Solid Wood Kitchen

Solid Wood Kitchen

Solid Wood Cabinets- Alternative Materials That are Being Used

Unless you are planning a big budget for your kitchen, solid wood cabinets are most likely not an option. For new homeowners, or people that have never bought kitchen cabinets before, it is not uncommon to get a surprised reaction when they hear that there are very few cabinet makers that use solid wood for the entire cabinet (unless you are having custom cabinets built and specifying that they use solid wood).

There are several reasons why solid wood is not used for the cabinet box anymore, but the biggest reason being that it is just too expensive. To use solid wood for the entire cabinet would put them out of the price range of just about 90% of consumers. The other reason being that there are several engineered products that are just as strong, but can be 1/2-2/3 the cost of real wood. Ofcourse, not all engineered products offer the same strength and durability, so it is important to scrutinize the materials used to manufacture the cabinets. The majority of cabinet manufacturers are still using solid wood for the face frames and doors (the most exposed parts of the cabinet), but here are some of the common materials you will find that are being used for the cabinet box.

Particleboard

Particleboard is made of exactly what is sounds like... wood particles. This usually consists of wood chips layered and pressed together using a resin or glue to hold it together. Since it is made up of smaller chips, it doesn't offer the same strength when it comes to holding screws and nails. Screws and nail holds will have a tendency to weaken over time, even splintering apart. Particleboard is also prone to moisture damage if not protected properly.

Fiberboard

Think of fiberboard as an extra thick and more dense cardboard. It is actually made up of wood fibers tightly pressed together and held together by a wood epoxy or glue mixture. While a thick fiberboard can be a tough material, it is highly susceptible to moisture. This usually results in swelling or warping of the material, and it will retain the water. Fiberboard will also require a veneer or paper with a wood pattern to finish it off, which can have a tendency to peel away.

MDF

MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard is a heavy dense material. It is a combination of wood chips, fibers, and resin or epoxy which makes for a strong material. The biggest drawback to MDF is splintering or chipping. If thick enough, it can hold as much weight as real wood, but it is will be affected by water or moisture.

Plywood

This is my preference when it comes to cabinet construction. Plywood is a series of thinly sliced layers of wood where the grain is alternated. The layers of wood are then glued and pressed together. Plywood offers the greatest strength because of the alternating grain patterns which helps dispurse the weight. Plywood is also less likely to be affected by moisture because it doesn't allow the water to penetrate into the bonding agent.

When it comes to overall strength and durability for your cabinets, it is highly recommended that you focus on cabinets that feature a solid plywood cabinet box. Not only will your cabinets last longer, but they will be less likely to be affected by the moisture associated with normal kitchen use.

About the Author

I have been remodeling house for 15 years, and I have the secret to getting high qualitykitchen cabinets at an affordable price. Interested in finding out my secret? Follow these links to find out the secret to getting kitchen cabinets at 30-40% below retail prices

How do I remove excess Linseed Oil from my solid wood worktops?

I recently had a new kitchen fitted with solid wood worktops. The kitchen fitter oiled them with linseed oil, but I think he's put too much oil on them with each coat. It was taking a week for a coat to dry and stop being tacky and the finish is now really poor. From reading websites, I understand a very thin layer of oil should be applied, not a thick one with a roller! I am now concerned that the only way to remedy the problem is to completely remove the layer of thick oil (which can be scratched off with a finger nail its so thick and tacky) and start over with very thin layers. Can anyone help or offer any advice?!

The first thing I would do is to get hold of the moron who used linseed oil on a wood kitchen counter and make him sand it off. Then you need to apply a single coat of food grade mineral oil to the surface and let it go at that. Boiled linseed oil is a furniture finish not a kitchen counter finish. Kitchen counters have to have a surface that food can contact without contamination. Bare wood or mineral oil are the best for kitchen counters.

solid wood China Worktops,kitchen wood China Worktops