High-quality kitchen cabinets should look stunning and provide practical, easy-to-use storage for at least twenty or thirty years. However, many people experience cabinet problems earlier than this, reporting issues such as bent doors, sagging, aging drawers, deformed kitchen cupboard feet, loose hinges, and warped boxes. These problems occur due to low-quality cabinet construction. Low-quality cabinets not only create functional and aesthetic issues for homeowners, but they can also incur higher-than-expected costs in installation and maintenance.
Cabinets are usually made of plywood or particleboard. The strongest cabinets have full plywood sides and backs to stay square during delivery and installation, withstand the weight of heavy countertops, and resist damage from moisture. Particleboard is a less expensive alternative. It is vulnerable to moisture and crash damage, as well as bursts at hard-to-repair screws and joints.
All Plywood Construction (APC) plywood holds screws, fasteners and glue better than particleboard. Plywood is made of multiple layers of wood that extend longitudinally and laterally, making the plywood stronger. It is much more tolerant to moisture than particleboard, an essential feature to consider around areas with sinks, faucets and running water. Plywood will carry the weight for a long time and is also more resilient to damage such as cracks, bites and dents.
Particleboard goes by many names: medium density fiberboard (MDF), engineered wood, rigid board, substrate, furniture board, etc. Whatever you call it, particleboard is made by pressing wood particles together at high temperatures with glue. It typically does not expand or contract as the climate warms or cools but is more susceptible to damage from collisions or moisture. These pellets are heavy and have a different strength per square foot than plywood. Sagging cabinet shelves are often a sign of a deteriorating particleboard structure.
The structure of the back of the cabinet affects the durability and ease of installation. The strongest cabinet constructions use (3/8" or more) full plywood full back panels. Less expensive methods use thin panels, metal suspension rails and brackets, rails and frame construction. Weak back panels can cause cabinets to fall. Choose a plywood back construction to keep the cabinets safe and accurate in the kitchen.
Ningbo Haishu Botai Plastic Products Co., Ltd. is a Skirting Board Manufacturer from China, The company sells Aluminum Skirting Board, and Kitchen Cupboard Feet.