The work in this paper concerns the one-dimensional melting of a finite thickness layer. An asymptotic series solution describes the temperature in the melt regions. In the solid region the thermal boundary layers are approximated by a cubic polynomial. Results are compared with the exact solution for a semi-infinite block, and shown to agree to within less than 1%. The method is then applied to a situation where no analytical solution is available. A finite thickness frozen solid is placed on a warm substrate in a warm environment: initially the base of the solid heats to the melting temperature when a single melted region develops and subsequently a second melting front appears on the top boundary. We also present an example relevant to heating an ice layer from below, which occurs with de-icing systems. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.