Plywood Kitchen Cabinet Benefits
We use plywood kitchen cabinets for several reasons, the most important being longevity. Sustainability means many different things to different people; here at Sustainable Kitchens, sustainability is about creating quality products that will last a lifetime whilst keeping the environment at the core of all decisions and principles. We want to ensure that we are creating products that won’t need to be replaced, so we create beautiful kitchens using plywood cabinets.
What is Plywood?
Plywood is formed by pressing and binding many layers of thin wood together and is often made available in a range of thicknesses. Because of the lamination procedure from which plywood is constructed, plywood kitchen cabinets are incredibly durable and can therefore withstand heavy weight and ultimately, last for many years.
Although it remains a popular choice for contemporary kitchens, plywood kitchens started in late 1920s America, and the practice of using layered woods to build one structure can be dated as far back as ancient Egyptian times.
Why are plywood kitchen cabinets so popular?
Birch plywood is the choice of material for all of our kitchen carcasses, given its superiority of robustness and strength in comparison to the cheaper MDF or chipboard substitutes. Due to its natural finish and the exposed edges, birch plywood ensures those who prefer lighter wood kitchens are left inspired, and therefore makes it the perfect choice of wood for Scandinavian-styled kitchens.
Low-cost alternatives such as High Density and Medium Density Fibreboard (HDF/MDF) are engineered woods often used for more economical kitchen cabinetry. These often aren’t moisture resistant, which is key in withstanding the test of time in busy kitchens, and therefore begin to show signs of ageing early on in their lifetime. Because of this, fibreboard remains a much weaker carcass material compared to its more capable and desirable birch plywood counterpart.
Particleboard, otherwise known as chipboard, is the most affordable cabinetry option for a kitchen. Built through compacting sawdust and waste materials, this makes it an incredibly lightweight and often short-lived material for your kitchen that may well need replacing.
Plywood Kitchen Cabinet Benefits
One of the main benefits of using birch plywood is that it’s considered a sustainable choice of material with fast-growing tree qualities. Although the practice of cutting down wood in large quantities can be a contributor to deforestation, the plywood sourced should be FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC ( Programme for the Enforcement of Forest Certifications) meaning they are responsibly grown in sustainably managed woodland areas.
The accreditations ensure that the wood used in our kitchens is responsibly sourced; from conservation woodlands with efficient maintenance in place whilst enhancing value; and that the forests are restored correctly with accelerating forest recovery programmes.
Furthermore, plywood is manufactured with very few chemicals, containing low levels of formaldehyde and VOC, this highlights the importance of understanding both the adhesives and materials used throughout production.
Choosing a hardwood ply such as birch will mean the wood is resistant to warping and rotting, leaving you with a beautiful kitchen that will often last a lifetime.
Plywood Kitchens Vs MDF
If you are currently renovating your kitchen and unsure what materials to choose, it is important to dig deeper into the materials used by the manufacturer of your kitchen along with where exactly it’s made.
Whilst MDF carcasses and cabinets may appear to be budget-friendly in the short term, MDF can be prone to breaking and snagging, meaning it is more likely to need replacing after a few years. Additionally, MDF is more vulnerable to moisture damage, meaning it can swell and warp and lose its structural integrity.
Plywood has a significantly longer life expectancy thanks to its incredible durability, allowing it to withstand damage from impact or heavy loads.
Moreover, plywood is relatively moisture-resistant, making it the ideal material for busy kitchens.
Latest plywood kitchen trends
Whilst we use birch plywood kitchen cabinets for all of our kitchen styles, all but one of our ranges include the doors sitting over the plywood cabinets with the ply seen only when the doors are open.We have developed our ranges to include an exposed edge plywood range, meaning the doors sit within the carcass and those beautiful plywood edges are left exposed for all to see.A style that lends itself from 70’s inspired kitchens to Scandinavian and Japanese-inspired kitchens showcasing natural materials.See here in our Chapman Kitchen, paired with bright doors bringing a playful energy.
As plywood is a neutral colour it is perfect to mix and match with other materials. Our eco-plywood kitchen pairs exposed birch plywood cabinets and shelving with stunning stainless steel worktops to create an industrial yet natural space.
