Tips For Choosing The Ideal Kitchen Cabinet Material

Kitchen-cabinet shouldn’t just all-about look nice or storing item. It’s serves a reflection of your style and the care you put into your home. The face of the kitchen cabinet along with its lifespan will serve you well as you prepare meals and entertain guests inside your home.

Many kitchen cabinets simply look good or are cheap so homeowners get taken in easily. But over the years these kitchen cabinets may fade, get ruined and even become beyond repair.
For easy reference on what an ideal kitchen cabinet should be, take a look at the guide below. This shows the different characteristics of a good kitchen cabinet as well as what kind of materials they are made of. Depending on your own vision of your kitchen and the amount of use it will see, different materials are available for you. There are affordable and high quality pieces that will be sure to fit into a kitchen of your design.

Properties of an Ideal Kitchen Cabinet
The kitchen is sure to give plenty of challenges for any kitchen cabinet. Heat, moisture and different food stains are sure to be problems. A good kitchen cabinet should be able to take any challenge the kitchen will throw at it. See the list below to know what a good kitchen cabinet should have.

Waterproof
As you expect the kitchen to be a very wet place, a kitchen cabinet should be waterproof or at the very least, water resistant. Water can cause materials to rot or lose their shape. Materials that absorb or take on water will also become heavy causing strain on the support and joints. Sealing materials such as a finish, varnish or cover will also help in keeping water out.

Warp-Resistant
Absorb water & temperature change can causes kitchen-cabinet warp or deform. Warping isn’t only unsightly it makes for unsafe storage since vermin can easily enter storage spaces through opening in a kitchen cabinet door. It is also very difficult to repair a warped kitchen cabinet.

Chipping and Breaking
A kitchen cabinet will take all sorts of punishment. Constantly being opened and having pots and pans banged against doors can cause it to chip, crack or break. Tough materials can be impact resistant. If any small chipping, dent or break occur may want have kitchen-cabinet can easily-repaired.

Corrosion-Proof
Corrosion are quite big-problem kitchen-cabinet with metal parts. Whether it is an accent, a hinge or the frame, corrosion can eat away at the metal and ruin your kitchen cabinet. Make sure that the materials are properly coated with a protective finish if these aren’t made of stainless steel.

Choices for Kitchen Cabinet Materials
Now that you know what to look for and what to avoid in a kitchen cabinet, you’ll need to know what materials are available for you. These materials will have their own strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to you to choose which ones are most suitable for you and your kitchen.

Stainless Steel
This material is very durable and won’t rust or stain. Many professional kitchens love this material as it is easy to clean and lasts long. Be aware that this can still dent especially if the metal is thin. Make sure that frames and joints are properly sealed so they don’t fall apart easily. The material is also available in a variety of finishes and with different accents. You can avoid the cold look of stainless steel by going for different accents such as wood or even colored plastic. Stainless steel does tend to track fingerprints, especially with all the grease that your hands will be exposed to in the kitchen. While this is annoying, fingerprints can easily be wiped away with a paper towel. Maintenance is easy as you just need to wipe off any stain.

Polymer
High quality plastic such as marine grade polymer is ideal for outdoor kitchen cabinets. These can be easily cleaned and can withstand the toughest nature can bring. These are weather proof and very easy to clean. They also come in a variety of finishes which can match your own design or vision for custom kitchens.

Thermofoil Kitchen Cabinets
Thermofoil is basically a vinyl finish that is fused on a surface using heat. The core board is usually MDF but solid wood boards can also be used. Thermofoil is great since it can be fully customized to suit any design. You can have thermofoil finishes made to order. Be sure however that the thermofoil finish is of good quality so water won’t seep in and the finish won’t crack over time. If the base board material is MDF, make sure it is of high grade. MDF will easily fall apart when it takes on water. Remember that thermofoil cabinets are very susceptible to heat. Make sure that if you do place thermofoil cabinets next to ovens and stoves that a heat shield is installed. This will save you plenty of headaches down the road.

Wood Cabinets
Teak and oak are usual popular choices for wood cabinets. Plywood is also a common material for kitchen cabinets. For kitchen countertops however you may want to go for solid wood. The wood should be treated with a waterproof finish so moisture won’t seep in. Wood has a nice solid feel to it and is quieter than metal kitchen cabinets. You do need to place a new finish once in awhile to keep it looking fresh.

What you Want and Need
Your ideal kitchen cabinet should be a balance or what you want and what you need. It also should take into consideration what you can fit into your kitchen. If you’re starting from scratch then you do have more leeway in terms of your options. If you are just updating your kitchen then you should consider just how large of a change you can manage. As an answer to kitchen upgrades, you may want to consider freestanding kitchen cabinets. These kitchen cabinets are modular and can be moved around. They can be either custom made or bought premade. Larders and other storage cabinets can give you additional storage space.

Form and Function
Custom kitchens aren’t just about style. It must be a marriage of form and function. Kitchens should look nice but also be efficient to work in. The joy of cooking and having guests over is doubled with am attractive and efficient workspace. If you are looking for a heavy duty kitchen then metal kitchen cabinets may work for you. They can be better suited for high use kitchens. Some finishes can hide dents better so you don’t need to worry about impact too much.

Wood can give you a warmer feel and high quality wood will last you a long time. You will need to maintain this a bit by repainting or re-varnishing the surfaces. This option is great also if you ok with DIY repairs as wood is an easy fix most of the time. Thermofoil cabinets are cheaper but durability may sometimes be an issue. If you use the kitchen lightly and want a sleek and customizable design then this may be the option for you. Take note however that once the thermofoil finish fades or peels away, it almost always can’t be resurfaced with a new thermofoil.

What will work for You
With the many different options for a kitchen cabinet out in the market, the choice really is up to you. If you are having a difficult time in choosing you may want to ask yourself what level of use will your kitchen see and how much maintenance are you comfortable with. Heavy use kitchens which will need repair and maintenance in a while should go for either steel or wood materials. These materials can last for long and can be easy repaired depending on the kind of damage.

If you are comfortable with replacing cabinet doors and would like to go for custom colors and finishes then thermofoil cabinets may be right for you. These can last long too just as long as you maintain them properly. Outdoor kitchen cabinets should be waterproof. Wood, metal and polymers can achieve this and still give you a nice look to blend in with your outdoor kitchen. They can also withstand not just the elements but also the heavy cleaning you’ll be sure to give outdoor kitchens.

By considering the different properties each material has with what you want and need, you’ll have any easy choice in which material to use. Now that you know what an ideal kitchen cabinet should be, have fun looking at all the options available for you