Furniture made from chipboard and MDF has long become commonplace. New, easier to process and use, cheaper materials are actively replacing traditional products made from various tree species. And this is not surprising. The performance characteristics of high-quality artificial materials based on sawdust are in no way inferior to solid wood. And in a number of parameters they are even superior.
When choosing furniture for their home or apartment or organization, many buyers ask a logical question: how reliable and durable are these materials, and what are their differences. You often hear that DSAMP and MDF are practically the same thing, made according to common recipes, and there is no point in choosing. Is it so? In order not to make a mistake when choosing furniture, you need to clearly understand the differences between these two materials. What nuances need to be taken into account when purchasing furnishings for certain needs. Let's try to figure it out together with the experts.
What are the differences between laminated chipboard and MDF?
At first glance, indeed, furniture made from chipboard and MDF looks the same. The products look good, almost the same colors and textures are used. Even the shape and style of many models of kitchen, bedroom or living room sets are made according to the same design. Meanwhile, the difference between them is huge: in quality, in operating conditions, and even in price. All the differences are hidden in the depths, behind the attractive facades. They are associated with the peculiarities of production technologies for particle boards and finely dispersed fractions.
The best matte countertops for the kitchen
Hanex Duo
Tabletops made of artificial acrylic "Hanex" made in South Korea have a matte structure. The surface design is very diverse - from snow-white to deep black. The material has a unique plasticity. When heated, acrylic plates are formed into the desired shape, the ends are joined using special glue without the formation of seams.
Grandex
Environmentally friendly and safe countertops made of modern material – Grandex acrylic stone. The company from South Korea produces products that include six collections, collected according to the most popular colors. Countertops made of natural stone are most often made with a matte sheen. Buyers select the desired shade from the samples presented.
Disadvantages of laminated chipboard
- Due to the large number of large chips and heterogeneity of the structure, chipboards are prone to chipping of individual particles and the appearance of chips. Products can only be sawed in straight lines. They are not subject to fine milling or laser engraving. Therefore, it is very rare to find beautiful furniture facades made of chipboard, with figured cutouts, 3D relief images, and complex patterns. Mostly even, smooth doors are made from this material, suitable for modern styles.
- If water regularly gets into the joints and seams, the surface in these places swells and bulges into a hump. The product increases its volume up to 30%. The film begins to peel off. Inside the slab, the mass becomes loose, crumbles, and black mold appears. To avoid this, you should choose furniture with laser-cut edges (soldered joints). Such products are more durable. In addition, spilled liquids must be promptly removed by wiping the surface with a soft, clean cloth.
- Due to the low density of the base, the places where the fittings are attached gradually crumble. The fasteners begin to move freely in the socket. Furniture made from chipboard is not intended for frequent assembly and disassembly. It is enough to transport the set 1-2 times to a new place of residence, and it will warp in the most unimaginable way due to completely loose fastenings. To remedy the situation, you can use wood glue or use thicker screws. Or initially purchase products that use not ordinary fasteners, but bolts with wide washers.
- Low-grade types of chipboard negatively affect the health of children, adults, and pets. To produce the cheapest materials, large amounts of resins that emit formaldehyde are used. If new furniture has a specific, chemical smell, it is better to refuse the purchase. Living next to such a time bomb is simply dangerous.
Perhaps the most important disadvantage of laminated chipboard is its short service life. Such furniture lasts on average 5-7 years, subject to the rules of operation.
Features of operation
A plastic tabletop requires special care. Any dirt from its surface is removed with a damp cloth. You can use detergents, but without abrasive particles. You should refrain from using metal sponges or hard brushes, which can scratch the surface. When slicing, you should use a board to avoid scratches from the knife. When scratches occur, moisture penetrates the chipboard layer and causes it to deform or swell.
The weakest point of a plastic kitchen is the joints, which must be treated with sealant. Also important is the plinth, especially at the junction of the tabletop with the apron.
If you place a hot frying pan on a plastic surface, nothing will happen. But with prolonged thermal exposure, the tabletop can still become deformed. Therefore, it is better to use special hot mats.
Advantages of MDF
- Since formaldehyde resins are not used in the production of MDF boards, they are much safer than chipboard. In fact, it is the same wood, with a small content of natural or urea resins, only more uniform and durable. The material is used in the manufacture of children's furniture, cribs and changing tables for newborns, products for children's and medical institutions. By purchasing furniture made from high-quality MDF, the buyer can be completely confident in its safety for health.
- MDF, even in its natural, uncovered form, is not afraid of water. Its dense structure simply does not allow liquids to be quickly absorbed, unlike some types of natural wood and, especially, chipboard. And an additional protective coating in the form of a laminating film or veneer gives it excellent moisture-resistant characteristics. Even many hours of exposure to puddles of water or other liquids are not dangerous for MDF surfaces. That is why furniture made from this material is recommended for “wet areas” - kitchens, bathrooms, swimming pools, toilets, dressing rooms.
- Dense sheets can be bent if necessary: they do not break or crack, and retain their shape perfectly. This feature is widely used in the manufacture of curved or concave facades and other elements.
- MDF sheets, thanks to their homogeneous structure, make it possible to produce richly decorated furniture facades. They perfectly withstand all types of processing: sawing, shape cutting, milling. The possibilities of milling this material are limited only by the designer’s imagination. Craftsmen form products with relief figures and designs, carve complex recesses and patterns, apply entire pictures to slabs, and make carved platbands and moldings.
- The edges and front part of the products have no joints or seams, as they are covered with one sheet of protective and decorative material. That is why products made from MDF successfully resist moisture and chemicals. The coating is so dense that it is very difficult to scratch or make a dent.
- You can spill water, caustic fruit acids, or soda solution on MDF countertops and kitchen aprons. If you wipe up the resulting puddle in a timely manner, there will be no consequences for the coating.
- Furniture made from MDF perfectly withstands repeated assembly and disassembly when moving and moving to other rooms. In this respect, it is comparable to products made from natural solid wood.
- Consumers are offered a huge number of finishing options: PVC film with the most fantastic shades and textures; glossy, mirror, matte and semi-matte coatings; products with metallic, mother-of-pearl effects, interspersed with sparkles and metal threads, patina; veneer from elite wood species; surfaces that perfectly imitate any type of wood, stone, textiles, leather. Even the most picky buyer will definitely find a product to his liking!
The best glossy countertops for the kitchen
LINNMON
Glossy white fiberboard worktop for the kitchen, manufactured by IKEA, country – Poland. It is recommended to care with a dry, clean cloth. Can be wiped with a damp cloth, if necessary, treat with a solution of detergent or soap. Beautiful surface with a unique shine. The table in the kitchen reflects the incident light.
Kronospan Shining Stone SQ
Polish countertop with a glossy finish that imitates black stone with shining inclusions. Material structure – SQ gloss.
SQ Kronospan marble
Glossy countertops in various colors. Chipboard slabs are decorated with natural marble (salmon, gray, beige, brown, moonstone, bright Venetian and other shades).
What are the disadvantages of MDF?
- Quite a high price compared to chipboard - 30-50% higher. High-quality MDF boards, coated with natural veneer, elite types of plastic or durable enamel, are close in cost to solid wood. However, they last two to three times longer than products made from chipboard or even solid wood.
- Plates consisting of small, homogeneous particles are prone to burning, even despite special impregnation with fire retardants.
- Dense material has more weight than particle boards, which affects the weight of the finished products. This must be taken into account when transporting and choosing an installation location.
To reduce the final cost of products and increase the number of sales, furniture manufacturers offer compromise options:
- cabinets for kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms are made from straight, laconic chipboard plates;
- and beautifully decorated, carved facades are made from MDF.
Such furniture is affordable and lasts longer, thanks to durable, high-quality facades that take the brunt of the impact.
pros
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Plastic countertops for the kitchen, photos of which are presented above, have many advantages in addition to their low cost.
The advantages of a plastic kitchen are as follows:
- affordable price - for example, the cost of a domestically produced laminated board measuring 60 x 24.5 cm and 28 mm thick can be purchased for 1,500 rubles, 38 mm thick and 3 m long - 4,000 rubles;
- a variety of colors, textures and decors from classic style to trendy high-tech;
- high-quality material lasts a long time, does not fade and is not subject to mechanical stress;
- the material is not afraid of high temperatures (you can even place hot dishes on it), is easily cleaned of dirt and does not absorb moisture or odor;
- plastic is resistant to chemical treatment.
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Additional advantages include the fact that any design or even a photograph can be printed on the plastic surface.
Production technology
For its production, chipboard sheets, sometimes MDF of various thicknesses, are used, which are covered with a thin but very durable layer of decorative plastic - melamine (HPL). It, in turn, is made from several layers of craft paper, which is impregnated with resins and then pressed. The joining of both materials occurs under high temperatures and pressure using the so-called postforming method. This allows you to smoothly bend the polymer layer onto the front edge of the tabletop and thereby achieve a perfectly flat and smooth surface without any joints.
How to choose: basic tips
To make such a product pleasing to the eye and last for many years, it is better to listen to the advice of experts when purchasing, namely:
- pay attention to the quality of end processing. It is better to give preference to products made using the postforming method, i.e. with plastic folded to the back. This will protect the chipboard from accidental moisture and accordingly extend the life of the countertop. Another important detail is the presence of a so-called drip tray, which in case of serious leaks will not allow moisture to seep into the thickness of the slab;
- the thickness of the tabletop itself - the larger it is, the more solid it looks, and its strength and reliability also depend on this. Most often, manufacturers offer countertops with a thickness of 2.8 cm to 4 cm. However, if desired, you can order a product with a thickness of 6 cm or more. If you need to get to the top drawers, for example, to put things in order, you can safely stand on such a table top, etc.;
- The thickness of the plastic layer is also an important criterion when choosing such a product, because it indicates the wear resistance of the material. This indicator can vary within the range from 0.4 mm to 0.9 mm;
- color scheme - the choice depends not only on the interior of the kitchen, without a doubt, it should be in harmony with the furniture and decoration of the walls, floors, etc. The color of the countertop also affects its practicality. On a dark background, all dirt, stains, dust, dirt, etc. are visible, which cannot be said about light models.
Advice. If you don’t want to constantly worry about the appearance of the kitchen, then it is best to choose a plastic countertop that is light in color or dark, but with pronounced light inclusions, for example, like granite or quartz;
- texture is also of great importance. Experts recommend avoiding pronounced wood structure, gloss, etc. Countertops with a relief texture are very difficult to clean, and on glossy ones any defects and fingerprints are noticeable.
Bed Materials: Is Wood All That It Looks Like?
Wooden beds are loved by many for their attractive appearance, naturalness, durability and ability to create a truly cozy, homely environment.
However, is all the furniture that looks like wood actually wood and has these properties? No, not all of it, because due to the high cost, few decide to purchase solid wood furniture, but turn to more affordable, and therefore more attractive, substitutes like chipboard and MDF. In this article we will try to figure out what modern beds can be made from and what qualities they will have.
Solid wood beds
Let's start with furniture made from solid natural wood. In its production, high-quality, well-dried wood without knots and cracks is taken; it can be either whole boards or assembled boards from individual pieces connected with glue (glued laminated board), which are then sanded and varnished. At the same time, to ensure that the bed does not emit harmful substances, it is important that high-quality, environmentally friendly water-based varnish is used. Beds made from solid noble wood are valued primarily for the beauty of their texture, hardness, strength, and durability. Each breed is distinguished by its individuality and uniqueness of its pattern, shade, noticeable aroma and warmth. Among the different types of wood, mahogany, oak, beech, ash, and birch are considered the best, since they have the greatest strength, do not creak and become less loose over time, preserving the beauty and nobility of the surface for a long time.
Often those who cannot afford expensive furniture made of noble wood choose a pine bed, which is significantly cheaper in price. Pine has its drawbacks: it is relatively soft, so the screw joints in such furniture can become loose over time, and over time, when drying, unevenness and pits may appear in the pine boards.
The pliability of natural wood has ensured that furniture made from it is always decorated with a variety of carvings and patterns, which makes your bed elegant and unique. It is precisely because of this uniqueness that it is recommended to purchase elements of a bedroom set not separately, but the entire set at once (usually a bed, wardrobe, bedside tables, chest of drawers), since then you may simply not find components that will fit with those already purchased.
However, solid natural wood is a very expensive material and not accessible to everyone, so such furniture is purchased for many years, or even for life.
