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How important are plywood end panels?

16 years ago

The cabinets I am getting ready to order are "furniture board" box, wood front frame, wood doors, wood drawers and trays, and laminated "furniture board" end panels. Plywood end panels are an upgrade. Are they worth the extra cost? Does it matter if toe kicks are laminated furniture board?

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Comments (4)

paul_ma
16 years ago
You probably should determine what this manufacturer means by "furniture board". If it is MDF is is probably ok. If it is a lesser grade of particle board then maybe not. That is from a structural perspective.

Esthetics are something else. You should be sure to see an example of what they want to sell you and decide if it is a look that is acceptable to you.

It also depends on what is laminated to the side panel - wood veneer or a plastic reproduction of wood, which won't look as good. Veneer will look the same whether laminated to MDF or plywood.

The upgrade that will have the most effect on how the end looks is to put a door panel on it.

IMO the toekicks don't matter much. They take a fair amount of abuse, and don't show that much. I didn't want mine to match the cabinets - I wanted black. My contractor just fabricated them out of MDF and painted them black.
cambro5
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the information! Now I know what I'm looking for!
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Thanks - I have seen the door style end panels on some of the kitchens here, but come to think of it, they've all been square. The arch is a little too busy. These are Merillat cabinets, they call the 3/16" oak veneer plywood a "wall end panel " (WEP) and the kind with the door on it a "wall decorative end panel" (WDEP). I'll go with the "skin" to make the ends flush, and have real lacquered wood (even though it's veneer) there instead of the fake wood-grain laminate. Now, wondering - I have a tall corner cabinet that I need about 6" on each side of. You really won't see it when the crown is applied on the lower cabinets flanking it. But it would help to make the sides flush just to install the crown on the taller cabinet. Is it worth ordering the WEPs longer than I need and cutting them down so I can do the sides of all 3 cabinets? 1/4" plywood would be too thick. Also need to do it to tops of refrigerator end panels - I'm not sure why those aren't flush, I don't want to do the whole 7ft, but do need a strip just to shim out the sides for the crown wrapping around. Cut them from 36" or 42" panels I order for 30" cabinets? Order one 30" to use as is and a 42" to cut another foot off to use for shims?
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I didn't see inset mentioned? An inset with vinyl sides? Agree with holly, no vinyl. Look at the next brand up in price may be a better deal particularly when doing paint. One that has dovetail standard. For instance I just checked my base semi brand. Standard dovetail, Blum ( soft close is an upgrade use it selectively, finished sides are NC, dimension charges are NC. In that 2 base end panels, 2 wall end panels, AND 2 cabinets prep for glass ( no matter how many doors). with veneer interiors total about $900. So for the cost of your upgrade to door panels you get the rest of your upgrade for free. The base price will be higher but the cabinet better. Flush ends and the veneer interiors come to 400. Of course you could just use the included finished ends (order some scribe to sneak under the molding on the sides) It can turn out that the better cabinet costs the same. Depends on how far down you are starting.
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I am going to insist that my cabinets are made with American birch plywood. I do not want any building materials made in China in my home and so far so good. We have obtainied all the structural wood from a local saw mill, from local wood. Our metal roof was made by a local business. Our floors will be local heart pine, and our interior walls and ceilings are local cypress. American plywood is more money than the Chinese plywood. American plywood is 50 some dollars a sheet as compared to about 25 dollars a sheet for Chinese. American plywood will be stamped and certified. Cabinets are one of the most expensive investments for your home. At least they should be. For me, I would rather have cabinetry that would last a life time, and have minimal toxicity, and have to save for a finished basement. But that is me. Your wants and needs may be different than mine. In the whole scheme of things paying extra now won't seem so much later on, particularly if you remain problem free. Who is your cabinet maker? I still have a couple of people to talk to yet and look at their work, but so far I haven't found quite the level of workmanship I want. Sandy
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talley_sue_nyc
16 years ago
It also depends on what is laminated to the side panel - wood veneer or a plastic reproduction of wood, which won't look as good. Veneer will look the same whether laminated to MDF or plywood.

What he said.
User
16 years ago
I always pick wood toekicks with any cherry kitchen (ages the same), and the painted or glazed finish kitchens are usually fine with the vinyl print ones if costs are a concern. Having plywood sides doesn't necessarily finish off the sides to a "complete" stage. In most lines, it still leaves a lip where the face frame hangs over the side and that has to be skinned. Or, "furniture finish plywood sides" can be ordered which are flush finished sides with the same wood as the face frame finished on the side. I usually order that when the install will be a DIY, because not that many DIYers have enough experience to deal well with skins. And, even after the sides are skinned, on the better looking kitchens, I order decorative door panels for the cabinet sides. Be sure to account for that extra 3/4" when planning the kitchen if that is done though.

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