Laminate cabinets are generally significantly less expensive than wood cabinets, making them an attractive option for those looking for a contemporary style and operating on a budget.
Laminate cabinets cost between $5,000 and $8,000 on average for materials and installation. Depending on the quality and grade selected, high-end laminate cabinets can cost up to $15,000. Laminate cabinets are made from HDF (high-density fiber) with a layer of the laminate of top to resemble real wood.
Laminate cabinets are easier to clean than wood, they offer more durability over time and tend to conceal fewer scratches than solid wood cabinets and cabinet doors. There once was a time when there weren't many options when it came to designing kitchen cabinetry.
Laminate cabinets are more affordable than traditional wood cabinetry, and they are very easy to maintain. They are also less vulnerable to heavy wear and tear, making them an ideal option for young families.
In terms of cost, pine is the cheapest cabinet wood you can use while mahogany is one of the most expensive, with oak and maple falling in the mid-range in terms of price. Durability of the various types of wood is also important to consider. Pine's budget pricing makes sense, as it scratches and dents easily.
Of the three materials, Plywood is the best option for cheap kitchen cabinets. While you can still get nice MDF or particleboard cabinets, we would say to look for plywood. Our least expensive cabinets are plywood boxes with solid wood doors. They are quality construction for a cheap price.
Laminate cabinets are generally significantly less expensive than wood cabinets, making them an attractive option for those looking for a contemporary style and operating on a budget.
Kitchen cabinets should be replaced whenever they are in poor condition or whenever you feel that it's necessary to freshen up your kitchen's style as interior design trends change. High quality kitchen cabinets can last for up to 50 years. That is assuming the cabinets have been keep in good condition.
The least expensive option is painting laminate cabinets. Laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done.
A sure way to recognize wood laminate is when the grain does NOT follow through your piece. Wood Veneer is a sheet or thin layer of 'quality-natural-hardwood' that is adhered to a lesser quality wood surface.
MDF forms a solid core underneath the laminate, and it's a better substrate for painting than particleboard, which is a loose conglomeration of wood chips that are likely to separate and crumble when you pull off the laminate.
What is under laminate cabinets? Laminate cabinets tend to be made from cheap or pressed woods underneath their laminate film exterior. These cabinets are usually made from MDF or particleboard which is then covered with the laminate coating.
Pricing wise, they're listed in order—stock cabinets are cheapest, at around $60 to $200 per linear foot, semi-custom cabinets will run you around $100 to $650 per linear foot, and custom cabinets usually cost between $500 and $1,200 per linear foot.
With laminate or wood veneers laid over the existing cabinet boxes, you can change the style, color, wood type—even the associated historical era.
On the downside, it can look warn and dingy over time. You can revitalize laminate cabinets without peeling off the old laminate, as long as they're firmly affixed to the frame and in good shape.
Durable: Not only do thermofoil kitchen cabinets look great, but they are also durable. The material used to create laminate cabinets can resist gradual erosion caused by mechanical, physical, and chemical actions.
Thermofoil vs.
Melamine and Laminate cabinets are often confused with Thermofoil, but they are not the same material. Melamine and Laminate are made of melamine plastic, Thermafoil is vinyl. You can tell them apart by the following: Thermafoil is thicker, softer feeling, peels off more easily, and is more flexible.
Why we love laminate cabinets: Super sturdy and durable. Easy to clean. More stain- and scratch-resistant that solid wood.
With laminate, you're choosing a hard wearing product which will last the distance. Due to the way laminate is manufactured, it's durable, scratch resistant, can withstand moisture, and holds up well against general wear and tear.
Laminate Cabinets
This process leaves a completely smooth surface that does not show any seams. The lack of seams around the door's joints can be a clear indication that your cabinet doors are a laminate material.
The main difference is that veneers comprise thin layers of wood that are pressed on a plywood base while laminates are manufactured by pressing together layers of flat paper and plastic resins under high pressure.
What is laminate, you ask? It can basically be any type of furniture, cabinets, or wood-like product that is made by attaching a thin layer of printed plastic (sometimes called Melamine or Thermofoil) to a substrate of plywood or particle board.
Around the 5-7 year point, an MDF kitchen will exhibit significant age and wear signs. Although an MDF kitchen may be a less expensive option for a quick refresh, read on if you want something that will last!