i was being pressured by our cabinet maker to go with MDF for our laundry room (it was cheaper for him to build and would have been cheaper for me to buy) but i feel it pays to be very particular about the type of materials we select for our home. first off, i feel wood will maintain a stronger resale value. do you ever hear about about a home boasting mdf or particle board construction? secondly and most important: mdf contains formaldehyde. i don't expect to have that stuff pumped into me when i'm dead. forget about while i'm still living. there is off gassing associated with these products and the thought of my kids inhaling those types of fumes don't really appeal to me.

Basically, MDF is less prone to movement(expansion/contraction) due to seasonal temperature changes than solid wood. The construction of a raised panel door necessitated the panel be installed without glue/fasteners to allow for that seasonal movement. An example of allowing =for that movement in a dining room table is when the builder makes slots for the fasteners between the top and base instead of locking the top to the base with screws/glue. However, most MDF will retain moisture when in a wet condition----standing water is a flooded basement---for instance. There is a possibility, IMHO, that dripping water off the counter could land on the panels and seep into the groove made for the raised panel. Enough of that and the MDF would swell, causing the rail to crack. The type of wood used also has a bearing----oak is less absorbent, but looks terrible(IMHO) painted without filling the grain. Maple is good, poplar absorbs moisture more easily. It boils down to the climate and uses in your kitchen to determine the construction materials---as well as your wishes. Sounds to me like you'd rather have the wood---and real wood raised panels for the same price as MDF panels is a good deal----or the MDF panels are way overpriced.

MDF - Medium Density Fiberboard Medium density fiberboard, or MDF, is a composite wood product similar to particleboard. It's made out of wood waste fibers glued together with resin, heat, and pressure. MDF is appropriate for many applications, from cabinetry to moulding, because it is smooth, uniform, and won't warp. MDF has many advantages over plank wood, particleboard, or high density fiberboard. It's very smooth because the wood fibers used in its manufacture are uniform and fine. This makes it have low "tear out," which means that when sawed, the end has a smooth cut instead of a jagged edge. This also means that a coat of primer and a couple of coats of paint take well, leaving an attractive, finished surface unlike other composite wood products. MDF also has a mild reaction to moisture, meaning it won't warp or swell in high-humidity applications like a bathroom cabinet. here are some old links http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/wood/msg0422465719842.html?7 http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg052132034578.html?16 http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg11121915306.html

Designov, I visited your post regarding your gorgeous new kitchen and due to the recessed doors that I love since I have been wanting the cabinets that you bought and the crown molding and the overall look, I felt it looked beautiful just the way it was with the matching end panels that were just not door style panels. I felt it looked pretty and finished and gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.