Showerthought: I thought plywood was junk for face frames until a job went wrong

For years, I only used solid wood for face frames because I believed plywood was for cheap stuff and wouldn't last. I stuck to my guns even when it meant higher material costs and more waste from warping boards. Then I did a big built-in unit for a lake house, and within a season, the solid wood frames swelled and cracked at the joints. The client was not happy, and I had to eat the cost to fix it. Another cabinetmaker saw my mess and gently suggested trying a good birch plywood with a nice veneer. I gave it a shot on the next project, a set of bathroom vanities, and wow, they stayed perfectly straight and took stain evenly. Now I use plywood for most face frames, especially in damp spots, and it saves me headaches and cash. My work holds up better, and I'm not dealing with returns anymore.

3 comments

3 Comments

ninas5611d ago

My lake house cabinets warped the same way last year. Switched to birch ply for a bathroom redo and everything stayed put, no more call backs.

gray_adams11d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, birch ply made a huge difference for me too! Used it in my kitchen and no warping at all.

adamp673d ago

Had the same problem with my old shop cabinets. They looked like a roller coaster after a few humid summers. Switched to birch ply for some built-in shelves and they're still dead flat years later. It's crazy how much of a difference the right material makes, totally worth the extra few bucks.