What If Plywood Panels Aren’t Available For Your Cabinet Doors?
No plywood panel for your cabinet doors? Discover solid wood, similar species, and custom options, and how to choose the best fit.
You’re in the final stages of quoting a project for your customer when your cabinet door supplier breaks the news – the wood type you’ve selected doesn’t have a plywood panel option. What now? Suddenly, your cabinet doors are going to double in cost. How do you explain this to your customer? What are your options? Will this cause delays? Can you still meet the promised deadline? If you’re a contractor or cabinet maker, these questions can quickly turn a simple job into a major headache.
At Cutting Edge, we produce thousands of cabinet doors every month. The majority of them include plywood panels because they’re durable and cost-effective. But plywood panels aren’t always available for every wood type, and we’ve helped many customers find the best alternatives when that happens.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Why Are Plywood Panels Unavailable In Some Wood Types?
Plywood cabinet doors are popular for a reason – they offer excellent stability and are budget-friendly. But not every wood type has a matching plywood panel available.
There are a few key reasons for this:
- Manufacturing limitations: Plywood panels are made by layering thin sheets of wood (veneers) over a lower-cost core. Some wood species are too brittle or soft, making them difficult to turn into a veneer.
- Supply vs Demand: Not every wood species is in high demand for plywood panel production. If demand (or supply) is low, manufacturers may not produce that species in a plywood option.
- Structural challenges: Certain wood species aren’t suitable for creating stable veneer layers. Some woods have grain patterns, hardness, or oil content that cause veneers to split, warp, or not bond well to the core.
Alternatives If Plywood Panels Are Unavailable for Cabinet Doors
When plywood panels aren’t an option, you still have several good choices. The right option depends on your project, budget, and what your customer values most: cost, appearance, durability, or timeline.
Let’s explore your best alternatives:
Cabinet Doors With Solid Wood Panels
When plywood panels aren’t available, solid wood cabinet doors are often the first alternative that comes to mind. They offer unmatched beauty and authenticity, but it’s important to understand how this choice will impact your project.
Solid wood panels perfectly match the rest of the frame in terms of grain, tone, and feel. But this premium option comes at a cost. Expect to pay significantly more for solid wood cabinet doors compared to plywood cabinet doors. And because solid wood is more reactive to temperature and humidity changes, you’ll need to allow for movement in your door construction.
Pros And Cons Of Solid Wood Panels
Solid wood cabinet doors offer a premium, high-end look. Because they’re made from your exact wood species, you get a perfect match in grain and colour. Many customers value this quality and are willing to pay more for it. Solid wood also adds perceived value to your cabinetry.
However, this option is expensive, often double or more compared to plywood panels. Solid wood is also more susceptible to seasonal humidity fluctuations, which can cause your doors to shift or move slightly over time. You’ll need to design with this in mind and set proper expectations with your customer.
Key Considerations Of Solid Wood Panels
- Is your customer comfortable with the higher cost?
- Will the doors be installed in a high-humidity environment?
- Can you accommodate minor seasonal panel movement?
Solid wood cabinet doors are ideal when your customer demands authenticity or when matching an existing high-end installation. This is your best option if budget and lead time aren’t the top priority.
Cabinet Doors With Plywood Panels In A Similar Wood Species
Choosing plywood panels in a similar wood species is another smart solution. This option allows you to maintain stability and lower costs while offering an appearance that’s very close to your original choice.
In some cases, the difference is so slight it won’t be noticed, especially under a dark stain. In other cases, a similar species might be similar enough that the customer is willing to accept a slight variation for the lower price.
This option is popular when budget and timeline are priorities. It also works well when you paint or stain the cabinetry in a way that blends minor species differences.
Pros And Cons Of A Similar Wood Species
Choosing a similar species with plywood panels is often a budget-friendly solution. You’ll get better lead times and a look that’s very close to your original choice. For many customers, this small compromise is well worth the savings.
The downside is that it won’t be a perfect match. Depending on the species and finish, your customer may notice slight differences in grain or tone. Use samples to get their buy-in before moving forward.
Key Considerations Of A Similar Wood Species
- Will the project finish (paint, stain) mask minor species differences?
- Is cost savings a major driver for the client?
- Can you provide samples to align expectations?
Choosing a similar species of plywood keeps your project on track while delivering great value.
Cabinet Doors With Custom Laid-Up Plywood Panels
If your customer requires an exact species match, and solid wood isn’t ideal, consider ordering custom plywood panels. This involves bonding a veneer of your chosen species to a plywood core, creating a panel that looks exactly right while offering the benefits of plywood stability.
Not all suppliers offer this specialty service, and you may need to order the plywood yourself. Although it adds cost and lead time to the project, it’s the best choice when your customer wants plywood cabinet doors that perfectly match an existing set of cabinets, or when architectural requirements demand an exact species.
Pros And Cons Of A Custom Panel Lay-Up
Custom laid-up plywood panels allow you to get the exact wood species you want with all the stability benefits of plywood. It’s a great choice when matching existing cabinetry or when your project calls for uniformity.
However, this option comes with added costs and longer lead times. Keep in mind that not every supplier offers this service and not every species works well for custom layup.
Key Considerations Of A Custom Panel Lay-Up
- Will the project timeline allow for the custom process?
- Can your supplier guarantee consistent quality?
- Does your client require a perfect match to existing cabinetry?
This is the top-tier choice when clients want plywood panel cabinet doors with no visual or style compromises.
Change The Wood Species Entirely
Sometimes, your best choice is to change to a wood species with plywood panels.
For many clients, this offers the most budget-friendly and practical solution. With the wide range of species available in plywood cabinet doors, it’s often possible to find a wood type that complements the overall project beautifully, even if it’s not the first choice.
Changing species works especially well when the cabinetry will be painted, or when the customer is flexible about wood grain and tone. It also helps contractors like you stay on time and on budget when a project hits a supply snag.
Pros And Cons Of Changing The Wood Species
Changing the species completely gives you maximum flexibility. You can select from the most commonly available plywood panels, keeping costs low and lead times short. This is often the simplest solution.
Of course, this approach does require a conversation with your customer. Some clients are very particular about wood species. Changing the wood species may not be an acceptable option if a perfect match is important to them.
Key Considerations Of Changing The Wood Species
- Will the client accept a different species for cost or timeline reasons?
- Is the project painted or stained, making species choice less important?
- Are there complementary species that will work well in the design?
Changing the species lets you quickly solve the problem and move forward with a high-performing solution.
Choosing The Best Alternative To Plywood Panels For Your Cabinet Doors
Choosing the right alternative to plywood panels isn’t just about cost. The centre panels affect appearance, durability, timeline, and customer satisfaction. Taking a few moments to think through your options can help you avoid surprises and deliver a result you and your customer will both be proud of.
Here are some quick questions to guide your choice:
- Is cost a priority? Are you sticking to a tight budget? Your most affordable options are to change the wood species entirely or choose a similar wood species for the centre panels.
- Does your customer require an exact match to existing doors? Choose solid wood panels or custom laid-up plywood panels.
- Are you on a tight timeline? Avoid a custom panel lay-up because that option takes the longest.
By asking these simple questions, you’ll be able to recommend the option that makes the most sense for your project and your customer.
Learn How Much Solid Wood Cabinet Doors Cost
At the end of the day, we’ve all faced the challenge of navigating material availability when it comes to plywood panel cabinet doors. This is especially true when the wood type you order doesn’t offer a plywood option, causing unexpected costs, delays, and tough customer conversations. Now that you’ve learned from Cutting Edge what to do when this happens, you can confidently explore your best alternatives.
Choosing the right option means balancing budget, timeline, and customer expectations. The next step is simple: discover how much solid wood cabinet doors cost to see if they’ll fit in your project’s budget. That way, you can present your customers with clear choices and keep your projects moving forward smoothly.
