Written by Ashley Lipman
When designing or renovating a kitchen, there are so many things to consider. One of the factors that always comes into play is aesthetics vs practicality. You want your room to look appealing, but it can’t be at the expense of function. This is even more true with kitchen cabinets.
With so many options available, it’s not easy to decide which one is the best for you. Solid wood kitchen cabinets are a perfect choice and are one of the most popular for builders and those who work in home improvement. Read on for all of the reasons why.
Solid Wood Vs. Engineered Wood
When buying or building furniture out of wood, you have two ways to go. Solid or engineered. These are very different types of material and have their own pros and cons.
Solid Wood
Quite simply, this is raw timber, straight from the tree that hasn’t been modified or enhanced in a factory. There are two types, hard and soft.
Hardwood
Hardwood has a dense, very heavy texture. It comes from trees such as oak, maple, teak, and mahogany. The latter now is becoming quite rare due to limited availability. The beauty of this wood is that it’s long-lasting, and isn’t prone to damage or marking.
Softwood
Trees like pine, cypress, and cedar provide softwood. It’s lighter in color, not as dense as hardwood, and easier to cut and move. The challenge with this type is that it’s easy to mark and can get scratched and scuffed.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is created in a factory using a mixture of materials such as sawdust, timber fibers, chemicals, and glues. The idea is that it looks like the real thing, but it’s a manufactured product and, as such, doesn’t have the same durability. It’s also prone to warping and buckling due to changes in temperature or being exposed to water.
Solid Wood in the Kitchen
There are a number of reasons why this should be your first choice when deciding on a material for your kitchen cabinets.
Long-Lasting
Ideally, you want furniture that doesn’t need to be replaced. This material is known for its durability, it’s hard to damage or mark, and it’s heavy.
Practical
One of the best things is that once it’s off the tree, it’s ready to be used. It’s easy to carve, which makes it perfect for so many creative options.
Unique
Like snowflakes and fingerprints, no two trees are the same. The timber that comes from one will be slightly different from the next one. This way, your furniture will have its own unique look to it.
Environmentally Friendly
It may come as a surprise that solid wood is an environmentally friendly option. Over 45m hectares of forests worldwide are part of The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). They promise that for every single tree that is cut down, another will be planted.
The Downside
Not everything is perfect. The only challenge with using this product is that it’s a lot more expensive than its engineered counterpart. However, a large initial outlay will guarantee that you won’t need to spend money later in repairs, refurbishment, or replacement.
Something else to keep in mind when using this material is that it’s very heavy. As such, it does need well thought out preparation and planning to move it around logistically.
The Choice Is Easy
Provided that you have the funds for it, solid wood is by far the best choice for your kitchen cabinets. Unlike engineered wood, it’s long-lasting, durable, carvable, and survives unhindered in most environments.
Each tree is different, so your cabinets will be unique. There’s also no need to be concerned about the environment as this form of timber is sustainable.
Written by Guest Writer Ashley Lipman
Ashley Lipman is an award-winning writer who discovered her passion for providing knowledge to readers worldwide on topics closest to her heart - all things digital. Since her first high school award in Creative Writing, she continues to deliver awesome content through various niches touching the digital sphere.
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