Wood is more expensive than any of the composite cabinet materials available, and solid wood doors and drawer fronts are typical in high-quality cabinets. Examples of the more luxurious woods used in quality cabinets are cherry, mahogany, chestnut and cypress.
The 5 best and most popular woods for kitchen cabinets are pine, oak, hickory, cherry, and maple. Pine, oak, and hickory are cheaper and easier to get. Cherry and maple look luxurious and cost more than the others.
Kitchen cabinets are mostly made from wood and wood-based materials. The most popular of these materials include: hardwood, plywood, medium-density fiberboard, particleboard, and wood veneer.
Hardwood. Arguably the most durable material for kitchen cabinets, hardwood is solid wood. Some hardwood types, such as hickory or maple, will resist scratching and denting more than softwood species like walnut and mahogany. However, the former will cost more due to durability and overall quality.
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.
When inspecting the cabinet boxes, look out for whether products are made from plywood or particle board. Among these two, plywood is the strongest option. The best quality cabinets will have plywood sides and backs.
The best wood for cabinetry is widely considered either red oak, poplar, maple, mahogany, or plywood.
It has a dense grain and is usually stained and not painted. It is more difficult to work with than alder and pieces take longer to create, making maple doors both more expensive and valuable.
Most cabinets available for purchase will be some form of engineered wood with a wood veneer or painted finish. This is particularly true for the box of the cabinet. The use of engineered wood is a good thing as plywood boxes are the sturdiest and most durable.
Durability – Oak is one of the most durable woods used for cabinets. Its hardness and strength help it resist rot and warping in humid environments, as well as stave off scratches and dings.
Using MDF for your kitchen cabinets is a good idea
Using MDF for kitchen cabinets or kitchen cabinet doors combined with solid wood casings is a good idea. Not only is MDF an affordable option but it is durable and doesn't warp. It can be finished in a variety of ways from painting to staining and varnishing.
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.
MDF Kitchen Cabinet Doors
MDF, or Medium Density Fiberboard, like plywood, is a manufactured wood product that combines wood fibers with resin. While plywood uses thin layers of wood sandwiched together with pressure and glue, MDF uses compressed wood fibers and glue.
There are two main types of Plywood that can be used. One is the MR Grade and the other is the BWR grade.MR is moisture resistant and meant for use inside the house. It is also called Commercial plywood. It is `mind you` not waterproof but can handle a bit of moisture and humidity.
Domestic plywood used in cabinetry can be commonly found in thicknesses of 5/32 inch and up, but for the purposes of a frameless cabinet ANSI HP-1 nominal ¾-inch thick panels are ideal.
Birch plywood is the most popular choice by kitchen designers as it's superior in terms of quality and strength when creating your plywood kitchen. It also has a really beautiful finish and is naturally light, which will give a beautiful Scandi look if left untouched. For a darker look, you can choose oak or walnut.
Maple is the most expensive type of wood available for kitchen cabinets. Kitchen cabinets made of pine tend to be the cheapest type of cabinet on the market. However, if you want something that will last longer and look nicer, cherry may be a better option.
It is very durable and has a wide variety of hue and pattern possibilities. Melamine fused with plywood is also the most sustainable option for cabinetry. Designers utilize its consistent coloring ability to provide modern minimalist design at an affordable cost.
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.
Cabinet Products
Our cabinets take advantage of rubberwood's stability and resistance to shrinking and warping. The doors are made from a single solid piece of rubberwood. This technique prevents the consistent cracking and chipping of paint on and around the corners of the doors where the frame pieces meet.
Plywood is the most expensive choice for kitchen cabinet construction, and it is generally what your designer means when they say “solid wood” cabinets. It's the most structurally sound and is made of thick wood veneers glue together in contrasting grain patterns to add strength.