- There are several on-line suppliers offering kitchen units with
- solid wood carcasses. They - seem to cost about the same (or less)
- than the usual chipboard ones from the big names. The wood is
- typically 18mm thick and made from panels 'assembled' from smaller planks.
- They also seem to be made in factories in the UK which is nice.
- Are there any things to worry about with cabinets made like this?
- Why would anyoen buy chipboard in preference?
Apart from the door and drawer fronts, which can be solid oak or any other timber if you so choose, the only part visible part aside from the end panels will be the insides of the cupboards and drawers. Here white melamine is preferable, both from a visibilty aspect and in terms of keeping it clean. Its a whole lot easier to see what's at the back of a cupboard if the interior is white, and its also easier to see if its been properly cleaned.
Apart from this, the reason chipbpoard and MDF are so popular is because they're more stable in a kitchen environment, by design, than is natural timber.
Quite what benefit there can be, in having the sides and maybe even the backs of cabinets, which will never actually be seen - i.e all but the end panels - made from solid timber is something only the suppliers could possibly answer.
michael adams
...
Examples of suppliers:
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for any comments,
Robert laws at bcs.org.uk