What Is MDF and Why Is It Used in Cabinet Doors?
MDF is a composite product made of recycled wood fibres and resin. It is popular in painted cabinet doors because it is cost-effective.
As someone new to the industry or still learning the vocabulary, you likely feel overwhelmed by all the words you’ve never heard of before. You need more information to get your customers the best options, all while avoiding low-quality products. The question on your mind right now is, what is MDF and why is it used in cabinet doors?
At Cutting Edge, we’ve worked with MDF products for over ten years. Although we don’t produce MDF in-house (we leave that to the experts), we use MDF to create cabinet doors. We have first-hand experience with the product, understanding how MDF manufacturers produce it, the potential problems, and how you can use MDF to increase your profit without harming your reputation.
In this article, you’ll learn:
MDF Is a Composite, Engineered Material
MDF, or medium-density fibreboard (there’s a reason we call it MDF instead!), is an engineered material. The manufacturers of MDF take wood scraps, fibres, sawdust, and small shavings. Then, they compress these ingredients and add wax and resin to hold everything together and add strength.
You can see the resin layer in most MDF types. It’s a darker layer at the top and bottom of the sheet, about 1 mm thick. The rest of the MDF, in the core, is a lighter colour because it doesn’t contain as much resin.
MDF is often used instead of plywood or particle board as the core of products like plywood panels because it is more stable and less expensive.
MDF Is (Sort Of) an Affordable Alternative to Wood
You might hear cabinet makers and contractors, or even your customers, refer to MDF as an affordable alternative to wood.
This statement is not completely accurate.
No, you can’t make MDF look like wood. You won’t be able to use MDF instead of Walnut to save money when your customer expects to see Walnut.
What is true is that MDF is an affordable alternative to wood that gets painted or otherwise hidden.
So yes, using MDF where possible will save you money compared to using wood. However, you can’t expect to use MDF everywhere – and you shouldn’t anyway because it isn’t a perfect solution.
Drawbacks of MDF
In fact, because MDF is an engineered product, it has several significant drawbacks.
Not Real Wood
This one is obvious – but MDF isn’t wood. It is a composite product. It can’t hold as much weight and isn’t as strong as wood. And at the same time, it’s heavier than most wood types.
Although MDF is less likely to warp or crack and doesn’t have any of the natural characteristics of wood, it is easier to damage (dent, chip or scratch).
Affected by Moisture
Yes, we’ve just said that MDF is less likely to warp than wood. Providing you leave the MDF intact and don’t cut through the resin layer (which provides the structural stability), MDF is very stable.
However, you have to cut through the resin layer to make cabinet doors out of MDF. Once you expose the inner core of MDF, moisture changes can cause the MDF to warp. However, when you reseal the MDF (by painting it), it becomes a relatively stable product again.
Contains and Emits Formaldehyde
The resin added to MDF contains formaldehyde. Over time, MDF will release some formaldehyde gas. In the amounts emitted by MDF, formaldehyde gas is, at worst, an irritant that can worsen asthma symptoms.
All MDF products sold in Canada comply with the regulations and are safe to use. However, some customers will prefer to avoid MDF and the accompanying risks.
When Should You Choose MDF Over Wood Cabinet Doors?
Now that you know about some of the drawbacks of MDF and that you can’t use it to replace all wood products, you need to know when you can use it. Are there specific scenarios where MDF will save you money?
Yes, there are – and there are also times when using MDF will cost you money instead.
MDF Saves Money When Used in the Right Ways…
When you use MDF correctly, you can save money and increase your profit without making your customers unhappy or harming your reputation.
Here are two examples of when MDF is a good option.
1. When Used Under Painted Finishes in Low-Wear Areas
Cabinet makers and contractors often use MDF under painted finishes. In this scenario, real wood adds expense without any real benefits. Replacing painted wood with painted MDF will save you (and your customers) some money.
However, MDF is easier to damage than wood, so don’t install painted MDF doors in a high-use area, like a commercial kitchen.
2. As a Low-Cost Option Where High Quality Isn’t Required
The second example is using MDF as a low-cost product where your customer doesn’t require high quality. For example, painted MDF doors work well in large projects, apartments or rental units.
But It Can Cost You Money When Used Incorrectly
However, using MDF in the wrong place can cost you money by making your customers unhappy, causing warranty reorders, and damaging your reputation.
Here are three scenarios where using MDF will not save you money.
1. Substituting MDF for Wood Without Permission
You could have a real problem on your hands if your customers specifically request wood, and you choose to ignore their request and use MDF instead. Eventually, your customers will realize you used MDF (probably when the painted finish chips through to MDF), and they will expect you to replace the MDF doors with the wood doors they had ordered.
2. Selling MDF as a High-Quality Product
You will also damage your reputation and make your customers unhappy if you falsely claim MDF is a high-quality, durable product.
The fact is that MDF is a cost-effective alternative to the high-quality and durable option – real wood. So, if your customers want cost savings and choose MDF, ensure they understand that it is not as durable as wood.
3. Installing MDF in a Humid Environment Without a Properly Sealed Finish
And finally, installing MDF in a humid environment without a properly sealed finish will cost you money. Because the inner core of MDF is susceptible to moisture changes, you must ensure your painted finish completely seals the cabinet doors.
If the painted finish doesn’t seal the door or gets damaged, the moisture will cause the MDF to swell underneath the paint. Eventually, the swelling will crack the painted finish further, and the whole cycle will repeat until your customers need the cabinet door replaced.
Common Uses for MDF in Cabinet Doors
Now, where will you find MDF? The answer is almost everywhere – except in solid wood.
To increase cost savings, many manufacturers use MDF as the core of their material. For example, you will find MDF:
- At the core of most plywood panels
- In NEXGEN products
Of course, cabinet door manufacturers also use MDF to make cabinet doors. In these cases, you know the cabinet doors contain MDF because it’s mentioned in the product name. For example:
- 1-piece MDF cabinet doors
- 2-piece MDF cabinet doors
- 5-piece MDF cabinet doors
- MDF slabs
Learn More About 1-Piece and 2-Piece MDF Cabinet Doors
No matter how long you work in the industry, you continue to learn about new products and find words or phrases that are unique. You need to constantly ensure you understand what those products and terms mean to avoid offering a product that could harm your reputation.
At the beginning of this article, you had wondered what MDF was and how you could use it to save money.
So, now that Cutting Edge has guided you through the basics, it’s time for you to take the next step. Cutting Edge and other cabinet door manufacturers use MDF to create cabinet doors; learn how 1-piece and 2-piece MDF doors compare.
