Kitchen Cabinets: Plywood or Particle Board?

There are usually two options for cabinet box construction: plywood and particle board.

Plywood is made up of layers of wood veneer glued together, alternating the grain of the wood for stability.

Particle board (also known as furniture board) is made of wood fibers glued and pressed together, sometimes using a mold. Each material has benefits to consider.

Plywood is generally thought to be the better product when it comes to kitchen cabinets. Plywood has superior construction longevity because it holds screws and other mechanical fasteners more efficiently. It has superior tensile and shearing properties (meaning it resists pulling forces and side-to-side movement) and a slight advantage in compressive strength (ability to bear weight). Plywood also weighs less than particle board, which can be significant when hanging large cabinets. In addition, plywood holds glue joints together better than particle board and is more resistant to dents and scratches.

Particle board has its own advantages, including greater dimensional stability: it does not warp due to temperature fluctuations and other changes in the environment. Most notably, particle board costs less than plywood. Particle board is often made of scraps of wood that are considered waste. Many plywood manufacturers also make particle board from the leftovers. Because of this, particle board is less expensive. However, a major downside to particle board is its lack of moisture resistance. If moisture is absorbed through the end grain, particle board will swell.

You can learn more about FX Cabinet products at www.cabinetswarehouse.com

At FX Cabinets Warehouse takes pride in offering their customers superior, excellent quality cabinetry at affordable prices. FX Cabinet’s cabinetry is constructed with solid wood harvested using ecologically friendly forestry techniques. Their real-wood products are 100 percent free of particle wood for compliance with stringent California Air Resources Board standards. By using all wood, their cabinetry exhibits the natural characteristics and color variations that can give your space a distinctive look.

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