There are numerous panel material options for flat panel cabinet doors (also known as recessed panel cabinet doors) and we get asked by customers and homeowners what we offer and what are the benefits of each. Below is information on TaylorCraft Cabinet Door Company’s material offering and the benefits and drawbacks of each to help in your decision making process.
1/4″ thick veneered MDF panel: (Medium Density Fiberboard): The benefit of 1/4″ material is it is the least expensive option for a flat panel door and the MDF core provides a stable surface for the veneer. TaylorCraft does not offer 1/4″ veneered plywood panels due to stability, bowing and warpage issues with plywood. Veneered MDF core is a much more stable product than veneered plywood and veneered MDF comes in flat and stays flat so that is what we use.
3/8″ thick veneered MDF panel: While you can’t see the difference from the face of the door, a cabinet door with 3/8″ thick panel material creates a more solid sound and feel, and is a higher quality product due to the additional thickness. Many of our customers prefer veneered MDF core flat panel doors over solid wood panels due to the stability of the MDF – it doesn’t move, twist or bow.
3/8″ thick solid wood panel: There will always be a percent of the population that wants their cabinet doors made of solid wood because they do not like the idea of any manufactured wood product, such as medium density fiberboard, in their cabinet doors. The benefits of solid wood are that it is a completely natural product and can be sanded and refinished. The drawbacks of solid wood panel doors are that they are generally more expensive than veneered MDF panel doors and solid wood is also more susceptible to the expansion and contraction of the wood due to changes in humidity and temperature. When the cabinet doors will be painted or stained a darker color, this natural wood movement can sometimes cause lines or cracks to show up, and in these instances an MDF core is recommended.
Some people confuse particleboard core with MDF core. They are worlds apart and TaylorCraft Cabinet Door Company does not use particleboard in the construction of our cabinet doors. MDF is made with small wood fibers, very tightly compressed and bound with glue, making it incredibly dense, strong and smooth. Particleboard is made with large wood particles, pressed together and bound with glue, making it coarse and it is generally not as strong as MDF.
We welcome you questions and feedback regarding our panel materials. We look forward to hearing from you.
