-based products" we mean things like particle board and MDF (which is short for "medium density fiberboard"). 20 and 30 years ago, consumers turned their noses up at such products, because they associated them with "cheap" and "low end". But the fact is that today-- thanks again to the science guys and gals-- there are many fine products with particle board and/or MDF in their core. And this is partly because those science whiz kids have come up with excellent ways to protect the SURFACES of wood-based products.

     In particular, they have figured out how to encase the surfaces of wood-based prouducts in sheets of plastic resin that just don¹t "chip" and which also are highly stain-resistant and scratch-resistant. The common names for these plastic resins are "melamine" and "vinyl", and from the consumer¹s point of view there isn¹t much to choose between them, they are both very good.

     The problems for the consumer are that (1) it¹s sometimes hard to tell, just by looking, if the wood-based product you are looking at is coated with melamine or vinyl, as opposed to (say) being merely painted, and (2) even when you know that the product you¹re con- sidering is plastic-coated, there are "thin" plastic coats (less than 4 milimeters, as a rule) and "thick" plastic coats (4 milimeters or better)-- and again, you just can¹t settle this question "just by looking" at the product. You will pretty much have to trust the person and the company you are dealing with.

     But, as always, you will get a good clue if they¹re truthful about quality issues if they back what they sell with written warranties.