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Chipboard is made in panels, and used for flooring, shelving and as a general use boards.
Chipboard is made by gluing together small fragments of softwood particles with an adhesive under heat and pressure, creating a rigid board with a relatively smooth surface. It is available in a number of densities, normal, medium and high, the lowest grade is made up of fragments which are all the same size. The grading process is where smaller particles are used with the larger, making the board more dense on the outside, with the more coarse particles to the inside. |
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| T@G Chipboard |
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Chipboard can easily be damaged by water, and when used where water is present, it is covered in a material that protects and also hides its unsightly appearance. Kitchen worktops are made from chipboard, and covered over with a laminate of different patterns and coloures. Kitchen base and wall unit carcasses are also made in this way and laminated with melamine. Iron on edging is often used to cover the edges of melamine shelving and panels.
Fire doors are also made of chipboard; it is edged with timber, and finished with hardwood edgings. Both faces are covered over with plywood.
Other grades of chipboard are flame-retardant, and moisture-resistant.
Uncovered, chipboard is used in areas were appearence is not important, such as storerooms, garages and warehouses, and is usually the standard grade. It is also used for flooring, and made in tounge-and-grooved panels so that they can be joined together. The flooring grade is is much stronger and very dense, and has a smooth finish. It can be used to replace floorboards. |
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