After waiting and deliberating for a while, you have finally decided to look into new cabinets for your kitchen. The quality and look of one of the more important rooms in your home is directly related to what cabinets you choose. There are many factors which may not be apparent that will impact the performance and price of your cabinets. Understanding these will help you in making the right selection.
Each cabinet is constructed in with three basic components, including the box, shelves and drawers.
Boxes are just as they sound; rectangular and ready to be filled with the shelves and drawers. Three of the more popular cabinet products include plywood, particleboard and MDF.
- Plywood is made by laminating layers of wood together. This material has a reputation of being quite stable over time and does well in areas that have high levels of humidity.
- Particleboard is a bit cheaper then plywood, made from small bits of wood bound together with adhesives. The downside of particleboard is that it is more susceptible to moisture and is prone to breaking down at the stress points.
- MDF is also less expensive then plywood but it has a more uniform surface than particleboard. MDF is usually a great option for paint-grade panels because it’s such an easily painted material.
Knowing your options and discussing them with your cabinet expert or contractor are key in getting what you want.
Shelves and drawers are made by the same materials as boxes. The difference with these is how they get put together. One of the more common and less expensive construction options is gluing and pinning the ends together. Dovetail construction is a step up in quality and price. Dovetail works by routing out the ends of the cabinets into small pieces. This way they fit together like a key, making a very strong and hard to dislodge connection.
One final thing to take into consideration is how each material is made. Specifically, you should look into if the materials are created with urea-added formaldehyde, a substance that has been shown to have a negative impact on human health. Most cabinet manufacturers have removed this substance from their manufacturing process. Unfortunately, there is still a chance that cabinet materials contain other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that will slowly give off gas.
There is more to look into besides the aesthetics of your kitchen cabinets. Prices directly relates to the specific materials and methods of construction. Speak with the experts at Discount Kitchens Etc. to buy your kitchen cabinets. Our full line of cabinets ensure that you can get exactly what you want.