One of the most common questions asked by homeowners who have decided on getting custom cabinets for their kitchen is whether to go with solid wood doors or thermo-laminated MDF (medium density fibreboard) doors. While there is a common perception that solid wood is the better option, fiberboard products have come a long way and MDF cabinets may give you great value for your money. To help you decide, here are four things to consider when choosing the material for your custom cabinets:
Look and Texture - If you prefer the natural look of wood, go with solid wood cabinets as you get to see the beauty of the wood grain. Some wood grain may have variations in the patterns, so for homeowners that prefer to see solid colours with consistent patterns, MDF would make the better option.
Solid wood doors lets you see the wood grain and natural beauty of the material
MDF doors come in many different styles and are about 40% cheaper than solid wood cabinets
Maintenance - MDF is composite wood made from recycled wood fibres and resin, and can withstand heat and humidity conditions better than solid wood doors. On the other hand, solid wood doors will expand and contract when the temperature and humidity in your home rise and fall, so they require more care and maintenance. That is why we don't recommend using solid wood for custom cabinets and vanities in bathrooms where humidity tends to be high.
Longevity - With solid wood cabinet doors, you can refinish the doors by sanding it to bring out the natural wood grain. Repainting is a good option for MDF doors. Hardware that is drilled in solid wood cabinets will tend to stay solid for a long time, whereas door handles on MDF doors may tend to come loose over time.
Price - For many homeowners, it may come down to price when choose between solid wood vs MDF cabinets. As we have mentioned in our article "How Much Do Custom Kitchen Cabinets Cost?", at Millo Kitchens, the average price of our solid-wood kitchen cabinets is around $450 per linear foot including installation, while MDF kitchen cabinets average around $275 per linear foot.
Solid Wood Custom Kitchen
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MDF Custom Kitchen
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If you are interested in getting custom cabinets for you kitchen but unsure whether to go with solid wood or MDF cabinets, please don't hesitate to contact us and we can talk to you about your options. You can also book a free consultation and we can help you design the new kitchen you've always wanted.
