MDF, plywood or chipboard? The best material for kitchen cabinets in UAE humidity
Which board to choose for kitchen cabinets in the UAE: moisture resistant MDF, chipboard and marine plywood compared, plus fronts from melamine to super matt and why edge banding matters.
By the Ajusteur team5 minute read
Where does water get into a kitchen cabinet?
Rarely through the face. It sneaks in at the edges and the cut outs. The sink cabinet takes the drips from a tired tap and the splash when you rinse the big pot. The cabinet next to the dishwasher gets a puff of steam every time someone opens it mid cycle to grab a glass. Then there is the kettle corner, and the floor mopped every morning.
Board swells where water reaches a raw edge. That is why edge banding matters as much as the board. A strip of banding glued over every visible edge closes it off, and the hinge holes and sink cut out are the spots to check when a cabinet is fitted. Our standard is 1 mm edge banding on every visible edge, matched to the front.
What is moisture resistant MDF?
MDF is board pressed from wood fibre. The moisture resistant grade, often sold as MR MDF, is made to handle humid conditions. One of the big board makers, with an office in Dubai, describes its MR MDF as a board for use in dry and humid conditions, with green coloured fibre as standard. That green core is how you spot it on site.
Read the small print too. That maker rates it for humid conditions under short term loads only. Moisture resistant is not waterproof. It copes with a steamy kitchen, but a leak left dripping for weeks will still hurt it, so fix that tap.
Is chipboard OK for kitchen cabinets?
Standard chipboard is for dry places. One board maker describes its P2 chipboard as a panel for interior use in dry conditions, for things like furniture parts and partitions. It is stiff and stable and does a fine job in a wardrobe.
Under a sink in Dubai, dry conditions are not what you have. If a quote lists chipboard, ask which grade sits in the sink cabinet and next to the dishwasher, and whether it is a moisture resistant grade.
Source: Kronospan: Particleboard P2
Is plywood better than MDF for kitchen cabinets?
Plywood is made of thin layers of wood veneer, glued with the grain of each layer at right angles to the next. That cross grain makes it strong and stable. Marine plywood goes further: durable veneers with few defects, and a weather and boil proof glue like most exterior plywood. It can be graded under the British standard BS 1088.
So marine plywood is a good choice for the wettest spot, the sink base. MDF has the smoother face, and our lacquer is sprayed onto moisture resistant MDF for that reason. Even outdoor grade plywood does best when its moisture content stays low, so it is no excuse for a leak.
Source: Wikipedia: Plywood
What do we build our kitchen cabinets from?
Every box is 18 mm moisture resistant board, with warm wood grain inside every cabinet, so it looks as good open as closed. One UAE building materials stockist lists moisture resistant MDF in 6, 9, 12 and 18 mm. Our library also holds marine plywood and P2 chipboard.
The board is only half of it. Doors hang on soft close hinges and drawers run on full extension runners, on every door and drawer. See the whole standard on our page about custom kitchens in Dubai.
Melamine, lacquer or veneer fronts?
Fronts are where most of the money goes, and where the choice shows. One UK kitchen maker priced the same kitchen in different door materials. Melamine faced board came out cheapest, with lacquered MDF and painted MDF above it.
Are high gloss PET fronts a good idea?
They are a popular way to get a deep shine without spraying lacquer. One board maker's high gloss board, for example, is MDF faced with a high gloss PET foil on the front and a matching textured foil on the back, made for interior fronts. The maker lists UV stability among its features.
One detail from the maker matters on site. The gloss comes with a protective film that should only come off after the furniture is assembled, so leave it on until the cabinets are in. Gloss also shows fingerprints, so think about handles or finger pulls.
What about super matt fronts?
Super matt is the opposite of gloss. One maker lists four main properties: very low light reflection with an extremely matt surface, a soft touch, resistance to fingerprints, and thermal healing of superficial micro scratches. Colours in our library include white, grey, brown, green and black.
It suits handleless kitchens in dark colours, where every greasy fingertip would otherwise show. In our planner you can try melamine, matt lacquer and oak veneer fronts and watch the kitchen cost estimate change. Here is what moves the price of a custom kitchen, front by front.
Source: FENIX: Which are the main properties of FENIX innovative materials?
Quick questions
Is MDF or plywood better for kitchen cabinets in the UAE?
Moisture resistant MDF is the usual choice for boxes and painted fronts. Marine plywood, made with weather and boil proof glue, is the tougher option for the sink base. Either way, every visible edge should be banded.
Is chipboard OK under the kitchen sink?
Standard P2 chipboard is made for dry conditions, so it is a poor choice under a sink. Ask any maker which board sits in the sink cabinet and whether it is a moisture resistant grade.
What thickness should kitchen cabinet board be?
Ask for the thickness written on the quote. Ours is 18 mm moisture resistant board for every box, with 1 mm edge banding on every visible edge.
Which kitchen fronts hide fingerprints best?
Matt surfaces. One maker of super matt fronts lists resistance to fingerprints among its main properties, while high gloss fronts show marks more easily.