MDF OR WOOD

For white painted cabinets, I'd lean toward painted MDF — and here's why: MDF has no wood grain, so it takes paint incredibly smoothly and evenly. With maple or birch, the grain can telegraph through the paint over time, especially with temperature and humidity changes, which is common in kitchens. You may start seeing subtle lines or unevenness in the finish down the road. That said, MDF does have one weakness — moisture. The door edges and bottoms need to be properly sealed, and you'll want to make sure your kitchen is well-ventilated. If those boxes get wet repeatedly (under the sink, near the dishwasher), MDF can swell. The sweet spot a lot of our clients go with is MDF doors and drawer fronts (the visible painted surfaces) with plywood boxes for the cabinet structure — you get the best of both worlds. Hope that helps with your decision! Sam Beninato — renoWOW! Bathroom & Kitchen Renovations, Toronto

It depends on several factors like cost and aesthetics. Maple and birch are going to cost a lot more than MDF. If your desired look is solid white, MDF can be very convincing and appealing. From a durability standpoint, all of your material options are very comparable. If your mind jumps to maple or birch, you should ask if there are specific attributes that MDF cannot deliver? Or if using maple or birch is commensurate with the calibre of your house or your neighbourhood, if investment value is of concern? MDF has come a long way, including in higher-end remodels.

I prefer to use maple. Holds together better. MDF I find the edges break off to easy. It also depends on your budget. MDF is cheaper but not always the best.

Hello! Either option is good. It totally depends on what look you are going for. MDF if finished correctly will have a smooth finish where maple will show some grain depending on the quality.