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Veneers or solid wood cabinets?

3 years ago

I’m installing custom kitchen cabinets in a stained white oak finish. Is it best to use veneers or solid wood? The one cabinet maker said veneers are the way to go because solid wood warps, but I’m also hearing that solid wood is better because you can restain if they get a scratch but you can’t do that with a wood veneer. Any thoughts/advice would be MUCH appreciated! Thank you!!!

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Comments (4)

PRO
User
3 years ago
Each will have a different appearance. You get looks with veneer that are impossible with soli. Solid does warp. Because wood moves around with varying humidity.
PRO
MBH Carpentry and Joinery Ltd.
3 years ago
I would use veneers for the carcasses and then use a real wood for the frontals. if you are having a shaker style door then I would use solid wood for the frame of the doors and add a veneer panel for the centre. Veneered boards are more stable in an environment where there is different temperatures, humidity moisture etc. Solid wood will move, twist, warp etc.
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My thought is solid wood in bathroom is not a great idea. But I have no basis for that. I am switching out all my interior doors to be solid and I was convinced to go with composite vs. solid wood due to warping, etc. I grew up in a 1910 house with solid mahogany doors and they did stick with the seasons so I was inclined to believe my contractor. I went composite for all solid doors. Cabinet doors might be a different matter but for Sure I wouldnt try solid inset doors in the same room as a shower.
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Is it a flat door panel? There are some who say that a veneer is better for a flat door panel as it is less likely to warp or crack with weather/humidity changes. Others disagree...Kompy, for one! Here's a thread where Kompy discusses his thoughts on flat vs using reversed raised panel to give you the flat look. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1013104931753.html FWIW, we have cherry cabinets w/a wood veneer center panel and there is no difference in the aging of the wood b/w the center panel & the wood "frame". They've been installed for a year now and get a lot of natural light. Cherry noticeably changes color for the first 2 years or so, the most changes are early on. So, if there was going to be a difference w/color changes I would think we would have seen it by now. Picture from a couple of weeks ago... The description of my door: 3" mitered moulded frame with 1/4" furniture veneer center panel. (Omega/Dynasty)
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Veneer would probably be OK if doors aren't going to get super heavy use. Most kitchen cabinets are veneer. Mine are raised panel veneer & 40 yrs old so main problem is with heavy use you might end up with holes in veneer from pulling on the knobs to open the doors.(hubby made cabinets) If your kids roughhouse & doors are raised panel(hollow in center) then they could kick a hole in the doors if they are low. Solid doors would just dent in.
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Comments (3)
What is your door style? Some door styles have solid wood frames w/a veneer center panel...usually a flat panel. The veneer is used for better stability. The center veneer panel is less likely to warp than solid wood on larger expanses due to temperature & humidity changes. But you need to be sure it's a high-quality veneer....
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K R
3 years ago
We did veneer wrapped doors on our bar cabinets and bathroom cabinets. It’s a modern finish and still looks great after 3 years of heavy use. In our kitchen we have regular painted wood cabinets that are prone to chipping and warping. I would do veneer finish again without a doubt. Highly durable.
joannebressler
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you for all of this advice! We live in the valley in Los Angeles so it can get warm. Our house is a mid century modern home so we are doing flat fronts for the doors. This is very helpful. Thank you.

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