MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard is no longer a negative cabinet door feature!
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) used to be substantially different in quality than High Density Fiberboard (HDF) cabinet doors. Today, the densities are now extremely similar. Furthermore, the denser material is actually harder than solid wood. Painted finishes are also less likely to dent or chip on these improved MDF/HDF doors than on solid wood doors. And yes . . . there’s more! There are also no expansion joints and the obvious seams that can ruin the look of painted finishes on solid wood door styles.
Main Line Kitchen Design tested the denting and chipping properties of doors made of birch, maple, and popular woods up against the new composite doors.
It’s one thing to say MDF has become durable. It’s another to prove it! The Main Line Kitchen Design team devoted one recent staff meeting to confirming that the MDF doors sustain less damage from a hammer and as well as wood on wood collisions. No designers were hurt in the testing 
.
Due to this change in the durability of MDF doors, Main Line Kitchen Design now recommends using denser MDF doors for most door styles with painted finishes. Particularly for simpler door styles like recessed panel doors, shaker, and skinny shaker door styles.
When these MDF doors became denser. they did become a little more expensive.
Unlike the MDF doors common years ago, the new MDF/HDF doors are no longer less expensive than real wood. However, they do look nicer, have a smoother painted finish, are more difficult to dent and chip, and because they are also heavier, they feel more substantial when doors open and close.
It is understandable that homeowners are confused with so many options. Plywood sides and solid wood face frames are still the best option for Cabinet boxes and face frames. Although, now exposed cabinet box sides with a painted finish are better looking and more durable with a 1/4″ HDF skin over 1/2″ thick plywood. The new development is that MDF has become nearly as durable as HDF so using an MDF skin over the plywood sides give homeowners the best of both materials.
Watch a video of our test on YouTube link below:
Read about other cabinet properties and what makes cabinetry better constructed in the blog below:
Main Line Kitchen Design wishes all our customers and followers Happy Holidays . . .
and
Bon Appetit!
Paul, Julie, Chris, Ed, Jeremy, Juliet and Mark
Main Line Kitchen Design
