Look on the back,bottom and top . You're looking at the ends of the panels for either wood grain (for solid) or you'll see plywood (can still be considered
Color and grain: Wood's color and grain patterns can greatly influence the overall look of your kitchen. For instance, maple and oak have a light color and pronounced grain, while woods like cherry and mahogany have a rich, dark color and smooth grain.
The material that makes up the cabinet can be identified by one or more distinctive features and will help you determine if it is made of solid wood, plywood, medium-density fibreboard (MDF), or another particleboard. Distinctive features include things like grain, joint construction, texture, and color.
Although the wood for replacing bathroom cabinets is important, the best wood for kitchen cabinets likely deserves the most attention. While many different options for wood species exist, the most common high-quality choices include solid oak, beech, cherry, maple, and walnut.
Particleboard is very smooth, consistent, and holds screws and other fasteners well. MDF has a smoother finish, takes machining very well, but doesn't hold screws too well. Use dowels or other fasteners. MDF is heavier than particleboard.
Check the Grain
These grain patterns tend to be naturally asymmetrical, so if a piece has a repeating pattern, one that is perfectly symmetrical, or has no grain pattern at all, it's probably not made of real wood. The grain should also go in one direction and not crisscross with other grain patterns.
The cheapest type of wood for cabinets is typically particleboard, which is a composite material made from wood fibers and resin. However, if you are looking for Premium options, solid wood like oak, or pine is often one of the more affordable choices.
On average, particleboard cabinets can last between 3 – 15 years with proper care and maintenance. However, they may not be as durable as solid wood or other engineered wood products and may need to be replaced sooner.
The least expensive type of wood used in kitchen cabinets tends to be pine. Cherry is a slightly more expensive option, while oak is usually about as affordable as its counterparts. Maple is the most expensive type of wood available for kitchen cabinets.
Manufacturers Association (KCMA) will have a sticker on the inside of a cabinet door – typically on your sink base cabinet. The seal has a code at the bottom that helps you identify the manufacturer. Additionally, the KCMA website “Find a Manufacturer” tool can search for the company by name or code.
“Unfortunately, you really can't paint over thermofoil. If you don't want to replace all of the cabinets, we usually suggest replacing just the thermofoil on the doors and drawer fronts. The cabinet boxes and faceframes can be repainted to match. This would give the kitchen a whole new look.”
Feel for texture. In open grain wood species such as Ash, Oak and Walnut you will feel ridges and raising of natural grain. If the surface is completely smooth to the touch and is labelled as one of these wood species, it is likely veneer. Look for discrepancies in the grain.
Xylorix PocketWood is a free-to-use app where users can access information and macroscopic images of over hundreds of wood species from around the world.
Xylorix Inspector is our flagship mobile app that provides automated wood identification through captured macroscopic end-grain images.
The disadvantages of particle board include its susceptibility to damage, lack of water-resistance, and its incompatibility with drilling (so, cannot handle screws).
Which cabinet materials offer the best longevity? Solid wood cabinets, particularly oak and hickory, are highly durable and resist wear, dents, and moisture. Plywood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) also provide good long-term performance at a more affordable price point.
For particle board cabinet painting, a general-purpose primer will suffice, but make sure that it adheres well to the surface to prevent peeling or chipping over time. Pro tip: Consider using a spray primer for an even coat, especially on intricate details or edges.
Some distinctive features include grain patterning on its surface as well as joint construction. Solid wood cabinet doors will have noticeable joints where the frame was constructed. Laminate doors, on the other hand, will have a smooth, seamless finish.
The cabinet box and drawer box can be constructed of human-made materials or solid wood. Particle board and furniture board are composites of reclaimed and recycled wood products bonded together with a synthetic resin or binder under heat and pressure.
Thermofoil cabinets are made from MDF board covered with a vinyl film, while laminate cabinets are made from particleboard or MDF covered with melamine resin impregnated with paper. Melamine cabinets are also made from particleboard or MDF but are surfaced with a resin coating.
Non-porous woods are softwoods. Ring, semi-ring, and diffuse-porous woods are all hardwoods. If you can't sand your piece, look inside of drawers cabinets, trim boards, or even the bottom of legs for an untreated end grain view. It will really help you out with identification.
Here's what you should know:
MDF and moisture do not get along. If not sealed in a humid environment, it will warp and swell. Most MDF contains urea-formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen, and other Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs).
Unlike plywood, MDF doesn't have a wood-grain appearance; it has a consistent light-brown color with no discernible texture or pattern. MDF is also much harder, smoother and denser than plywood, and it doesn't have any voids, knots, or splinters.