How to Choose Materials for Kitchen Cabinet 

The kitchen cabinet has developed to this day and has become an indispensable landscape for ordinary families. The kitchen cabinet mainly includes carcass, door panels, countertops, and hardware. There are many types of cabinet materials and prices vary. How to choose the kitchen cabinet materials, how to make the design beautiful and practical, and how to avoid the pitfalls in the purchase, here is some tips as following:

1. Carcass

1.1 Particleboard

The majority of kitchen cabinet carcass is particle board (AKA MFC or chipboard). Particleboard is made from natural wood after being crushed and broken into granules, and then pressed into boards. The waterproof performance of particle board is better than MDF. It is currently the main material of kitchen cabinets.

The environmental particle board standard of China is 100mg ≥ 40 grams. The lowest scale in Europe is E-1, 100 mg ≥ 10, E-O scale is 100 mg ≥ 3, and super E-O is free of formaldehyde. High quality particleboard features: selected from a number of needles growing in the cold zone of continental Europe. In order to make the board have good physical function and rework ability, a small amount of sawdust is mixed during the processing. Particle board overcomes the shortcomings of natural wood and has physical functions that are not easily deformed. Therefore, particleboard is a kind of board more suitable for furniture production and use.

1.2 MDF

It is an artificial board made of wood fiber or other plant fiber and applied with urea-formaldehyde resin or other combined adhesives. The MDF is easy to reprocess because of its softness and impact resistance. Moisture resistance is poor. The flatness is good, it is usually used for panel furniture especially office furniture. Because the MDF is easily loosened after tightening, the tightening strength after loosening is insufficient. Because the MDF flatness is good, it is more suitable for door panels. When used for carcass, there are certain limitations during the assembling and fastening process.

It is necessary to pay attention to the thickness of the board, the thicker the more expensive. Many people only care about door panels and countertops. There are also tricks here. The advertisement is an 18mm board, and the contract is changed to 16mm. Many people didn't pay attention. The actual quality of the cabinet should be considered likes: 1. board type, 2. thickness, 3.edge banding. Edge banding is very important. The thicker the better, the more durable the formaldehyde in the board will not evaporate, so will be more environmental.

1.3 Plywood

Plywood, it is made of three or more layers of one-mm thick board or sheet glued by hot pressing.

The hardness of the plywood is generally high. Because the material and texture have been staggered vertically during the gluing process, the strength is strong and it is not easy to deform.

Some good plywood type is moisture or water proof. In US market, majority cabinet is use of plywood as carcass.

2.  Door

2.1 Solid wood

It has the effects of returning to nature and original, has higher requirements on craftsmanship, which can better express the classical style. It should be noted that the so-called solid wood panels are not solid wood as a whole. The door frame is solid wood, mainly cherry, walnut and oak. The door core is made of MDF in veneer finish. Generally, the surface of the solid wood is shaped and painted, so that can ensure the special visual effect of solid wood, and the combination of the frame and the core board also ensure the durability of the door panel.

Strengths: Scratch resistance, high temperature resistance, natural texture, relatively environmental. Compared with other materials, the thermal conductivity is small.

Disadvantages: The color is determined by the tree species, and there are fewer colors to choose from. And is not suitable for the environment which is too dry and humid, complicated maintenance, cost is expensive.

2.2 Metal (stainless steel or aluminum)

The metal texture door panel is the latest fashion color. The structure is a metal plate with a special oxidation treatment, fine brushing, and a dense protective layer on the surface.

Strengths: Wear-resistant, high-temperature resistant, and erosion-resistant. The metal has strong plasticity, fine texture, and is easy to clean without odor and durable.

Disadvantages: easy deformation, groove-shaped pits are easily left after a slight collision, and scratches are more difficult to repair. The colors are mainly cold tones, have the feeling of "ice", and lack of family warmth.

2.3 Laminate or melamine

Laminate board is the mainstream material of the whole kitchen cabinet at present. The base material is particle board or MDF, and the surface is decorated with laminate. Its characteristics meet the requirements for use of kitchen cabinets, adapt to the special environment of the kitchen, and better meet the trend of the combination of "beautiful and practical" cabinets.

Strengths: wear-resistant, high temperature resistance, scratch resistance, price affordable.

Disadvantages: Poor waterproof performance. Compared with lacquer and resin materials, the color and fashion sense are slightly worse.

2.4 Lacquer

The base material of the baking varnish board is a density board, and the surface is baked at high temperature by spraying the paint (three bottom painting, three facial painting) six times. The characteristics of the baking varnish board are bright and easy to shape, with strong visual impact, very beautiful and fashionable.

Strengths: The surface paint can effectively waterproof. The entrance is bright and the surface is smooth, and easy to clean.

Disadvantages: Afraid of bumps and scratches, damage is difficult to repair. In kitchens with a lot of oil fume, color is easy fading. Price is not cheap.

2.5 PVC

The base material is MDF, and the surface is vacuum-blended or a seamless PVC film compression molding process is adopted. It is the most mature cabinet material and is the most convenient and affordable. This kind of cabinet door is divided into two kinds of bright and matte effect. It has the brilliance and gorgeous quality of baking paint, but it is more tough and wear-resistant than baking paint. It has good waterproof, moisture-proof, hardness and flexibility.

Strengths: rich colors, realistic wood grain. Not easy to crack and deform, scratch resistance, stain resistance and fade resistance.

2.6 Wood veneer

Wood veneer refers to the solid wood veneering of the surface of the board by using the coating technology, which can enhance the wood texture, good environmental protection function, and can have a classical or modern style. Generally it is 0.6mm coated inside and outside.

Strengths: good texture, good moisture resistance, no deformation, smooth surface without oil leakage, easy to clean, lower cost than solid wood, it is suitable for people who like natural wood grain and do not want to pay high prices.

2.7 Glass door panel

Glass door panels are a commonly used material in kitchen cabinet doors, which not only makes the kitchen more transparent, but also adds a touch of bright color to the overall cabinet.

Strengths: Good light transmission, rich color, without odor. Moisture proof, fireproof function is good, there is no deformation problem.

Disadvantages: The material is fragile. Pay special attention when using it. The surface has poor plasticity. Also, the stains look noticeable.

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