Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “How to Choose a Complete Kitchen Cabinet? Expert”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
【Wenge's Chat on Housing, Part 29】 How to Choose a Complete Kitchen Cabinet? Expert Advice Author: Wenge Custom kitchen cabinets are also a wise long-term investment. (Shutterstock) Updated: 2021-11-03 11:39 AM When renovating a house, what kind of kitchen cabinets should you choose? Which type is more durable and sturdy? What material should the countertop be? With these questions, let's step into Wenge's Chat on Housing. Today, Wenge will talk about selecting kitchen cabinets. First, let's discuss the raw materials of kitchen cabinets. The main body of a cabinet consists of door panels, box panels, top panels, and countertops. Door panel materials include solid wood, Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF), and solid wood composite panels. Box panels are made of multi-plywood, MDF, or particleboard. Countertops are divided into artificial stone, quartz, and natural marble. There is also a low-end material made of particleboard with a fireproof laminate surface, but since it is not mainstream, we won't go into detail here. Solid wood door panels are mostly made of maple, walnut, and oak. These woods have natural, smooth grain, are hard, and are not prone to deformation. The surface paint often uses tinted paint that reveals the wood grain.
"High-density fiberboard" does not exist; it's just a gimmick from merchants!
MDF door panels are easy to process and have lower costs, making them a popular choice for many. The surface paint hides any core material texture, often using pure white, gray, or blue mixed oil paints. Here, Wenge wants to remind readers: do not believe the nonsense about "high-density fiberboard" from some merchants. In fact, "high-density fiberboard" has never existed in this world.
Solid wood composite door panels, as the name suggests, combine solid wood with composite board. The composite board here is MDF. Typically, the door frame is made of solid wood, while the core panel is composite board. This type of door panel combines the advantages of solid wood and MDF: the solid wood frame is sturdy and durable, while the MDF core panel essentially eliminates the risk of cracking. The cost is also lower than that of pure solid wood door panels. This material is also the mainstream choice for cabinet door panels. Box panel materials also include multi-plywood, MDF, and particleboard. Wenge's top recommendation for readers is multi-plywood, simply referred to as plywood. This box panel is very sturdy and durable, resistant to deformation, and has a low water absorption expansion rate. In case of moisture or water leakage, the advantages of this panel become evident. Cabinets made of MDF and particleboard are lower-end products, especially particleboard, which has a high water absorption expansion rate. When installing door panels on these two low-end materials, be careful with screws; otherwise, a second screw insertion may easily cause the screw to loosen—what we commonly call "not holding." Even with a moisture-proof aluminum foil layer, exposure to moisture can cause expansion and looseness, significantly affecting the service life. Additionally, due to the excessive use of industrial glue during manufacturing, there may be a risk of excessive free formaldehyde. So, if your budget allows, try to avoid these two materials for box panels. For the top panel as well, prioritize multi-plywood. There are two types of countertops. Let me start with quartz. Why quartz first? To help readers deeply understand the pros and cons of this stone countertop, and also because quartz countertops have become the absolute mainstream. In modern cabinet design, they offer a wide variety of colors and patterns, aligning with design trends. In use, this stone is not prone to cracking or breaking, and colored condiments like soy sauce or cooking oil are unlikely to penetrate the stone's interior. Natural marble is best used outdoors, such as for BBQ outdoor kitchens, mainly because natural marble is more resistant to acid and alkali corrosion than quartz. After introducing cabinet materials, Wenge will now discuss cabinet design. Cabinet design must be done by a very professional designer, as it involves aesthetics, ergonomics, lighting, and practicality. Cabinets are not just for simple storage; they are a major highlight of a private home and a display of the homeowner's quality and taste. For example, if you add LED hidden light strips under the upper cabinets, install a high-end waterfall countertop that matches the backsplash, pair it with damped lift-up doors for the upper cabinets, and incorporate practical hardware like spice racks and trash bins, then finish with a trendy sink, faucet, range hood, and stove, along with warm and harmonious LED lighting from the ceiling, a beautiful kitchen perfectly showcases the homeowner's cultural taste. Being skilled and graceful, creating endless charm, letting emotions flow, and making every family's home environment more comfortable—that is Wenge's mission. Editor: Wu Ming
Source: Read the original article | Published: November 03, 2021