A composite wood panel with an overlay made using a butylated (including, but not limited to, iso-butylated or n-butylated) melamine formaldehyde (BMF) resin cross-linking agent, substituting for or replacing some or all of the methylated melamine formaldehyde resin cross-linking agent. This results in a BMF-containing MF resin component that is more elastic and flexible, and provides those properties to paper overlays made with a BMF resin mixture (“BMF overlays”). BMF overlays applied to the surfaces of engineered wood panels or boards results in the reduction or elimination of the fissures produced during the pressing and production processes.