Solid Wood vs Engineered Materials -Contributing Blogger Rachael Gray

Today’s homeowner has many choices when it comes to the cabinetry they select for their new or remodeled kitchen.  There is a bevy of styles, price points; from very affordable to high end, different manufacturers and more.  Among these categories, there are also types of materials used to produce and manufacture today’s cabinetry.  Popular opinion still says that engineered woods are “cheap” or “unattractive” while it is said that solid wood is among the best in the industry.  Well, I believe this to be untrue.  While solid wood products are very beautiful and of course, have their place in the kitchen and bath world, engineered products also have their niche in this industry. 

There are many kitchen / bath cabinet manufacturers that offer an engineered panel for the construction of the cabinet box and doors.  In many cases, this means that the panel is very eco friendly and can often mean that it is a 100% post consumer product; meaning only recycled materials have been used in the manufacturing process.  It can also mean very high durability and a long lasting kitchen for many years to come.  Another great quality to the engineered panel is that it can be water repellent which also means no absorption of moisture and therefore no expanding and contracting of the cabinet box or door.  This just adds to the durable factor that will continue to keep your kitchen looking just as new as the day it was installed. 

Wonderful shapes such as round or oval cabinets can be created with the use of engineered wood.   If you’re looking to create a modern or contemporary aesthetic for your kitchen, do consider that using engineered wood can and will give you the look you’re trying to accomplish.

 

While you’re shopping cabinet showrooms, don’t be afraid to ask about what materials are used in the construction of their cabinets.  If you’re concerned about lessening your footprint, ask about the woods that are used; are they from sustainable forests?  Do the cabinets have formaldehyde, PVC or other harmful materials?  If so, you have other options and I suggest to continue your search until you have found the manufacturer that fulfills your aesthetic, functional, and eco needs.