Facade selection is a responsible matter. The durability of kitchen furniture, its appearance and the ability to decide on a plan for arranging furniture depend on this. Modern designers prefer the following materials for the manufacture of kitchen facades: MDF (fine fraction), laminated chipboard (laminated chipboard) and plastic. These materials have proven themselves highly, both in terms of cost-effective indicators and aesthetic characteristics. Thanks to modern production technologies, each of these types of finishes lends itself to obtaining any form of furniture.
Numerous reviews on the Internet about the material for the facade of the kitchen demonstrate that users do not prefer any type of kitchen, they are all in an equal position. Therefore, in order to make the final choice of material, you should familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of each type of kitchen.
Characteristics of MDF, its advantages and disadvantages
For more than ten years, MDF facades have been the most popular and widespread in the world. Such kitchens are painted like cars. Paint is applied to the surface of the facades in several layers, each subsequent one, after the previous one has dried, before that the surface of the material is carefully primed. After complete drying, the MDF paints are covered with a protective layer of varnish.
MDF kitchens are the most popular on the market
Such kitchens have a number of advantages:
- democratic price in comparison with more modern types of facades;
- the possibility of obtaining facades of any color and texture: glossy, matte, chameleon, etc.;
- MDF kitchens are not afraid of moisture, high temperatures and chemical exposure;
- quite unpretentious in care, do not require special tools;
- variety of facade shapes: flat or curved;
- facades withstand up to four paints;
- moisture and odor resistant.
But MDF kitchens are not without drawbacks, including:
- loss of brightness and saturation of colors under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
- the surface is easily chipped and scratched;
- if the surface of the facade is damaged, it is impossible to carry out partial painting, since it is difficult to choose a shade.
Advice. If, nevertheless, scratches appear on the MDF facade, it is not necessary to repaint it entirely, you can come up with an original pattern and apply it to the entire perimeter of the facades, thereby obtaining a completely new interior.
MDF kitchens look quite simple, so it would be more original to combine several colors in the facades and add curved lines on drawers or side cabinets, so the kitchen will look like a designer kitchen.
Characteristics of chipboard, its advantages and disadvantages
This type of kitchen facades is no less popular than MDF, but it is more often chosen for use in a rented apartment, cottage or as a temporary option. Chipboard is obtained using a physico-chemical lamination process, during which a film is applied to a chipboard sheet. The result is a smooth surface with a slight reflective effect. The advantages of this method include the following:
- cheap finish compared to any other kitchen facades.
This is the only advantage of this material.
In addition, the material has several disadvantages:
- low strength of facades, both film and chipboard are easily scratched;
- low water resistance, especially at the corners, after a year the facades can already delaminate and begin to stick out;
- due to deformations of the material, the fittings also fail, the doors may creak, not fully open or close;
- very short service life due to poor quality of the material;
- low resistance to moisture and odors;
- facade care is too demanding, the film is easily damaged.
Attention! If you decide to buy a chipboard kitchen, plan the top tier of drawers so that they are at least 65-70 cm from the countertop surface, and even better, place them as far away from the hob as possible. In this way, you minimize the effect of steam on the facade and extend its service life.
Characteristics of plastic facades, their advantages and disadvantages
Facades made of plastic are only gaining momentum in popularity. Despite the fact that the name “plastic kitchen” has taken root among the people, this is a bit of a misnomer. Such facades are made using two technologies: according to the first method, plastic is glued to MDF, according to the second, plastic is glued to chipboard. Both methods are reliable and of high quality, but, as discussed earlier, MDF facades will be more expensive. A plastic kitchen has a number of advantages, including:
- wide palette of colors;
- attractive and expensive appearance of the kitchen;
- facades are resistant to high temperatures;
- for care, you can use abrasive products, there will be no micro-scratches on the surface;
- do not fade in the sun;
- moisture and odor resistant.
- long service life, without loss of appearance.
A weighty list of the advantages of plastic kitchens does not deprive them of their shortcomings:
- the high cost of plastic facades, but for a long service life it is justified;
- only smooth parts can be made, bends and semicircles are impossible;
- demanding in care, every fingerprint can be seen on the surface of the facades.
Advice. If you have chosen a kitchen with plastic fronts, it is better to opt for glossy surfaces, they retain an attractive appearance longer, while matte fronts are more difficult to clean and very quickly become shabby and untidy.
Recently, many craftsmen are trying to mislead the client and give out laminated chipboard for plastic. To distinguish plastic from laminated chipboard, just look at their reflection: plastic reflects everything as a mirror, while on laminated chipboard there is a light areola around the reflection.
What material for the kitchen to choose?
Before deciding which material is better to choose for the manufacture of the kitchen, you need to decide: what service life do you want to get as a result. It is worth choosing chipboard if you have a very limited budget and in a few years you are planning a major overhaul. As for plastic and MDF, depending on your financial capabilities, you can make any choice of kitchen material. Both of these materials are of high quality and have a long service life.
Choosing a material for making a kitchen is just the surface of an iceberg, it is important to properly plan work areas of sufficient size and in the required quantity. A photo found on the Internet will not necessarily be possible to bring to life in your kitchen. Therefore, it is better to seek the help of a professional designer who will help you distribute the space in a useful way.
Which facades for the kitchen to choose - video
The kitchen set plays an important role. It should be practical, inexpensive and beautiful. Today, headsets are sold made of different materials: chipboard,. But the popularity of kitchens made of MDF and chipboard. These two materials are similar in appearance and manufacturing method. But what is better for the kitchen MDF or chipboard? Let's try to figure it out.
According to professionals, it is better to give preference to a finely dispersed fraction. This material is not so toxic, it is strong and looks much more attractive. But on the last point there are disagreements among the people. Some people think that furniture made from looks much more elegant than a set made from a finely dispersed fraction. From what material the kitchen is - it's up to the owner of the apartment to decide. But, of course, before choosing, you should find out all the disadvantages and advantages of both materials.
Chipboard: countertop strength
Chipboard is called chipboard. For the manufacture of sawdust and wood chips are used, which are impregnated with formaldehyde resin. This substance allows you to "fasten" sawdust into one single panel. Partitions are also made of wood-shaving material.
Today, chipboard material has gained popularity. It is slightly different in composition from particle board. Particleboard differs from chipboard in the absence of a laminated coating, due to which the sheets look neater and more attractive. The principle of manufacturing LDPS is simple: sawdust is processed with resin, then pressed. Then the surface is laminated with a paper film, which is pre-impregnated with melamine resin.
Processing is done in two ways:
Lamination.
Laminating.
Experts note that the coating method of lamination is better. When laminating, the film sticks and peels off over time. When laminating, the film is applied using high pressure, which ensures a long service life of the laminated layer.
Laminated chipboards have won demand due to their qualities: strength and moisture resistance. Chipboard can be called one of the main competitors of the finely dispersed fraction. The main difference between MDF and LDPS is the method of "fastening". If shavings for the manufacture of wood chips are treated with resin, then sawdust for a finely dispersed fraction is treated with paraffin. Chipboard is made from large sawdust, and the manufacture of a finely dispersed fraction involves the use of smaller chips. This is the difference between MDF and chipboard / DPS. Due to the diversity of sawdust, it increases the strength of the material. The smaller the wood chips, the stronger the material will be.
Advantages and disadvantages of chipboard and chipboard: which is better for the kitchen
Wood chipboards have the following advantages:
Moisture resistant.
Increased strength.
Can be dyed and bonded as needed.
They do not break up and do not delaminate, which makes it possible to screw screws and dowels into them. But the most important plus is its low cost, which allows even people with little financial wealth to purchase it.
Flaws:
Formaldehyde resins adversely affect the human body.
The material must not be subjected to deep milling. If you want to cut a pattern in a sheet, it will crack.
Requires additional finishing. Kitchen sets made of chipboard are covered with decorative finishes like plastic or acrylic to give a presentable appearance.
LDPS is slightly different from chipboard, but thanks to the laminated layer, it does not allow moisture to pass through. The material is resistant to hot temperatures. It's hard to damage him. In addition, a wide range of colors and patterns allows you to choose a kitchen set of the desired color, which will organically emphasize the interior of the kitchen. Laminated chipboard looks like wood, so it's hard to distinguish it from a "real" wooden kitchen.
Finely dispersed fraction: the beauty of facades
The kitchen is in greater demand than chipboard furniture. Laminated MDF for the kitchen is often found. These are the same sheets of finely dispersed fraction, but covered with a laminated film to increase the strength and service life of the material. They are the same density and have the same properties.
If a person has a desire to update or make a new kitchen, then it is better to order a kitchen from MDF. The main advantage of this material is environmental friendliness and practicality. While facades made of chipboard for the kitchen require additional finishing with veneer or plastic, MDF facade parts do not need this. And thanks to the combination with paraffin, the sheets of the finely dispersed fraction do not emit toxic substances, therefore they are completely safe.
Advantages of MDF boards:
The disadvantage of MDF is the price. The material is cheaper than wood, but more expensive than chipboard. The high cost is due to the absence of resin in the composition, which releases toxic substances. In other words, the material is safer, and therefore more expensive.
Conclusion: what to choose
Kitchens made of chipboard and MDF look almost the same. But this is at first glance. When purchasing or ordering a chipboard kitchen set, it is worth remembering that it will require additional processing.
Furniture for the kitchen should be made of practical material
If there is no desire or opportunity to finish chipboard sheets, it is better to order chipboard right away. But it must be borne in mind that the material negatively affects human health due to the content of harmful resins.
WATCH VIDEO
Like chipboard, MDF looks like wood. A variety of ornaments that imitate wood allow you to order a kitchen for every taste without overpaying for natural wood.
For finishing work, making doors and furniture, wood building materials are often used. The existing choice allows you to determine the optimal solution for construction or repair, but does not remove questions about the appropriateness of using wood sheets. Popular sheet materials include chipboard and MDF, which can largely replace each other when carrying out a number of works.
We will conduct a comparative study of these materials, paying attention to characteristics that are important from an operational point of view.
Environmental properties
MDF is considered the most harmless and non-toxic material. This is due to the use of natural binders based on paraffin or lignin in its production. Their combination with wood dust does not cause allergic reactions and other negative consequences in people.
There is a gradation of chipboard according to toxicity classes, while the least dangerous class is not limited in the scope. Features of the domestic trade sphere do not always allow you to reliably know the class of the purchased material. Try to avoid using chipboard for decorating a child's room.
Labor costs in processing
Despite the greater strength and weight, MDF is much easier to machine and give the desired shape. This is especially important when sawing the canvases to the specified dimensions of the floor or furniture. Chipboard has greater hardness, which is explained by the rigidity of the adhesive base and the larger particle size of wood chips.
To obtain chipboard of the required size and shape, it is necessary to use automatic equipment and be sure to protect the respiratory organs with a respirator. When processing MDF, it is enough to use a hacksaw for wood, carrying out the most delicate work with a hacksaw for metal or a jigsaw.
Working with MDF is more tedious, due to its higher density (by 0.1-0.2 kg / m 3) and the mass of the canvases. In small volumes of work, the difference is not so noticeable and is felt only with a large processed surface.
Tendency to mechanical damage
The strength characteristics of both materials are quite high. If compared in relative terms, then the fine-mesh structure of MDF tends to withstand higher loads (for bending and torsion). The downside of the coin is the lower hardness of the material, which leads to relatively easy crumbling.
Chipboard sheets have less strength, but are not as sensitive to point loads as MDF. Higher hardness allows the material to be used in a less gentle mode, in terms of mechanical impact.
Combustibility of sheet materials
Despite the fact that chipboard is made from wood, it will be quite difficult to set fire to it. Of course, chipboard's resistance to fire is not as high as that of drywall, since all particle boards are subject to combustion. The essence of its heat resistance is a longer exposure to open fire, which is necessary for ignition.
If you quickly extinguish the flame that has spread to the chipboard, it will leave minimal damage. They will be easy to clean and paint over from above, while getting rid of the unpleasant smell. MDF has a significantly greater fire hazard, although sometimes there are boards impregnated with fire-fighting compounds. When MDF ignites, the harmful effects of combustion products on a person will be much less than that of chipboard.
Application in furniture production
If any sheet material can be used for finishing the facade and laying the floor, then furniture assembly has its own limitations. In products made entirely of chipboard, there is a risk of cracks in the places where self-tapping screws or screws are attached. When metal fasteners pop out of their places, they uproot a significant part of the material.
That is why old chipboard furniture is not durable enough. This leads to the practical impossibility of its high-quality and long-term use. In addition, the crumb of material from the attachment points does not have a very good effect on the ecology of the room. This is especially true when storing food in cabinets made of chipboard.
The advantages of using MDF in the manufacture of furniture are its greater flexibility and viscosity. Unlike chipboard, which is almost impossible to bend and not break, MDF is well suited for interior decoration.
Completely made furniture from MDF is quite expensive, while its external surfaces will not be durable enough. When self-assembling or ordering cabinets, it will be optimal to make the fixed parts of the structure from chipboard (frame), and the movable parts (doors, shelves) from MDF. This will increase the life of the product and make it more repairable.
If you plan to use wood-based panels for
Furniture for the kitchen should be not only functional, but also beautiful. In the manufacture of facades, MDF and chipboard are used, we will consider what is the difference between these materials and what is better to choose.
What is MDF and chipboard?
Materials such as MDF and laminated chipboard are actively used in the production of furniture elements for residential premises. What is better to choose MDF or chipboard? When choosing, it must be taken into account that the doors of kitchen furniture are mechanically affected, as well as moisture that gets from wet hands. It is better to choose the facades of cabinets from MDF, and the shelves can be made from chipboard.
Consider what these materials are, chipboard is laminated chipboard, made by pressing sawdust, which is treated with formaldehyde resin. After that, the pressed material is laminated, that is, covered with a special film impregnated with melamine resin. Thanks to paraffin, as well as its emulsion, the material becomes resistant to moisture.
MDF board is made from wood fibers by pressing dry chips. During manufacture, paraffin is added to the material, which gives it strength and good resistance to moisture. Chips for the manufacture of MDF are used in a fine fraction, so MDF facades are many times stronger than chipboard.
Advantages and disadvantages of chipboard
The main advantage of laminated chipboard is its low price, it can vary from the thickness of the material. The cost may also vary depending on the structure of the surface. This type of material has low resistance to humidity, and high temperature conditions, and these are the main factors found in the kitchen. The color of laminated chipboard can be varied, and the structure imitates wood.
The material has its drawbacks, it is forbidden to mill it due to its rigidity. Also, the stove emits toxic substances, since it contains many different resins. When using, it is necessary to pay attention to the seams, if moisture gets there, the board will swell and finally deteriorate. Therefore, all connections must be closed.
Main characteristics of MDF
MDF boards lend themselves well to milling, their rigidity allows you to perform such procedures, as a result, you can make a beautiful embossed surface. When covering the plate with PVC film, you can make the surface more original. The surface of such a material is resistant to moisture, and household products, as well as products are considered fire resistant. MDF does not swell, which leads to destruction as a result of moisture ingress. Furniture items made of this material are distinguished by originality and beauty.
You can choose a different color scheme, and the structure that matches the interior of the room.
What is a frame façade?
Very often, a frame front side is used, that is, the frame is made of MDF profiles, and inserts are made of chipboard, glass or metal elements. MDF is processed with veneer or PVC film. At the same time, you can create an original interior, and save on materials. The disadvantages are fragility in use, and difficult care. In some cases, the frames are poorly connected, and the product begins to loosen.
enameled MDF
The product will have an original look if it is decorated with various colors using enamel. To do this, it is necessary to prime the plate, paint, dry, sand, and then apply the remaining layers.
When the last layer dries, it is varnished and then polished again. The main advantage is the originality of the facade of the furniture product. Compared to plastic, this material is expensive. Also, the disadvantage is that during mechanical shocks, chips are formed that cannot be repaired.
How to properly process the ends?
It is necessary to perform additional finishing of the ends to protect the product from moisture, and this also simplifies the cleaning process. If plastic is used, then it can be bent on both sides initially. If the product needs to be trimmed, then you need to glue a decorative PVC edge on the cut or process it with acrylic. The edge should match the color of the furniture. You can also process the cuts with cutters, and then glue the decorative film.
What is better to choose?
When all the disadvantages and advantages of materials are known, it is easy to independently determine what is better to choose for the kitchen. An excellent option for the manufacture of kitchen furniture is MDF, when choosing such a material, not only the facades, but also the shelves will be durable. Since the product is resistant to humidity and temperature changes. But the cost of items will be much more expensive, so the products are combined.
First of all, it is necessary to evaluate all the pros and cons of the material:
- environmental friendliness;
- moisture resistance;
- appearance;
- strength;
- ease of care;
- affordable cost;
- durability.
MDF has a high density, it gives the product strength, does not allow the elements to loosen. Also, the surface can be decorated with a variety of patterns by carving. Such material is very close to wood, it contains practically no toxic elements. Thus, using this material, the furniture is durable, and does not collapse when exposed to moisture. The service life of such products is twenty years.
Varieties of finishing objects from MDF
The front side of the plate can have a different finish, which affects the strength and appearance of the product.
- Lamination with PVC film reliably protects the board from moisture. This method is great for furniture in the kitchen, where items are often washed or opened with wet hands, and water from dishes or other utensils can simply get on them.
- A thin wooden coating can be glued onto the surface, this is called veneer finishing. Items have a natural beautiful appearance, but the material will be too fragile, so mechanical damage should be avoided.
- Also, high resistance to moisture forms a layer of varnish, which is applied to the surface. Therefore, objects with such a coating are resistant to high temperatures, this is typical for kitchens. The disadvantage is that touch marks or product stains may appear on the surface.
The main advantages of MDF for the kitchen
MDF is actively used in the furniture industry, as it has many advantages.
- Easy to process the product, complex and original patterns can be cut from the material.
- Plates are made of environmentally friendly material, and do not cause harm to health, there is no release of toxic substances.
- Ease of care plays an important role, the furniture is easy to clean, as the surface has a smooth structure. Dirt is not absorbed due to the absence of pores and gaps, the boards are resistant to grease contamination. Also, there are no traces of household detergents that are used in the kitchen on the surface.
- The surface can be matte or glossy, depending on preferences, and the interior. The material can be suitable for any chosen style of the room.
- Compared with natural wood, the cost of such materials is much lower, and the strength is high. Items last about twenty years with proper use.
- Such products are original, the appearance indicates the high cost of items.
All the advantages and disadvantages allow you to determine which material is better to use for kitchen furniture, you should also rely on the cost of items so that the price is affordable.
In the modern market, MDF furniture is considered the best, and of high quality, but it also has a rather big cost. The cheapest material is chipboard, so that the cost is affordable, materials can be combined.
First of all, it is necessary to consider the environmental friendliness of the material so that the furniture does not harm health, and then on the quality and appearance. To save on material and choose a durable frame, you can combine materials, take the base from MDF, and the shelves from chipboard. Although the first material would be ideal, it will last a long time, does not loosen, does not collapse when exposed to moisture, and under the influence of high temperature.
In furniture production, MDF and chipboard are considered the most popular materials. Their characteristics are largely similar, but there are some differences. It is not surprising that when buying these materials, many people think about how chipboard differs from MDF, which is better. To answer this question, it is necessary to understand in more detail the qualities and method of production of each of these materials.
Manufacturing features
MDF is an abbreviation that refers to the fine fraction of wood. This material is for the manufacture of which fine fraction sawdust is used (almost Usually it is logging waste. The raw material is crushed, steamed, thoroughly dried and glued. SoHow is MDF different from chipboard?
Chipboard is a chipboard, for the production of which sawdust of different fractions is used. They are mixed with synthetic or and pressed at high temperatures. A large number of resins negatively affects the environmental friendliness of the material. The advantage is that it is close to the density of natural solid wood.
How does MDF differ from chipboard in appearance
Many believe that these two building materials are similar not only in production, but also in appearance. This is not true.
The finely dispersed fraction of a tree has the following characteristics:
the surface of the plate is flat, smooth;
when studying the cut, one can note the uniformity and fine-grained structure of the material.
It also has distinct characteristics:
the surface is uneven, slightly rough;
at the saw cut, you can see pieces of chips and looseness of the material.
Differences in use in furniture production
For those who are going to use these materials to assemble cabinets, beds or decorative interior elements, it will be useful to knowWhat is the difference between MDF and chipboard in furniture.
The finely dispersed fraction is easy to cut and process. Screws can be screwed in without much difficulty. Ideal in cases where curly cutting is necessary - the cut is perfectly even and neat. At the same time, the material is heavy and has a different color on both sides (one side is white).
Chipboard is more capricious in processing. Saw cuts often turn out to be sloppy, “torn”. When screwing in screws, chips and cracks can appear. The advantage is that the weight of the material is light and the sides have the same color.
Furniture makers are also familiar with another material - chipboard. This board, in fact, is the same as the chipboard, only slightly improved. The surface of the plates is covered with a special facing film. This cover is made from paper and melamine resin.
The film is literally pressed into the surface of the plate and gives the finished products increased strength and protection from moisture. The only drawback of this material is the high cost.
How to choose
Based on the characteristics of all these building materials, one can ask a quite reasonable question:How is MDF different from chipboard?and for what purposes it is worth buying each material.
The finely dispersed fraction of wood is suitable for the manufacture of:
interior door panels, platbands and boxes;
decorative overlays on entrance doors and platbands;
interior partitions;
cabinet furniture (even for rooms with a high level of importance).
Chipboard will be an excellent solution for:
assembly of cabinet furniture;
finishing works;
interior partitions;
floors.
At the same time, vulnerability to a high indicator of humidity is considered a significant drawback. Laminated chipboard will be able to cope with this task.
So, the difference in the materials used and production methods affects the performance of the boards. That is why the same product made of chipboard and fine fraction will look different and require special care. When choosing a particular material for a particular purpose, you need to take into account all thatHow is MDF different from chipboard?: weight, processing method, interaction with moisture.
Loading...