There are countless articles, videos, and testimonials that demonstrate the advantages of plywood over particle board. Not surprisingly, 3/4-inch plywood costs more than 1/2-inch plywood. What are the pros and cons of particle board? So, … Today I am answering the age old question if you should select Plywood or Particle Board constructed cabinets for your kitchen remodel. Compare Products. These tips can help you check the quality of plywood cabinets: The wood should have many thin plies -- at least 7-ply for ¾-inch plywood (including the veneer), but you can go as high as 13-ply. Screws and hardware are less likely to hold their place when drilled into lower quality boards. There may be gaps or holes where the boards were combined. When we compare particle board vs plywood, there arises confusion as they both are recommended for uses like to make furniture for home. Kitchen Cabinet Construction part 1: Plywood vs Particleboard Bottom Line (tldr;): – Both plywood and particle board are suitable for cabinet construction. Plywood Cabinets for Added Strength. Constructing cabinets entirely of hardwood is cost prohibitive. Plywood vs. The two major options when it comes to types of kitchen cabinets are plywood construction or press board (sometimes referred to as particle board) construction. Plywood is used more often than particle board for cabinet boxes and has long been considered the better choice for its strength. You might need extra supports if you’re installing a heavy countertop over particle board cabinets. Answer a few short questions & get free cost estimates for your project from trusted companies in your area. Watch two cabinet experts compare particle board and plywood cabinetry. There is absolutely no doubt that most plywood cabinets are stronger than most particle board cabinets . Melamine vs. Plywood Cabinet Construction If you have begun the process of remodeling your kitchen, you are probably facing the decision between melamine or plywood kitchen cabinets. Plywood Vs Particle Board Kitchen Cabinets: How to Choose We face many decisions in any home renovation – not least of all is the kitchen. Compare free price quotes from multiple companies and save time and money instantly! Particleboard products are classified by their particle size and overall density and are graded based on quality control standards set by the industry. Builders and homeowners often discuss differences between plywood and particleboard. Medium density fiberboard, or MDF, and particle board are both pressed wood products often used for cabinets, shelving, furniture and paneling. The thickness of plywood depends on the number of veneer layers that go to make the board. While for bedrooms where load is less particle board furniture may be used to lower the cost. But buyer beware: some vendors will take advantage of its consumers by doing both 1) and 2). Plywood is generally the better product when it comes to cabinet boxes. We will also take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each one. Plywood does not offer a wipe clean surface and is also prone to yellowing over time. For years plywood has been pushed down the throats of consumers. When I show customers a quality veneered piece of Plywood vs. a piece of Particle Board or MDF for cabinet construction, 9 out of 10 customers, after looking at the quality, depth, construction, and strength of the plywood, ask for the plywood constructed cabinets. If humidity is a concern, your vendor may cover every exposed edge of particle board to seal it up. We face many decisions in any home renovation – not least of all is the kitchen. Look - Many people like the look of plywood better than particle board, although some people aren’t concerned at all with the way the inside of their cabinets look. Cost - Again, plywood tends to be more expensive. Plywood Vs. Large production manufactures will cover the show faces of particle board with very thin paper, giving it a finished appearance but leaving it prone to peeling. But mostly because: a) I only paid the $800 upcharge in materials to the cabinet maker and . Here we have given a brief comparison of all these engineered wood, along with solid wood, with reference to their strength, uses, life and cost. Plywood is simply a remnant from the solid wood cabinet days and is a vendor’s solution to keeping costs low while still allowing the consumer to think they are getting an all wood cabinet. Particle Board. Always ask your vendor what kind of board materials your cabinets are made from, it’ll save you grief in the long run. A $10,000 set of cabinets with particle board might cost $11,000 to $12,000 with plywood. This can make it more difficult to install because the cabinets won’t line up as perfectly. While cases like Hawaii are the exception, coastal homes like those found in Orange County will be fine. Or simply call us at: 866-685-9586. A woodworker expects to work with wood. There are applications that require plywood and every material has an application and time but in general, Melamine is normally our go-to material. In addition, plywood holds glue joints together better than particle board and is more resistant to dents and scratches. In addition, plywood holds glue joints together better than particle board and is more resistant to dents and scratches. At the time Henry Kloss felt that the particle board would be more dense with the glue mixed in with the wood particles and without any knots as plywood would have. Chinese cabinet makers only use plywood construction because the cabinets come over on boats. When undergoing kitchen renovations, particle board cabinets and countertops come up as a cheaper alternative. Is often viewed as an inferior building product. Like what you see? This positive and somewhat false, impression of plywood has become ingrained into consumers’ minds and is constantly being reinforced thanks to the abundance of Chinese wood cabinets available. Plywood and particleboard are two building materials that can be used for the same tasks. The two major options when it comes to types of kitchen cabinets are plywood construction or press board (sometimes referred to as particle board) construction. The common misconception here is that plywood is always better than particle board. As long as your cabinets are constructed from high-quality particle board, they can be sturdy and durable, not to mention economical. High-quality particle board is strong and stable. Plywood can have knot holes, rough surfaces, or other defects that require finishing. Most of our cabinets feature 7-12 ply layers. Ever notice how light Ikea desktops are even though they’re 1 ½” – 2” thick? plywood cabinet boxes are lighter than particle board boxes.. High quality plywood cabinets cost roughly 20% more than cabinets made from high quality particle board. Aside from the tricky aesthetics such as countertops and backsplash, wall color, and front finish of the cabinets, there are all of the structural issues as well. When undergoing kitchen renovations, particle board cabinets and countertops come up as a cheaper alternative. There have been a few recent threads dicsussing use of plywood vs. particle boards (ODS being one of them) for kitchen cabinets. Instead of being constructed using wood fibers or veneers, it's chiefly constructed of sawdust and wood scraps that are bound using resin, and contain higher levels of VOCs than particle board or plywood. As already explained, plywood is simply a remnant from the solid wood cabinet days and is a vendor’s answer to keeping costs low while still being able to tout an all wood cabinet.  As a cabinet maker, we love the wide use and versatility of Melamine. Pros of Particle Board: Cons of Particle Board: The surface of the particleboard is usually smooth and hence the finished cabinets look more stunning. Water and moisture resistance for both Melamine and Plywood are virtually the same. Builders and homeowners often discuss differences between plywood and particleboard. Neither one is superior to the other. Aside from the tricky aesthetics such as countertops and backsplash, wall color, and front finish of the cabinets, there are all of the structural issues as well. Nicolette Patton, CKD Plywood is a panel material, also made in 4' by 8' sheets. Many still hold plywood on a pedestal and can’t shake the false sense of security an all wood cabinets give them. Or how it is almost impossible to re-assemble an Ikea cabinet in the event of a move? Particle board is an engineered product manufactured from wood particles, such as wood chips and shavings, which are mixed with binding solution and then compacted into shape using extremely high pressure. The common misconception here is that plywood is always better than particle board. You can upgrade to plywood for the sink base, where moisture is a problem, but use particle board everywhere else. Just like particle board, however, the material has its pros and cons. To begin with, let us try to understand more about each of these four types of wood. Since plywood is a natural product, it will carry the same characteristics as the tree species its made from. While this can be true in certain cases, the opposite can also be true. The quality of plywood can vary drastically. The layers of veneer in plywood usually lie against the direction of the wood grain of each layer. 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