Maple Cabinets: Strength. Of the two, maple is a stronger and denser wood product than birch. That's not to say that birch isn't strong. Birch has a high tensile strength that can handily accommodate all the nails and screws required to make functional, modern kitchen cabinets.
Is Birch stronger than Maple? With a 1450 rating on the Janka hardness scale, Maple floorboards are harder than Birch, which has a rating of 1260. Consequently, Maple floorboards will resist scratches and dents more easily and are ideal for high-traffic areas.
A medium-sized tree native to northern America in temperate climates, the birch is more than just an aesthetic subject in art. Having a straight, uniform grain, Birch is an excellent hardwood often used in making kitchen cabinetry.
5 of the best woods for kitchen cabinets are pine, oak, hickory, cherry, and maple. The differences are in their quality, look, and cost.
Hickory and alder are used often now, Murphy says, though alder has been the most popular wood cabinet material for 15 years or so. Before that, oak was the top choice; oak is also one of the easiest to work with, he says.
A light beech, warm cherry, or dark walnut in a suitable stain should lend a timeless look to your kitchen. Bamboo is another excellent choice for modern kitchens, and hickory has a rustic aesthetic.
1. Solid Wood Cabinets. Solid natural wood cabinets are the gold standard when it comes to strength and longevity.
Maple tends to be more expensive than all other types of wood used for Kitchen Cabinets. Oak finishes tend to be about on par with their counterparts due to high demand, however, there can still be variations between different oak finishes so keep this in mind when deciding if oak is right for you or not!
Plywood: The highest quality kitchen cabinets are made of cabinet-grade multi-layer plywood. Plywood cabinets are strong, easier to install and considerably lighter in weight than MDF or particleboard cabinets. While more expensive, plywood cabinets are a good choice if you expect to own the house for a long period.
The most common style for cabinets today is the Shaker-style. The Shaker-style consists of five pieces of flat-panel, creating a frame with four pieces and with a single flat centre panel as the fifth piece.
Overall, Maple is harder and has much more density than Birch does, ranking in at 1,450 on the Janka hardness scale. Furthermore, though not exempt from damages, this means that Maple can resist scratches and dents much better than Birch overall.
The best color granite to go with birch cabinets is white, creating an organic and airy look that draws you in. The two colors complement each other and, together, brighten your kitchen or bathroom. Together these colors create a more minimalistic design, without either shade overpowering the space.
White birch has a more open grain which soaks up more stain and emphasizes the grain pattern. Maple soaks up almost no stain and ends up showing almost no grain after staining.
Birchwood is a hardwood, so birch cabinets are very durable and resistant.
For example, the grain structure of birch is slightly looser than that of maple. Also, a birch floor usually appears a bit darker in color compared to its maple counterpart.
Shaker-Style Cabinets
Known for their simple design and recessed-panel doors, Shaker cabinets have been in style for more than 100 years. Shaker cabinets are popular in farmhouse kitchens, but they also work with a variety of home decor styles.
Cabinet Quality Grades. Cabinets are grouped into four grades based on quality of construction: ready-to-assemble (RTA), stock, semi-custom and custom. Decide up front on the amount of money to be invested in cabinetry and then browse cabinetry lines and options within your budget.
Use lighter colors.
A light color on the walls and cabinets instantly brightens a space making it look larger and in turn, more expensive. Light colors reflect light and hide a multitude of sins, including those scratches, dings and dents in your old cabinets.
The least expensive material you can use to make kitchen cabinets is particleboard. This material is made from compressed wood chips, though it doesn't have the same strength and density as MDF or HDF.
Because it grows natively across the United States, pine is more affordable than many other natural woods. In general, pine wood cabinets will be significantly less expensive than the tier of oak, maple, and birch.
He also says to avoid cherry-colored cabinets because they look dated. Plus, Chastain says, traditional cabinetry shapes and sizes are quickly being outpaced by space-saving shelving systems and larger pantry-style cabinets.
If you're looking for a bargain, wait until the end of summer or early fall to buy kitchen cabinets – many stores offer discounts to clear out inventory before new models are released.
'In terms of material, either solid oak or walnut for a wood finish, or tulipwood for a hand-painted finish will provide maximum longevity,' says Louisa Eggleston, creative director of Humphrey Munson.