By far the most common cabinet material is wood, and there are several species that top the list of cabinet woods: red oak, white oak, hickory, cherry, hard maple, birch, ash and pine. Each species offers advantages and disadvantages, from durability to appearance to cost.
Kitchen cabinets are typically made from wood and wood-like materials. This can be anything from hardwood and plywood to particleboard and fiberboard.
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.
Look at the grain pattern. The texture of the grain determines what kind of wood it is. A wood has an open, porous texture. Softwoods are usually smooth with no grain pattern while hardwood usually has an open pore structure that is quite rough and sticky.
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.
Medium density fiberboard (MDF) performs much better than real wood in at least some areas. It is a composite material of high quality. MDF is made from resin and recycled wood fibers. It is pressed to produce dense sheets that remain stable in all weather conditions.
BWR Grade.
It is primarily an outdoor grade plywood. It is made from plastic resins specifically phenolic and synthetic resins. It is majorly waterproof and is most suitable for kitchen cabinets.
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.
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. All 5 work well in the kitchen's hot and humid environment.
Pine wood is moisture resistant, and won't swell or crack, so it's a good choice for humid environments like bathrooms and busy kitchens. Pine wood is also quite soft. That makes it easy to work and carve into custom-made cabinets.
Oak and hickory are some of the strongest, most reliable wood species available for custom cabinet doors. They generally cost more, but they mix beauty with long-lasting reliability. If you want doors that resist impacts and warping, these two would be good choices.
When it comes to strength, plywood is the winner.
MDF is a softer material than plywood and tends to sag or split under pressure. That's why it's important to reinforce it if you're going to using it to build shelves or other weight-bearing furniture.
Unlike MDF, which is quite soft, plywood anchors screws well. So if your kitchen cabinets have a plethora of screws and nails, plywood is the best way to go. Changes in temperature and humidity will not affect plywood--it won't contract, warp or expand even under extreme temperature changes.
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.
MR Grade or Commercial Plywood
MR grade plywood stands for moisture resistant grade. However, this plywood is not waterproof, but uses a waterproof glue which makes it work just fine in wet and damp conditions. Waterproof plywood doesn't allow the board to delaminate and hence can be used in spaces like the kitchen.
Solid wood is considered to be stronger compared to plywood since it is a homogeneous material. It also depends on which wood we are talking about. Good quality hardwoods (obtained from deciduous trees such as teak or sheesham) are denser, heavier and stronger compared to softwoods such as pine wood or mango wood.
MDF is an abbreviation for Medium Density Fiberboard. People tend to look down on MDF and automatically assume solid wood is the better choice.
Although MDF is stronger, it is more difficult to repair if dents or marks are made on the material. Finger jointed pine is slightly more expensive than MDF. As it is a natural timber material, it is softer than MDF and can be more susceptible to marks. Intrim ran a test to show the effect of moisture on MDF.
Oak veneer
A veneered product is made out of thin, decorative slices of high quality oak, affixed to a lower density core that will resist warping and moisture and therefore offer a good value alternative to solid oak.
On the whole, kitchen and bathroom cabinet boxes entirely constructed of plywood are sturdier, more durable, and hold veneer better than particle board cabinet boxes. If all other factors are equal, plywood cabinets are best.
Combs and knife handles made of ebony are considered extremely fine personal items. Likewise, furniture like kitchen cabinets made from ebony wood would be the height of luxury design. Ebony costs close to $100 per board-foot making it the most expensive wood available for furniture crafting.
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.
So, as you can see, Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is essentially a type of engineered wood composite made from wood fibers. Both wood types have now become the preferred choice over natural wood in interior and exterior building projects because they are stronger, durable, and eco-friendly.