Do I have to paint White Melamine Wood?

[SomethingTegu]

From what I have read Melamine is water resistant, once the edges/cracks are sealed with waterproof coating, and the edging has been put on.

 

[LizardzRock]

Yes it is water resistant and is a great material if seal like u say properly, if not the particle board inside soaks up moisture like a sponge and will swell, then mildew. It is also a really heavy material. Im not a big fan of it, plus it is very pricey and hard to find in usable sized pieces that are larger than a shelf width, but some stores carry it in all sizes. Harder to work with too, one mess up and the whole piece could be doomed. There are some enclosures I have seen with it that lasted 6 months, and some that lasted years and years. I guess it depends on what style of application you use to construct it. If you need a good enclosure material I recommend birch. Oh and no you do not have to paint it, if painted it would defeat the purpose of the melamine covering. Hope this helps.