Let Holmes Cabinet Specialties create the perfect custom wood cabinets for your kitchen remodel in Houston. Call 409-543-2706 for a free estimate.
Whether your current kitchen cabinets have begun to fall apart or you want to transform your kitchen’s appearance with a new cabinet layout, you have many kitchen cabinet materials to choose from. The best cabinet material for your project may not provide the ideal option for another homeowner, and vice versa, so it’s essential to consider your options carefully.
In this article, our team at Holmes Cabinet Specialties, custom cabinet makers in Houston, shares the 10 top materials for kitchen cabinets.
1. Solid Wood
If you want beautiful kitchen cabinets with superior strength and durability, you may choose solid wood. Cabinets made of natural wood materials like oak, walnut, maple, and other wood species provide organic beauty when finished with stains that bring out the natural grains. You can also refinish solid wood doors and cabinet boxes to change the look of your kitchen without replacing all your cabinetry.
Solid hardwood cabinets are extremely durable and resistant to scratches and dents. They last longer than engineered wood products like fiberboard or plywood and suit any design style, from traditional to modern. Although not the cheapest kitchen cabinet material, it remains very popular among homeowners.
2. Wood Veneer
Kitchen cabinets constructed using wood veneers offer the look of natural wood grain without the extra cost and weight of solid wood. Wood veneer materials consist of engineered wood panels with thin sheets of solid hardwood peeled from a log.
Wood veneer cabinets offer a more affordable and lighter-weight alternative to solid wood cabinet doors and drawer fronts. They don’t provide the same durability as other materials, but they often outlast laminate and melamine.
3. Stainless Steel
You may not think about metal surfaces as common kitchen cabinet materials, but stainless steel kitchen cabinets are often used in commercial kitchens. Metal cabinets offer better moisture and heat resistance compared to other cabinet materials, which comes in handy in a bustling cooking space.
You may opt for stainless steel cabinets for a modern, industrial aesthetic with cabinets in the same material as your fridge, oven, and other appliances. Stainless steel also offers easy cleaning and stain resistance.
4. High-Density Fiberboard
High-density fiberboard cabinets, also called HDF, are engineered wood products offering the hardness of solid wood at a more affordable price. They consist of compressed wood chips and resin pressed into panels, creating a smooth finish perfect for painted cabinets.
HDF cabinets offer an inexpensive option compared to plywood but can’t hold screws or nails. They also don’t last as long as cabinets made from solid wood.
5. Medium-Density Fiberboard
Manufacturers often use HDF for framed cabinets and its less dense version, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), as the substrate for veneers or laminate cabinet materials.
Because compressed wood fibers don’t hold nails or screws, manufacturers commonly use MDF for shelves in cabinet construction.
6. Plywood
Many kitchens feature plywood cabinets consisting of wood panels formed using thin slices of wood glued together. Plywood kitchen cabinets provide better durability compared to other manufactured wood products and hold screws and nails for easy construction.
Plywood is one of the most common cabinet materials, but not all panels boast the same levels of durability and strength. Thinner plywood may not hold up well as a cabinet box material.
7. Thermofoil
Thermofoil cabinets consist of wood substrate panels covered with a vinyl film. Many homeowners prefer thermofoil over other kitchen cabinet materials because it offers easy maintenance, lower costs, water and warp resistance, and a modern appearance on cabinet doors.
However, this surface has a reputation for showing smudges and fingerprints easily. Repainting these kitchen cabinets also requires a complicated process compared to wooden cabinets.
8. Laminate
Laminated engineered wood cabinets consist of plywood or fiberboard panels covered with paper and resin. The paper can feature a wide variety of designs to mimic hardwood, stone, concrete, and other materials.
Like plywood, laminate products vary in quality. High-pressure laminate provides superior durability than low-pressure laminate, but both offer decent durability as scratch-resistant and moisture-resistant materials.
9. Melamine
Like laminate, melamine cabinets use paper and resin over a wooden substrate to achieve the desired look. Although they cost less to produce, they can offer better durability than laminate, depending on the quality of the substrate used. They can also provide a textured finish that mimics other materials.
Melamine boards provide good resistance to heat, moisture, and warping for a relatively durable material option.
10. Particle Board
Particle board contains small wood particles pressed together to create wood-like panels. These boards have rough surfaces, so you’ll often find this material in the cabinet box with a veneer for the cabinet door.
These wood-based cabinets can chip or break easily but provide a very affordable option for kitchen cabinetry.
Now that you understand the top 10 common material options for kitchen cabinets, you can choose the best material for your project. Consider your preferences for durability, style, refinishing options, and affordability to find the ideal material for you.
Invest in Top-Quality Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets
If you need high-quality cabinets for a kitchen renovation in Houston or a surrounding area, consider custom cabinets by Holmes Cabinet Specialties. We craft durable solid wood cabinets to help our clients bring their kitchens into the modern era. We’ve completed more than 500 projects throughout the Houston area, transforming kitchens, bathrooms, closets, offices, and more.
We don’t use just any kitchen cabinet materials. We consider solid wood the best kitchen cabinet material because it offers superior durability, longevity, and beauty, and it suits many different kitchen cabinet designs.
We’ll design your solid wood cabinet solution to fit your kitchen space, meet your functionality needs, and bring your renovation vision to life. Call Holmes Cabinet Specialties today at 409-543-2706 to learn more about our custom cabinet options. We can’t wait to get started on your kitchen remodel or another cabinet project.
