Went with plywood over MDF for my kitchen cabinets even though everyone said MDF was smoother.

I did a full kitchen remodel last month and chose 3/4 birch ply for the cabinets instead of MDF. Yeah the finish needed a bit more sanding but after a year I've got zero swelling around the sink area like my buddy's MDF set has. Anybody else stick with plywood and regret it?

2 comments

2 Comments

dylanh8124d ago

My buddy Tom used MDF for his kitchen island three years ago and a leaky soap dispenser turned the bottom edge into a spongy mess (he didn't notice until the whole thing sagged). He ended up replacing it with 3/4 birch ply last summer and had to build new drawer boxes since the old ones were basically disintegrating. The plywood held up fine through another leak this spring, just a little water stain that sanded out easy. No regrets from him, just a lot of kicking himself for not listening to me in the first place.

ivanb4124d ago

dude I went through the exact same debate when I redid my kitchen last year. went with 3/4 birch ply and honestly I don't regret it one bit. my buddy used MDF for his bathroom vanity and after one little leak around the faucet the whole bottom swelled up like a sponge. he had to tear the whole thing out. meanwhile my plywood cabinets have taken a couple spills and a minor dishwasher leak with just a little swelling on one edge that sanded right down. the extra sanding upfront is a pain but man is it worth it for the peace of mind. MDF just cant handle moisture especially in a kitchen where stuff gets wet all the time.