Remodeling a kitchen means making many decisions, and one of the big ones is choosing the right cabinet box material. Plywood and furniture board (also called particleboard) are by far the most common options. However, the right choice for any homeowner depends on your kitchen layout, how often you cook, and even the climate where you live.
For example, homeowners looking for kitchen cabinets in Arvada often choose plywood cabinets. Plywood makes sense due to its strength and durability, especially in Colorado’s dry, high-altitude climate.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each cabinet material so you can make a smart choice that fits your budget and design goals.
A Primer on Kitchen Cabinet Materials
The average person might assume their kitchen cabinets are made from solid wood like maple, cherry, or walnut — but that’s hardly ever the case. Kitchen cabinet construction materials fall into three categories: furniture board, plywood, and solid wood, and these materials often correspond to different levels of customization, cost, and durability as seen below:
- Custom: Custom cabinets are built from scratch by skilled artisans. The cabinet boxes are usually made from high-quality plywood, but the face frames, doors, and drawers are solid wood.
- Semi-Custom: Semi-custom cabinets are factory-built. However, you can customize finishes, door styles, and sometimes the dimensions. As such, they are more flexible than stock cabinets but more affordable than full custom. The materials used are similar to custom cabinets.
- Stock: Stock cabinets are made from lower-grade materials like furniture board or MDF and come pre-assembled or flat-packed in standard sizes. Because they’re built to fit predefined layouts, they can’t be modified beyond basic filler pieces or trim.
Many homeowners choose semi-custom kitchen cabinets because they allow for some customization without the expense of fully customized cabinets.
What is Furniture Board?
Furniture board, or particle board, is commonly used in lower-quality furniture, like the kind you might order online or buy at a big-box store. It’s a low-cost engineered wood made from compressed sawdust, wood chips, and resin.
Furniture board is often used in budget lines because it’s inexpensive and easy to mass-produce. You can usually recognize it by its smooth, laminated surface, which makes it easy to clean but also signals that it’s not solid wood.
Furthermore, furniture board doesn’t hold up well over time. It’s prone to swelling or breaking down when exposed to moisture — a common issue in kitchens where cooking, steam, and spills are part of daily life.
What is Plywood?
Plywood is a higher-quality engineered wood compared to furniture board. It’s made by gluing together thin plies of real wood veneer, with the grain of each layer running in alternating directions — a construction method that adds strength and stability.
Plywood is typically used for kitchen cabinets because it’s strong, lightweight, and more moisture-resistant than furniture board. Its durability makes it a popular choice in custom and semi-custom cabinets, especially in high-use kitchens where cooking and humidity are part of daily life.
Plywood vs. Furniture Board: Key Differences
There are many key differences between plywood and furniture board, and it’s a good idea to learn and understand them. Here’s a comparison:
Furniture Board Cabinets:
Furniture board is commonly used to build mass-produced furniture and, by extension, kitchen cabinets. Below are some pros and cons of furniture board cabinets.
Pros of Furniture Board Kitchen Cabinets
- Inexpensive: As the least expensive of all kitchen cabinet materials, furniture board is a popular choice for budget-friendly remodels or quick upgrades.
- Smooth Surface: The smooth surfaces of furniture board provide an even, flat surface for laminates and thermofoil, making them easy to clean and uniform in appearance.
- Always Available: Commonly used in stock and ready-to-assemble cabinets, furniture board is often readily available at most big-box retailers.
Furniture board kitchen cabinets are standard in many homes, but have drawbacks and benefits.
Cons of Furniture Board Kitchen Cabinets
- Susceptible to Moisture: They are susceptible to swelling, bulging, and breaking down in moisture, which can be problematic when used in a highly used kitchen.
- Less Resilient: Because they don’t hold screws or fasteners as well as plywood they can sag shelves, get loose hinges, or get structural issues.
- Difficult to Repair: Once damaged, furniture board cabinets are tough to repair, mainly if the damage is caused by moisture, and they often need to be replaced entirely.
While the price tag for furniture board cabinets might be tempting, they might not be suitable for a high-use kitchen. Plywood cabinets might be a better choice.
Plywood Cabinets:
Plywood is often used to build the box for semi-custom or custom cabinets and is more durable than furniture board. Below are some pros and cons of plywood kitchen cabinets.
Pros of Plywood Kitchen Cabinets:
- Strong and Durable: Plywood is strong and holds up well to daily use. It’s an excellent choice for anyone who uses their kitchen frequently or has high traffic.
- Resistant to Moisture: Plywood is less likely to swell, warp, or break down in a humid kitchen area.
- Easy to Install: Lighter than furniture board, making installation easier and reducing strain on fasteners.
Plywood kitchen cabinets are an excellent choice for semi-custom and custom kitchen cabinets because of their quality and durability.
Cons of Plywood Kitchen Cabinets:
- Cost: Plywood costs more than furniture board when building kitchen cabinets, and in some cases, it may not be readily available, requiring special orders or longer lead times.
- Inconsistent: Not all plywood is the same, and there could be inconsistencies in quality. Lower-grade plywood may have voids or weak layers.
- May Be Overbuilt for Light Use: The added durability might not justify the cost in low-traffic kitchens or short-term homes.
Generally speaking, furniture board kitchen cabinets are less expensive than plywood but are also of lesser quality.
Looking for Kitchen Cabinets in Denver?
Are you searching for a kitchen makeover in the Denver area? If so, look no further. Kitchen and Bath by Design specializes in custom kitchen cabinets for any project style, shape, or size. Our passion is blending the beauty of a kitchen design with modern functionality to make your experience the best it can be.
Book a free consultation with one of our Denver-based design experts to explore creative storage options for your space, or call us at (720) 780-7124 to get started on your dream kitchen or bath.
Family-owned for 20+ years offering high-quality, in-house fabricated marble and granite countertops and offer a wide array of comprehensive full remodeling services tailored to meet your diverse renovation needs. Visit our showroom for full-service remodeling. Fully insured, bilingual, and committed to excellence.
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