If you are searching for new cabinetry, you should know that typically, cabinet boxes are constructed with either white furniture board or plywood material. The quality of these materials can vary, and there are pros and cons to each, which makes it difficult to decide which one is better. To start with, it is important to know that they both are engineered wood products, which means that they are similar, however there are several factors difference them.
Furniture board also known as particleboard, it is a fine and strong sheet material, ideal for shelves or any other furniture. On the pressboard, wood particles are contained jointly with resin adhered together with wood scraps, or even waste, which derive from plywood manufacturing. Because furniture board has no natural grain pattern, it can be finished either with a wood veneer, laminate layer or painting to improve its aesthetic appeal. Its quality hinge upon several factors namely the size of the particles, the amount of glue, and the density of the board. Smaller particles will enhance the density, make it heavier and more stable. Among the best types of particleboard there is medium-density fireboard also known as MDF, a high-quality product very similar to plywood but considerably heavier, which can make installation a challenge. When talking about furniture board we can refer to white furniture board, which offers a more elegant and pristine solution, mostly seen in bathroom furniture, or to fantasies, which offer more creativity and can result more appealing.
The advantages of furniture board are that is costs less to manufacture, it offers uniformity of texture and expansion or contraction because of temperature fluctuations is less likely. Moreover, stability and strength have been added in the high-density versions. However, it also has some downsides, as it is heavier than plywood and not as strong and stable as plywood is. Furthermore, it is more susceptible to scratches, dents and damage, when exposed to prolonged moisture. Plywood is crafted by the compression and adhesion of thin layers of wood, rather than particles, which creates a solid sheet. Additionally, it is available in eco-friendlier construction, as certain types of plywood are manufactured using green initiatives.
All in all, plywood could be considered in many ways as superior to furniture board, and if cost is not an issue it would be the best option. Nevertheless, white furniture board has many merits that make it just as viable option, as the overall quality of plywood depends on several factors, such as the number of piles used, the thickness of the wood, and the quality of the adhesive, and low-quality plywood will have gasps making it less reliable.
