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How are your veneered slab cabinets holding up?

11 years ago

I am planning on slab cabinets for our kitchen remodel but not sure if we should go with veneered or solid doors. We're kind of hard on things and I'm worried that we'd ding the edges and mess up the banding on a veneered drawer front or door. But they can look so good!

How sturdy are veneered doors, anyway? We are very interested in durability.

Any experience to share? Thanks!

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Comments (6)

sixtyohno
11 years ago
It's just over a year on Schuler maple veneer slabs. Everything is perfect. We have 2 tiny dings on a door front, but that's my fault. The other advantage for us was the grain on the drawer fronts is vertical, matching the doors, rather than horizontal on the drawers and vertical on the doors.
jakuvall
11 years ago
You'll find a lot of variation between brands. Some only tape the edges (1/32") others use solid wood edging (1/16-1/8). Of the latter some apply veneer to face first and then edge, others apply the edging first.
All of the higher end brands I handle only offer veneer. Last year my mainstream brand brought out a veneered slab door and so had both.
There was a lot of discussion among dealers when they wanted to discontinue the solid wood door. Some wanted to keep the solid because it was cheaper, some to appease an occasional customer who thought solid was better. To me they did the right thing and now only offer the veneer slab door. It is solid edging with veneer applied after, unusually good for the price. We used it for the desks a year ago, get a lot of use, no dings.
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sochi
11 years ago
I've had my walnut veneer cabinets for 3 years, they are in great shape, and we aren't gentle with them ( we have young kids). Also, I've been told that solid wood slab doors aren't generally recommended as they can warp.
Fori
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks y'all.

I wonder if my cabinet guy would let me beat up a sample...I just don't trust my family! :)

We don't have weather or seasons here so I'm not too worried about warping.
SparklingWater
11 years ago
jakuvall-do you know if Shuler or Medallion cabinets uses tapes or solid wood edging on veneer slab door or shaker like veneer panel?

fori-our forty year wood doors with applied molding and veneer centers are still going strong over their equally strong metal boxes.
jakuvall
11 years ago
From a 4 yr old Medallion spec sheet-
Bella door
Ã¯Â¿Â½ Door and drawer front are constructed from 3Ã¢ÂÂ4" thick
veneered MDF material with solid wood edgebanding.
Ã¯Â¿Â½ Drawer fronts maintain slab design with vertical grain
direction.
Ã¯Â¿Â½ Veneers on doors and drawer fronts are not book matched

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