The best kitchen cabinet material options are essential for a kitchen renovation. Often, people want to change the cabinet doors or just want a major kitchen renovation near Tampa, Florida. But it’s essential to consider the various kitchen cabinet materials available to find a suitable one for your house.
Naturally, aesthetics are important, especially when reconstructing your favorite kitchen. However, there are many other things to consider so that you make the best investment for your lifestyle and financial situation.
Let’s examine the pros and cons of these three types of kitchen cabinetry materials.
Wood Kitchen Cabinet Materials Pros and Cons
Kitchen designs with solid wood cabinets are some of the most beautiful and stylish. But anything made of solid wood is more expensive, but don’t worry, even a minor kitchen remodel will increase the home value. Solid wood kitchen cabinets are preferred because of their unique beauty and natural wood grain. However, if you’re redesigning your kitchen on a tight budget, solid wood might be less attractive due to the cost and the potential for maintenance issues like warping and insects.
Wood doors are robust and long-lasting, and you may fix dents or scratches with some light sanding and a coat of complementary stain. Stained wood doors are a fantastic option for homeowners hoping to create a traditional-looking kitchen that showcases the beauty and durability of hardwood doors.
The pros of solid wood kitchen cabinets are:
- Wood cabinets are sturdy-Wood kitchen cabinets are durable, especially when treated.
- Environmentally friendly- To make their kitchen more environmentally friendly, consider using wood cabinets from sustainably harvested trees. Solid wood is more environmentally friendly than manufactured products, provided it is produced sustainably.
- Offered in a variety of styles-You can use a variety of wood kind to create wood kitchen cabinets. For example, oak, walnut, cherry, and maple each have a range of tones that may significantly change the appearance of a kitchen. In addition to the variety of woods available, the wood can be painted or treated in a way that preserves its natural characteristics.
Cons of Solid Wood
However, solid wood has its limits as painted cabinet doors.
- Despite its strength, solid wood is prone to expansion and contraction due to fluctuations in humidity. For example, high humidity affects solid wood cabinet doors as they absorb moisture and contract.
- Although solid wood’s weight contributes to its longevity, it might make building cabinets more difficult. For solid wood cabinets to last, they must be built and fitted correctly; if not, they could pull away from the walls or lean too heavily on the hinges, breaking.
- Solid wood has a high price tag-The cost of solid wood is the primary disadvantage. In addition, furniture and cabinets are often well crafted, high quality, and lumber generated, adding to an extra cost than other options.
- Wood cabinets are more prone to stains- Solid wood that hasn’t received much treatment has to be aware that it stains easily. This might be an inconvenience in a kitchen where spills and splashes happen frequently.
MDF Kitchen Cabinet Materials Pros and Cons
MDF, or medium-density fiberboard, is preferred for kitchen cabinets because it is affordable and offers various designs and finishes. In addition, it will endure for a reasonable time and is simple to clean. The manufactured wood product comprises wood fibers bonded with resin and compressed into panels.
MDF is perfect for painting since it is denser than hardwood and produces a smoother surface with no grain.
Pros of MDF Kitchen Cabinets:
- Moisture-resistant: Because MDF is constructed of wax and resin, it is watertight. It is great in a kitchen where cabinets frequently touch the water. In addition, the manufacturing of MDF cabinets prevents them from warping cause of their moisture resistance.
- Many size options: Because MDF is simple to cut into various shapes, it is perfect for odd or huge kitchen cabinets.
- Its surface is flat. Because MDF panels are man-made and have flat surfaces, applying laminate or even wood veneer to the panels is simple. It also implies that paint may create a clean and lovely cabinet.
Con’s of MDF Kitchen Cabinet Materials
- It’s not suited for high temperatures: Because of the way MDF is made, it can’t withstand hot temperatures. While most kitchens typically don’t have an issue with this, an industrial kitchen with several ovens and stoves may.
- Compared to other cabinet materials, it is weaker. When MDF is used for kitchen cabinets, its strength is one of the most frequent criticisms. MDF is relatively fragile in contrast since it is formed of a wood-based composite instead of solid material. It suggests that if shelves are repeatedly overloaded with weight, they may droop or shatter.
Plywood Kitchen Cabinet Materials Pros and Cons
Plywood is an excellent material for cabinets since it’s inexpensive, accessible in huge sheets, and comes in various wood species, giving your cabinets inside a wood-look appearance. In addition, plywood is a valuable material for making cabinet boxes and is frequently used with painted doors.
Kitchen cabinet plywood pros:
- Plywood is straightforward to work with, so if it ever chips or is damaged, it can typically be fixed reasonably. So, a chip may be sanded down or filled with wood filler, and it would be difficult to tell if the damage had been repaired.
- Lightweight: It’s light enough to be set up quickly and can support a hefty load.
- Can be affordable: Plywood can be inexpensive, depending on the grade.
However, plywood has a few cons that might lead to problems.
Kitchen cabinet plywood cons:
- Plywood could be better when it comes to planks and wood panels. For example, when building kitchen cabinets, it’s crucial to watch out for knots and gaps in the boards since they may be unattractive or lead to vulnerable points.
- Thinner plywood can crack: It will break if thin plywood is overloaded. For shelves and exteriors, thick plywood should be used; thinner plywood can be used for the backing.
For the best tips and services, hire a reliable Tampa general contractor with many years of experience, like Premiere Builders, to remodel your kitchen.
