Know the Good and Bad Side of Different Kitchen Cabinets Materials

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 When you’re planning your next remodeling project, kitchen cabinets may be one of the first elements that you consider. As you know, though, not all kitchen cabinets are created equal. There are several different styles, looks, and materials that change the appearance and functionality of the piece. As kitchen cabinets are an important investment into your home, and likely one that you’re going to want to enjoy for many years to come, it is a good idea to get to know some of the important features that make them up.

This starts with getting to know the most common types of materials, including hardwood, plywood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and particleboard. Each have  their own strengths and weaknesses. Before you make   your final installation decision, make sure that you educate yourself so that you’re prepared.

Pros and cons of hardwood kitchen cabinets

Hardwood kitchen cabinets give you a wide range of choice in terms of color, grain style, hardness, and price. Natural hardwood such as oak, cherry, walnut, maple, mahogany, birch, hickory has an elegance and warmth that can contribute to any kitchen in virtually any style from traditional country to modern. That said, among the different types of materials of kitchen cabinets, these can be among the most expensive.

Depending on the species of wood that is chosen, they can be exceptionally hard and durable or, in the case of softer woods, may dent or mark quite easily. However, it should also be noted that hardwood is among the most difficult materials to find for sale as they have a reputation for absorbing moisture and becoming unstable due to shrinking and swelling from changes in humidity.

Pros and cons of plywood kitchen cabinets

Plywood kitchen cabinets are made of many thin layers of wood (plies) that are pressed together to make a thicker, solid piece. Each layer is placed in a certain way to ensure that the result is strong and that its strength is equally distributed throughout the plywood sheet. Plywood is considered to be a reasonably decent material for kitchen cabinets, particularly with a wood veneer covering on it. In fact, many companies selling kitchen cabinets refer to wood veneer-covered plywood as solid wood.

Pros and cons of medium density fiberboard kitchen cabinets

Medium density fiberboard is also considered to be a good quality core material for kitchen cabinets. It is composed of very fine sawdust and by-products of wood. Because of this composition, it can be custom shaped and provides a much cleaner and smoother surface than other composite materials. The nature of MDF also means that it can be painted. This material requires a veneer or paint for its appearance.

Pros and cons of particleboard kitchen cabinets

The most popular material for kitchen cabinets is particleboard. It is comprised of sawdust, wood shavings, and other types of wood byproduct that are glued together using pressure to form a solid strong enough to hold a screw very well. Though these should be covered with a solid wood veneer to give them an appealing external appearance, this veneer can be very attractive. Considering that this is typically the least expensive among kitchen cabinets materials, many people consider this material an automatic first choice.

Now that you understand the different materials available for kitchen cabinets, you can start to make your choices regarding style and color to suit your home.

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