Selecting the best cabinet material for your home!

A classic oak cabinets stained with a beautiful chocolate brown. 

So far we have talked a lot about style, trends, and processes. Now it is time to learn more about the materials involved in your custom cabinet construction. Choosing the right material for your cabinets will not just impact the overall look but it will also determine how your cabinets will withstand the daily routine and use! 

When you begin the creative process of custom cabinets, choosing the main material used for your cabinets will be one of the first decisions you make! It may seem simple or even easy, but there is a lot more to consider than what meets the eye. 

This kitchen used two different materials. The white cabinets are HDF and the island is Alder. 

To help you throughout the process we created a simple list of terms of materials that are used in cabinetry construction. These terms will help you understand how custom cabinets are built. 

Materials Used In Cabinetry Construction

Materials used in the cabinet box construction. The actual structure of you cabinet will be built out of the materials listed below.

• Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF): Medium Density Fiber board is an engineered wood product that is preferred for enameled or painted cabinets. 
• Particle Board: Wood particles that have been pressed and bonded with adhesive.
• Plywood: Wood product, made by combining very thin layers of wood together.
• Laminate: Covering for cabinets.
• Melamine: Similar to laminate, plastic like covering for cabinets fused to a particle substrate for strength. 

Material used in your exterior construction such as doors, drawers, finished panels and more. This is when you decisions come into play! 

• Wood: Naturally occurring, solid wood. We offer several different types of wood species that vary in grain, texture and density. 

• There are multiple choices for wood species you can select from. 
• Cherry, Hickory, Rustic Hickory, Alder, Rustic Alder, Maple, Walnut, Poplar, Oak, Red Oak, White Oak, Quatersawn Oak, and Poplar are our most common selections. 

• High-Density Fiberboard (HDF): High Density Fiber board is an engineered wood product that is preferred for enameled or painted cabinets doors. 

• Dense and heavy, this product is the superior choice for paint and offers amazing benefits!

The material difference when constructing cabinet doors and drawers:

Now for the fun part, what type of material would you like to select for your exterior? The best way to help you narrow in on your plans and vision is to ask yourself some simple questions. 

• Would you like to have your cabinets stained or painted? 
• Would you like to see wood grain or not?

If your answers are, painted and no to the wood grain then your options will be easier to select from! There are two material types we would recommend for you. Our superior grade HDF and or Poplar wood is bet suited for your vision. 

If however you love the classic look for wood, you will have more to choose from! Some of the popular choices are Alder, Maple, Poplar, and Hickory. However there is more to select from. To help you figure out what wood is best suited for you read through some of the selections below!

In the end you want the cabinet material you select to be the best fit for your style, budget and lifestyle. For instance if you have young kids or pets maybe select a dense material like HDF or Maple. Dense materials will handle the frequent use and or accidents that could occur. A softer wood would be more vulnerable to scratches, dings and or bumps. If however you have no kids or pets or they are older, you could be best suited for a softer wood. 

Overwhelmed? Don't Worry. We are hear to help you make the best decision for your budget and lifestyle.