Why Solid Wood Kitchens are the Best: The Difference Between Oak and MDF Cabinets
Our solid wood kitchens bring a true sense of quality to any home: built with the utmost attention to detail, from solid European oak, by craftsmen with years of experience. Alongside MDF alternatives, there really is no comparison. By sourcing directly and selling straight to our customers, we are even able to offer our solid wood products at the same prices as many MDF imitations on the market.
In case you still have any hesitation about why real wood is the ideal timber for kitchen base cabinets and wall cupboards, we’ve devised this handy information guide that will hopefully answer some of your questions.
STRENGTH
Cabinets are the workhorse of any kitchen, and will usually require the biggest financial outlay of all your new components. No matter whether you decide to update your colour scheme, worktops, or cupboard handles every so often with the changing trends, cabinet units are the most important area to invest in and should be built to stand the test of time.
Comprising solid timber throughout, oak cabinets are immensely durable and far less likely to become damaged on impact. Conversely, MDF is constructed from small pieces of wood, glue and resins (some of which are not recommended for use around pets or young children), and – due to this construction – has been known to begin to crumble and deteriorate with age.
AESTHETICS
Cabinets doors are one of the first components you notice when you enter a kitchen. Whether you prefer the look of a natural, lacquered finish or opt for one of our Farrow & Ball painted finishes, the inherent character and quality of the timber will always shine through.
For painted finishes, a water-based primer is applied to the wood to prevent raising of the grain, and the final layer of paint is applied by hand in such a way as to coat the fine grain and enhance the natural look of the timber.
WATER RESISTANCE
Whilst we will certainly not argue that timber is waterproof, we do apply three coats of lacquer to all oak cabinets, which provides significant resistance to water and stains. Furthermore, oak is less absorbent than MDF (which water can penetrate far more easily and cause to swell, disrupting the finish and causing the external layer to peel away).
REPAIRS
Whilst you may take every care to ensure that your kitchen stays in pristine condition, accidents do happen. Should a small nick or scratch occur, this is far more easily repaired on a wooden surface.
Once the external face of MDF cabinets becomes exposed, it is more vulnerable to water ingress. Furthermore, whilst certain repair kits can cover over the damage, it would certainly be a challenge to make the surface look like new. The beauty of solid wood is that superficial damage can be gently sanded away and refinished with a matching lacquer or paint – as though the scratch never occurred.
If you require any further information before committing to our high-quality wooden kitchen cabinets, please don’t hesitate to contact us and speak with one of our friendly sales advisors. If you live near one of our kitchen showrooms, do stop by and see the range of beautiful display sets we have on show.
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