Here's another one; all-plywood construction.
Some people insist on having all plywood construction in their cabinets.
My question is; why?
There still seems to be a perception that if cabinets are not all plywood they're "particle board."
It just ain't so. These days, furniture, including cabinets, is commonly made of what they call Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) or, "Furniture Board." It's very different from particle board.
And why do furniture manufacturers make furniture out of MDF? Because it's more stable than plywood or even than solid wood. It holds its shape and doesn't warp.
And no, it doesn't fall apart when it gets wet. In fact, most cabinet manufacturers coat the sides and edges of MDF panels with moisture resistant vinyl laminate that stands up to water quite well, and the material is bound so tightly that you can soak it in water and it will still hold its shape. It's true.
Think about it; if the shelves in your cabinets are made of wood or plywood, you have to cover them with shelf paper to make them more water resistant, right? Anyone who has cabinets with a vinyl interior can tell you, the insides of their cabinets are very easy to maintain and shelf paper is not necessary. That's vinyl coating on a MDF shelf.
But plywood construction is stronger, right?
No.
Cabinets made of MDF will typically carry the same warranty as cabinets made of wood or plywood.
So why do plywood cabinets typically cost more? Well, plywood still costs more than MDF, and for some applications it is a preferable material, but in cabinet construction there is no real benefit to plywood construction.
Another consideration is the "green" aspect. MDF is often made from recycled wood, so it saves trees, and many manufacturers do not use formaldehyde, as they did in the old days.
Having said all that, there is a caveat, and I'm a stickler on this; if ANY parts of your cabinets, like the doors, frames, and molding, are made of wood, make sure that any surface of your cabinets THAT YOU CAN SEE is made of wood. In other words, the sides or any decorative panels that are used in your kitchen or bath design.
This is for cosmetic reasons. Over time and with exposure to light, wood changes color. It "seasons" or ages, usually turning darker, whereas an exposed vinyl-clad cabinet side will not. Have you ever gone into somebody's kitchen and noticed that the sides of the cabinets are not the same color as the frames and doors? Maybe not, but I certainly have, and this is usually the reason why.
So what do you do? Cabinet manufacturers often offer an "upgrade" to plywood construction, but instead of upgrading all of the cabinets to plywood construction unnecessarily, only upgrade the cabinets whose sides will be exposed in the kitchen design; the ones on the ends. OR, have your designer order wood veneer panels, or "skins" to be applied to the exposed cabinet ends. This way everything seasons together and your cabinets all stay the same color.
With that in mind, if I were me, rather than spend my money on plywood or "all-wood" cabinet construction, I would save my kitchen remodel dollars for some of those cool storage and convenience options and maybe some extra molding that would really make my room pop.
