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Do You Like Your MDF Cabinet Doors?

8 years ago

I went to a kitchen designer yesterday with the goal of getting a quote on cabinets with solid wood, Shaker style, painted doors. He suggested I consider MDF instead. I read about the MDF doors and does appear that they would best for keeping the paint from cracking or chipping.

Do you like your MDF cabinet doors or do you wish you would have gone with solid wood?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

homechef59

8 years ago

I have raised panel MDF doors. This is the second kitchen I have used MDF. I learned from a previous kitchen that wood warps. My 42" wood doors warped, all at different rates. It continuously pissed me off. Since then, I've selected MDF. It's solid and stable. My doors are painted. By using the raised panel design in an one piece door, I avoid the cracks in paint that are inevitable as the various pieces of wood shrink and swell. It's a good product. I don't feel as if I have settled. Rather, I think I have used the best material for the best result.

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Comments (6)

User
8 years ago
It's not all one or the other. Most quality makers will do MDF center panel with maple stiles and rails as a standard. If you want a reverse raised panel, you need to be prepared for what the natural movement of the wood will do to those doors.
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Deck The Halls
Original Author
8 years ago
I took my husband to show him the MDF door and now I'm more confused than ever. He thought the door felt too light weight and plastic like. However, your comments and research suggest that it is best for painting. Thanks for the advice.
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
MDF is actually heavier than wood, as it's denser, with more wood fiber packed into the material per square inch. It's also much more stable, which is why it's chosen for the center panels in painted cabinets. You will still get natural movement where the stiles and rails meet, so be sure that you view older doors in order to be OK with that.

Cabinet doors · More Info

Cabinet doors · More Info
fouramblues
8 years ago
Shaker doors with a flat panel feel lightweight to me, regardless of the center panel material. Shaker doors with a reverse raised panel look the same from the outside, but feel much more substantial.
User
8 years ago
Reverse raised panels have even worse issues with expansion and contraction. Unless they are MDF. Here's what ''solid wood'' reverse raised panel behaves like in a dry winter.

Cabinet doors · More Info

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