Choosing cabinets is a difficult task. The procedure can be confusing with so many door designs, hues, finishes, and materials available.
The finish, hardware, appliances, and countertop you select can all be significantly influenced by the cabinet material you select. Uncertain about the ideal product to use on the lovely white paint you have in mind? or pondering which wood species will stand out with the ideal stain?
In order to help you decide which material is ideal for your kitchen cabinets, this article will compare MDF cabinets with some widely used natural wood cabinet options.
Solid Wood is...Not as Solid as You'd Think.
The "great debate" for kitchen cabinet doors is between solid wood and MDF.
Homeowners choose solid wood over other available materials for their new kitchen cabinets because of its beauty, strength, and character. However, solid wood cabinets are not flawless. When the temperature and humidity of the surroundings change suddenly, they enlarge and contract. Solid wood paneling, cabinets, doors, and drawers may shrink, crack, or bend.Â
How can we prevent this? Most skilled cabinetmakers will choose MDF.
But isn't MDF Low Quality and Frowned Upon?
"Yes and No". MDF is defined as medium density fiberboard. Basically, a composite material created by combining reclaimed wood shavings with a resin binder. To create dense, stable sheets, this mixture is machine dried, bound with an adhesive, and heat pressed.
While MDF lacks some of the restrictions of real wood, it has many of its qualities. MDF is often used for cabinet doors in kitchens.
Stability. MDF is durable and won't warp or crack.
Resistant to changes in the environment. Definitely more resilient to humidity than solid wood.
Free of wood flaws. Wood grain patterns and knots be gone!
Sustainable-Since MDF is created using recycled materials, it is seen as "green".
Finishes with ease. MDF paints Value smoothly because it has no wood grain.
Top Value- Less costly than solid wood.
Durable. Just as long lasting as any solid wood.
Versatile. MDF doors come in options beyond the standard Shaker-style doors and door panels. Doors with applied moldings and sophisticated, two-step edge profiles are an option.
Now the Downsides of MDF
But not everything is all sunshine and roses. So here's the nitty gritty:
Cabinet doors made of MDF aren't perfect. (But nothing really is right?)
Cannot be used outside. unable to endure high temperatures without being harmed.
Poor reputation. People disapprove of MDF because they believe it performs worse than solid wood.
Questionable strength. MDF is thought to be weaker than wood.
Vulnerable to scratches. MDF is prone to dings, dents, scratches, and other types of damage.
Cannot be fixed. MDF cannot be fixed once it has been scratched. This is not like wood, which can be sanded to remove any surface damage.
VOC dangers. Urea-formaldehyde and other VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which offer health hazards for at least a few months after manufacturing, are released by MDF products. Note: When the products are sealed and painted, there is very little chance of formaldehyde emissions.
The Final Say
Have we persuaded you that the argument between solid wood and MDF isn't clearly settled? Both are equally good products. Each has benefits as well as drawbacks. MDF clearly performs better than solid wood when used in cabinet doors for painted cabinets.
The ideal material for kitchen cabinetry will always be solid wood from Mother Nature, with its particular grain patterns, peculiar knots, and pinholes. However, MDF center panels are necessary to prevent fractures in the painted finish at the seams of your five-piece cabinet doors. So in the end, understand and know the benefits of each and apply both materials under the circumstances highlighted in this article!
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