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MDF kitchen or solid wood what to choose. How to choose materials for the kitchen. Compare MDF, solid wood, plastic and laminated chipboard. Online store of wooden furniture: secrets of profitable purchases

modern furniture are high-tech products, for the creation of which designers, designers are involved, computerized machines and a variety of materials are used, each of which has both its pluses and minuses. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the most common materials for the manufacture of furniture: metal, solid wood, chipboard (chipboard) and MDF.

Metal furniture

Metal has been used since antiquity to make furniture and accessories. The magnificent chair that was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun (14th century BC) was richly decorated with solid gold elements. AT Ancient Greece for the manufacture of furniture used iron, bronze and silver. During the Middle Ages, metal chairs, such as the throne of Dagobert I, King of the Franks in the 17th century, were used for special ceremonies. Silver furniture was produced in large quantities to decorate palaces. But during the period of numerous wars, silver objects were melted down into coins, and in subsequent centuries, the metal was used for strengthening and decoration. wooden furniture.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, iron furniture became a typical industrial product. Iron beds have gained particular popularity. A well-known example is the iron bed used by Napoleon while serving his exile on the island of St. Helena.

The use of materials such as steel and aluminum for furniture was first explored in Germany in the 1920s. This issue has been dealt with in particular in high school construction and artistic design "Bauhaus", where various experiments took place with modern materials. So, steel springs and chrome-plated steel tubes were tested here for the first time. Coming Soon metal pipes for the manufacture of furniture frames were appreciated both in the Old World and in America.

In the middle of the 20th century, metal furniture lost its relevance. Both abroad and in Russia during the era of socialism, metal furniture was used mainly for industrial enterprises, in medical, sports, educational institutions, military units, etc.

Now the fashion for metal furniture has begun to revive. First, she entered office interiors, and now she is increasingly taking her place in high-tech and antique-style houses.

Advantages

Strength

The strength and durability of metal is an indisputable fact. Metal furniture withstands operation for decades, can be assembled and disassembled an unlimited number of times.

Resistance to microclimate changes

Metal furniture is famous for its resistance to changes in temperature and humidity conditions. That is why, when choosing furniture for the garden, preference is given to metal products - they will calmly withstand both rain and the scorching sun, and will safely serve their owners for more than one year.

Style

Metal products attract attention with their unique style. Due to the fact that they are made of rods, the furniture is perceived as a very light and transparent structure. And the plasticity of the metal allows you to create the most incredible twisted and figured decorations for furniture.

Environmental friendliness

Metal furniture is made from a material that is heated and forged, stamped with further welding, painting. As you might guess, thanks to this technology, a metal product is highly environmentally friendly and does not contain any dangerous odors and fumes.

disadvantages

Big weight

Metal furniture has a significant weight, so when choosing it, you must take into account the possibility of damage to the furniture. floor coverings- parquet, massive board. Another consequence of the significant weight of metal furniture is the difficulty in assembling it - disassembling, transporting - in order to assemble, disassemble or transport such furniture, at least two people are needed.

Tactile sensations

Metal to the touch cold material, and for many this becomes a significant factor influencing the choice of furniture. This feature of the metal is due to its high thermal conductivity. In contact with it, the heat of our body quickly flows into the metal and it is not enough to heat the metal to body temperature - and we feel a sharp cold.

A vivid example of this metal property is frozen metal handles in winter period. If you touch them with your bare hand, even in a small minus, the skin feels a burning cold.

Injury

Metal is a traumatic furniture material. According to the Brinell table, it has one of the highest hardness coefficients. And this means that practically without being deformed upon impact, metal furniture does not absorb the impact force, but rather returns it to the object that collided with it. In this regard, accidental bruises on metal furniture turn into very painful abrasions. An example that almost every one of us has come across in everyday life can be indicative: if you drop a porcelain cup on a metal surface, it breaks into small fragments, but if it falls on a tree, then at worst it will break, and at best it will remain intact. .

Very often, metal furniture is chosen for its twisted patterns. If there are small children in the family, such openwork furniture can become a serious threat to their safety. Curious kids can stick their fingers into the holes in the patterns, and this is fraught with getting their fingers stuck in the metal decor.

MDF furniture

MDF stands for Medium Density Fiberboard. MDF originated as a development of the dry method of production. The beginning of industrial production of MDF dates back to 1966 (USA). The technology was based on the wet method. In the 1970s, dry production was developed with an annual output of MDF of 380,000 cubic meters. (1975). At the end of 1990, there were already 74 MDF plants operating in the world with a total capacity of 6.8 million cubic meters.

Today, MDF is an active competitor to chipboard. In particular, according to the forecasts of the European Federation of Board Materials, the tendency to expand production in Europe will continue in the near future and will amount to 25% per year, with the initial volume of 2000 being 7.1 million cubic meters. World production of MDF is approximately 20 million cubic meters.

Advantages

Environmental friendliness

The environmental friendliness of MDF is explained by the technology of its manufacture. The raw material for the production of this furniture material is wood fibers. They are dried and treated with binders, then the carpet is formed, followed by hot pressing and grinding. Because melamine-modified urea resins are used in MDF production, formaldehyde emissions are low. The formaldehyde content in terms of 100 g of dry board, as a rule, is less than 8 mg, less often - 10 mg. For comparison, in the case of chipboard, this figure reaches 18-30.

Water resistance

Another indicator that wood-based panels have today is hydrophobicity. Being in direct contact with water for 24 hours, 30-38 mm MDF panels practically do not absorb moisture (less than 8% swelling) and do not warp. Their thinner counterparts are also inert to water: in accordance with EN 317, the swelling of 6-9 mm boards is less than 17%. At the same time, the own humidity of the panels fluctuates around 4-8%.

Variety of colors and decors

The front part of the MDF panels is treated with either melamine-coated paper or lacquered veneer made from precious woods. This makes it possible to give the panel a beautiful and aesthetic appearance, choose from a wide variety of colors and textures. In addition, a layer of melamine and a wear-resistant varnish reliably protect the panels from moisture and prevent the surface from fading under the influence of sunlight.

The variety of patterns and a wide range of colors for decorating panels make it possible to choose an MDF design for every taste, in accordance with the interior and style of the room, the walls of which will be finished with this material.

Easy Care

MDF panels require minimal and simple maintenance - it is enough to occasionally wipe the plates with a damp cloth or one of the special means, which are sold in abundance in stores. MDF panels are easy to dismantle, so if necessary, any damaged areas can be quickly replaced.

disadvantages

High price

An important disadvantage of MDF is the high price.

high temperature resistance

MDF is a highly flammable material, so contact with open flames or hot surfaces is a potential fire hazard. Since, according to the manufacturing technology, the main process that ensures the bonding of certain types of films with an MDF board is heating, such furniture is not recommended to be used near heating appliances- under the influence of high temperature, the outer decorative coating may peel off.

Instability to mechanical stress

MDF structures are vulnerable to mechanical stress, due to medium density fine fractions. Since the plate has a non-monolithic structure, during repeated disassembly-assembly, the holes into which the screws are screwed crumble, and the reliability of the connection decreases.

Chipboard furniture

One of the most common and at the same time young furniture materials is chipboard (chipboard). Chipboard furniture in its current form was first produced in 1940 in the United States as temporary furniture for refugees. Since then, chipboard, due to its low price, has become widespread throughout the world.

Advantages

Low price

Chipboard is a material that has the lowest price compared to other furniture materials. This price is explained by the fact that for its manufacture wood processing industry waste is used, which in itself has a very low cost. Their further processing also costs the manufacturer much cheaper than the processing of other furniture materials.

Large selection of colors

Since the appearance of the slab depends on what kind of film is used for pasting it, chipboard furniture can have the most different colors and drawings. Therefore, the range of chipboard products allows you to satisfy almost any tastes and preferences.

Possibility to purchase furniture at any time

To give this or that appearance to a chipboard plate is quite simple - you just need to choose a film with a different design. Thanks to this, a set of furniture made of chipboard can be purchased with a break in time. When ordering products matched to previously purchased pieces of furniture made of chipboard, you only need to know the manufacturer, the color and texture of the film with which the chipboard was pasted over and a new piece of furniture will be made in exactly the same design.

High workability of the material

For the production of furniture from chipboard, a minimum set of technological operations is required - cutting, edging and additive. Therefore, it is possible to produce furniture from chipboard in a short time. At the same time, the cost of furniture due to production costs increases slightly, thereby ensuring a low level of prices for the finished product.

disadvantages

Toxicity

Chipboard contains toxic impurities, and first of all, formaldehyde, which can be released into the air and is present in resins, which are an essential component of composite wood-containing materials. Frequent exposure to this gas can cause significant harm to human health. Thus, the World Health Organization confirms that constantly inhaled formaldehyde has the ability to accumulate in human body, causing harm to the skin, respiratory organs, reproductive system, eyes, leading to the occurrence of oncological diseases.

Chipboard manufacturing technology requires the use of a large amount of resin. To obtain a standard board, it is necessary to mix chips and resin in the following ratio: for 100 kg of dry chips - at least 37 kg of resin, that is, medium-quality chipboard should consist of almost a third of resin. Such a high percentage of resin content leads to the fact that the chipboard board can continue to "soar" with formaldehyde for 14 years. The highest concentration of formaldehyde evaporation takes place in the first 6 months of operation, over the years, the intensity of evaporation gradually decreases.

sharp corners

Due to the fact that chipboard is a slab material, sharp corners are an inherent disadvantage of furniture made from it. Even if radius parts are cut out of the chipboard, their ends are still made at an angle, without rounding. Therefore, when choosing furniture made of chipboard, it is desirable to take into account the increased risk of injury as a result of an accidental collision with it.

fragility

Chipboard has one of the lowest rates of strength and durability. Over time, the density of chipboard decreases - the adhesives that serve to fasten the chips disappear and after 10-14 years, due to their lack, the plates begin to collapse, the furniture becomes brittle, the fasteners fall out of the crumbling holes.

Since the composite material is particles glued together, it is impossible to subject furniture made of chipboard, like furniture made of metal or solid wood, to repeated assembly and disassembly. Holes in chipboard boards, into which self-tapping screws and screws are repeatedly screwed, collapse, crumble and stability, the strength of the structure decreases.

Deformation under the influence of moisture

If we talk about the resistance of chipboard to moisture, it should be stated that this material is very afraid of water. Under the influence of moisture, the swelling of chipboard is up to 33%. At the same time, after drying, the swollen chipboard does not take its original shape.

Solid wood furniture

Wood is the oldest material for making furniture. There is an opinion that carpentry skills appeared in Ancient Egypt when people, using simple tools, began to make individual pieces of furniture, for example, a chair with a back or a bed.

The solid wood is a little younger. One of the ancient analogues of the technology for the production of glued laminated timber is the bow of Japanese warriors. Since the 12th century, the arc of small arms in Japan began to be made by gluing constituent parts made of bamboo and wood, which significantly increased its elasticity, strength, reliability, accuracy and range of target destruction.

Since the whole history of mankind has an evolutionary character, over time, more and more new devices for wood processing appeared, and furniture designs became more complicated. Nowadays, craftsmanship in the manufacture of wooden furniture has reached a truly high level, when pieces of furniture can be made to order in absolutely any style or according to an individual project that is completely unlike anything else.

Advantages

Environmental friendliness

Solid wood furniture is made from natural wood, which, by virtue of its natural origin does not contain toxic substances hazardous to health. Furthermore, conifers trees can release essential oils into the air. And they are not only not dangerous to health, but also have beneficial effect per person, which has already become a fact proven by medicine.

Strength

Solid wood furniture, having all the advantages of monolithic natural wood, surpasses it in strength. The fact is that in a solid tree there is a strong internal stress of the fibers, which leads to its cracking. In the array, which is lamellas spliced ​​and glued to each other, the stress is compensated by sawing the fibers.

Solid wood furniture, like metal furniture, tolerates several assemblies and disassemblies well. Serious advantage furniture made of solid wood, compared to forged metal counterparts, is a much smaller mass, which facilitates assembly and disassembly and transportation.

Ergonomics and safety

On average, a person uses furniture for 15-20 years - during this period he passes by it at least 2 times a day, that is, at least 11,000 times over the entire period of its operation. And this means that exactly the same number of times he risks getting any damage by hitting the corners of the furniture. In order to reduce this risk, the furniture should have the most smooth, safety outlines - without sharp corners.

The array has the greatest potential among other materials for creating such furniture: any three-dimensional figures can be cut out of it, under pressure and at high temperature, the wood bends perfectly and takes the necessary shape.

The plasticity of wood was appreciated in the 19th century. In 1840, the furniture factory of Michael Thonet offered bentwood furniture to consumers. It was the first furniture of this class, which became very popular with consumers. Nowadays, computerized machines and powerful vacuum presses are used to manufacture radius products from solid wood.

If we talk about the safety of the array in terms of shock absorption, among the considered furniture materials, the array is the softest. When hitting a wooden piece of furniture, it takes on a significant part of the impact, thereby reducing the trauma of the collision. By the way, in the automotive industry, the ability of materials to absorb shock is of particular importance - their hardness and rigidity are even specially reduced in order to car accident could absorb most of the impact force, thereby protecting its passenger from injury.

Pleasant tactile sensations

Wood has one of the lowest thermal conductivity coefficients: for comparison, this coefficient is 370 times higher for metal. The low thermal conductivity explains the feeling of warmth that occurs when in contact with a wooden surface. The fact is that when touched, the heat we give off hardly penetrates deep into the wood, managing to quickly warm its outer layers, and as a result, it seems to us that the furniture warms our palm.

disadvantages

live stuff

In its natural state, the tree has a moisture content of 40-60%. At different times of the year, its humidity can either increase (during rains) or decrease (during drought). After processing, the wood retains this ability to "breathe" and therefore changes in the microclimate can affect it - under the influence of heat wooden product loses moisture, cracks. On the other hand, a too humid environment can also have a negative effect on wooden furniture: after being saturated with moisture and then drying, the wood can crack. By the way, in order to maintain a presentable appearance of wooden furniture, it is enough to maintain the temperature and humidity balance in the room, which is necessary for a person to feel well - favorable microclimate conditions for a tree and a person coincide.

Production complexity

The technology for the production of solid wood furniture is multi-stage and complex. The production cycle includes more than 10 cycles. This explains the higher price finished products from the massif and longer terms of its production.

Unique color

Since each tree on the cut has its own unique pattern and color, it is difficult to find a similar pattern and color when buying pieces of furniture with a break in time. When a set is purchased at the same time, during its manufacture the tree is selected manually to maximize the coincidence of these characteristics. When different items of the set are bought with a gap in time, it is difficult for the master to choose the color and pattern of the product without having before his eyes the item to which they need to be adjusted.

Repair in life puts everything in its place. Can be 500 times
quarrel, disagree for several months, but then
make the perfect room. A similar story happened in 2014 when
I had to make a kitchen not only for myself, but also for my parents. If the Internet has
several million sites where you can
look at kitchen projects, I assure you, they have all been viewed. In the end, everything
naturally quarreled, reconciled and
finally made kitchens that were to everyone's liking. That's why she was born
the idea to write a short material on how to choose a kitchen, not from the outside
seller, but on the part of the customer. After all, it is first of all important for us to get a beautiful
furniture at an affordable price that would last for decades. Since
With these requirements, our analysis of the choice of material for the future kitchen began.

What's the first thing that comes to mind?

Even before going to the specialists, no one thought about the components.
This is a separate conversation, but I will say frankly that all the kitchens were ordered
the most expensive available. You should never skimp on this. But now
when you open drawers or lift doors, you get an indescribable
pleasure. But it is now. The first problem that I had to face -
it certainly was material. The pictures of the kitchen look completely different.
It's not even worth looking at. Only after the first two weeks did it become clear that everything
pictures can be used as ideas, but no more.

The modern construction market offers too wide
choice of materials and colors. Which, on the one hand, is good, but on the other, it is
makes the choice much more difficult.

To deal with all the materials, I had to carefully
sort out the pros and cons.

Painted MDF. (facades covered with enamel)

It seemed that everyone with whom I had to communicate, as if
agreed. As one they offered to buy a kitchen made of painted MDF.
The range of colors is really insane. You can combine colors for a day,
to find the perfect solution, but in the end the kitchen will still look
too simple, unless you invest a lot of money in such a kitchen in order to
for example, make even curves, concave and convex boxes. In such
case, the kitchen will indeed be very attractive, purely because of its
unusual shape.

To better understand what painted MDF is, it is enough
look at any car. Technology painting MDF, almost nothing
different from painting a normal car. Initially, the facade is primed, and
then several layers of paint are applied to it. The number of layers speaks directly to the quality
material. Everything is like with cars. Most
the last stage is the application of a protective layer - varnish.

See also:

Advantages of painted MDF

- A lot of colors that can be combined between
yourself as you wish. Most often they will offer colors according to the RAL catalog. (color fan)

- Enough
easy to clean

- I have an opportunity
make a unique shape of the facade for the kitchen. Technology allows bending and
round off the façade.

- Resistant to moisture and odors

- Lots of coverage. You can choose matte or glossy
chameleon or mother-of-pearl, or even stop at metallic.

Cons of painted MDF

— Do not fall into the budget segment. They are more expensive than plastic and
than facades covered with PVC film.

— The most a big problem- fingerprints. Kitchen always
will have to wipe and wipe. Otherwise, she will look very unsightly.

- Subject to fading. Over time, all colors lose their
Colour.

- Another significant disadvantage is that they are prone to damage.
They may not withstand, an accidental blow and crack.

- The back side of such kitchens is usually white. With time
it also loses its presentation, especially if you constantly forget
wash the facade from the back.

Solid wood facades.

This item was offered the least. First on
the production of a facade from an array takes almost twice as much time,
than any other material for the kitchen. But the simplest excuse
I thought it was out of fashion now. Here is plastic and painted MDF - it's fashionable and
stylish. As a result, we did not stop at the array, since the kitchen is only 9 sq.m. and
the array there really would look too cumbersome.

There are two types of solid wood facades - solid wood
(very expensive facades) and with a panel (solid wood frame, and inner part from
MDF). The second option is much cheaper. It's somewhere more expensive than just painted MDF
by 20-30%. Also, facades with a panel have an undeniable advantage - with
over time, such facades do not deform, unlike facades made of solid
wood.

Advantages of solid wood facades

– 100% natural natural eco-friendly material

- Presentable in any case. The personification of good
taste and commitment to the classics.

- Durable material if properly cared for. Will last
not one decade.

– It is possible to decorate the kitchen with various decorative
elements.

Cons of facades from the array

- Faithful in care. If you do not care, then the kitchen is out of
array will not last very long

- The most expensive material in existence. Especially if
order cuisine from rare species of trees.

- Do not wash with strong household chemicals.

- May fade over time.

- You can not make a rounded facade.

- Can absorb moisture and odors.

- Not a large selection of models and sizes.

MDF facades covered with PVC film.

One of the simplest and inexpensive materials for the kitchen, but
having a number of disadvantages. The first thing that catches your eye when you see this
the kitchen is its slightly old-fashioned look. First of all, naturally too
cheapens a drawing that does not give texture. In general, this material is optimal
either for the most budgetary kitchen option, or for a temporary one.

The production technology of such facades is very simple. MDF laminated
PVC film in a special press. Pre-glue is applied to the MDF, from
which very much in the future depends. The better the glue, the longer your kitchen will look presentable.

Advantages of MDF facades covered with PVC film.

- Very affordable price.

- You can use aggressive household chemicals

- Large selection of textures and colors

– It is possible to produce non-standard cabinets and drawers, while
the price of the kitchen will not increase much.

- For a long period of time on the facade will not appear
frayed.

Cons of MDF facades covered with PVC film.


- The film may peel off MDF over time, especially
near a sink or oven.

“Wood drawing makes the kitchen too cheap.

- It fades over time.

- Most often white on the back. Over time they may
becomes pale yellow.

Facades covered with plastic

Among the people, this type of facade took root under the name
"plastic facades". Although this is slightly wrong. 100% plastic kitchens do not exist.
They would not withstand those temperature changes that are in the kitchen and very
would quickly become unattractive. Today there are two technologies
creation of facades covered with plastic. The first is when plastic is glued to MDF
(more expensive due to the MDF itself). The second is when plastic is glued onto chipboard
(cheaper option).

There are also several methods for processing ends:

1.
Postforming. With this technology, plastic
folded over at two ends. The remaining two ends are edged with PVC or acrylic
edging (3D Acryl)

2.
Facades can be framed with aluminum
profile.

3.
The ends are simply processed in the color of acrylic
edging (3D Acryl) or
PVC. If desired, the ends can be made in a different color than the panel itself.

Pluses of the facades covered with plastic.

- Do not let in moisture.

- They practically do not fade in the sun.

- They have a fairly large color palette.

- Do not be afraid of aggressive household chemicals.

- Long service life

Cons of facades covered with plastic.

- Fingerprints remain on such facades, which
Outwardly very spoil the look of the kitchen.

- Matte plastic is very difficult to clean. Over time, maybe
lose trade dress.

— May have geometric distortions if they were
made by cold pressing.

- Most often white on the back.

One of the most interesting materials, which allows
make the kitchen more interesting, but at the same time leave it in a fairly budget
categories. Of course, frame facades have a number of their drawbacks, but they
their texture, style and appearance are close to the array.

Framed MDF facades can be easily combined with
glass, mirrors, rattan and other materials. However, all these elements
very nicely framed.

Advantages of frame MDF.

— Budget material for the kitchen.

- You can make almost any size of the facade, without
significant rise in price.

— The façade is much lighter than a similar solid façade, but
at the same time, the style is very close to the facade of the array.

- You can easily insert various elements into the frame of the facade.

— Allow to combine several materials in one facade.

Cons of frame MDF.

- They are afraid of moisture. Over time, the PVC film may flake off
MDF, if the kitchen is constantly humid.

— May not withstand high temperatures near the oven
cabinet and peel off.

- You need to make an effort when washing.

— Depending on the company and on the equipment, you can get
poorly bonded frames.

- seam connection
profile. Good quality using quality materials,
which are difficult to verify.

Laminated chipboard.

The simplest and cheapest facade. Facades made of laminated chipboard
look too simple and is most often used for kitchens in household
premises. Laminated chipboard is used in conventional kitchens to make
cabinet frames. This is internal material that is not exposed to the public
review.

Benefits of laminated chipboard kitchens

- Very, very low price.

— You can make facades of any size.

Cons of laminated chipboard kitchens

- looks very cheap

- Short service life. Best used like
temporary kitchen.

- Absorbs moisture.

- May shatter

— The film may peel off.

- Over time, stains of fat, sauce and
etc.

Aluminum profile at the base of the facade.

Recently, such facades are most often used for
creating simple and stylish kitchens in the style of minimalism and hi-tech. Often
such kitchens are chosen by modern youth. For parents who are young
passed during the Soviet era is not an option at all.

facades from aluminum profile allows designers
combine different materials in the kitchen: glass, MDF, plastic, rattan, etc.

Advantages of aluminum profile facades.

- The maximum service life that can be achieved
using an aluminum frame around the facade.

- Resistant to moisture and high temperatures.

– It is possible to combine MDF and glass in one facade or
rattan and glass.

- Resistant to high temperatures

- You can create photo frames

Cons of facades made of aluminum profiles.

-Aluminum will start to darken a little after a few years

- While the cost of such facades is an order of magnitude higher than from
other materials.

- Aluminum scratches easily. Over time, he may
lose their trade dress.

- Do not use harsh household chemicals.

- May require special fasteners, which is even more
increase the cost of construction. wooden, then over time it needs more and more care. In the end, not
despite a number of disadvantages, it was decided to choose frame MDF not with oblique joints, but
with straight lines. It helped to make a small kitchen with nice textured
transitions without spending too much money.

New solutions, materials, approaches to design - form a high-level market. This concerns, first of all, the production kitchen sets. Masters think over the concept of creating furniture to the smallest detail so that it is ergonomic, beautiful and durable.

The most common and suitable materials for the manufacture of headsets for many years remain solid wood, MDF and plastic.

Pros and cons of MDF kitchens

They are in high demand among buyers. Moreover, only furniture facades are made from MDF material. The rest is the frame and interior decoration made from chipboard.

MDF is a durable and reliable material that is obtained by pressing wood chips under high temperature. During the production process, lignin is released from sawdust, which sticks them together. The result is a dense sheet.


From 17,856 rub.




From 21,229 rub.

The resulting canvas is then framed by applying various materials: plastic, PVC film, enamel, acrylic film or paint. There are a lot of options for decorating the kitchen.

The service life and resistance to mechanical stress for MDF with different coatings is not uniform.

Advantages of film-coated headsets:

  1. Bright and saturated colors.
  2. The ability to design facades in different colors: plain, combined, two-color and others.
  3. They do not absorb foreign odors.
  4. Moisture resistant.
  5. Do not deteriorate with sudden temperature changes.
  6. Does not release toxins.
  7. Shiny and reflect light.

Minuses:

  1. Not resistant to mechanical damage: accidental impact can lead to chips, deep cracks and scratches.
  2. It is necessary to constantly wash and polish, because even with a light touch of the hand on the surface, fingerprints and stains remain.
  3. High price.
  4. The inability to carry out the restoration of facades at home.

Covering MDF with PVC film also has its positive and negative sides:

  • You can make a kitchen in any color and make a visual relief of the coating: under the skin, wood, patina, stone and more.
  • Clean up quickly.
  • When washing, you can use strong detergents, hard sponges and brushes.
  • The color retains its tone for a long time - about 30 years.
  • Resistant to low and high temperatures (up to 100 degrees).
  • Not afraid of moisture.

Minuses:

  • At temperatures above 100 degrees, the film peels off or curls.
  • Do not place the kitchen under direct UV rays.

Pros and cons of a plastic kitchen

Deservedly in high demand, despite the high cost.

Plastic is glued onto MDF or chipboard in different color styles. The first option is expensive, the second is cheap.




From 28,211 rub.




From 22,205 rub.

For sheathing, 2 types of plastic are used:

  • Roll ( a budget option) - thin, fragile and short-lived.
  • Sheet - compacted, hard and not afraid of shock.

Plastic headsets are produced in different styles. However, the following are popular:

  • Empire style - subtle and delicate shades, intricate drawings and patterns are visible. Such furniture has smooth features.
  • Hi-tech - there are many elements of plastic, glass and metal. Characterized by strict features.
  • Classic - a combination of standard and rigor in style.

Pros:

  1. High strength - withstand almost any load.
  2. Moisture resistance is an important indicator for kitchen furniture.
  3. Color fastness - does not fade under UV rays.
  4. Easy cleaning - quickly wash with any means.
  5. Wide range of colors and finishes.
  6. Light weight - such headsets can be independently rearranged and moved.

Minuses:

  1. If the headset is lined with glossy plastic, then it is difficult to wash it.
  2. Polymer or aluminum edges darken over time.
  3. Between the edges and facades, in the cracks, hard-to-reach dirt accumulates.
  4. High cost - this applies to high-quality sheet plastic. Roll plastic - much cheaper.

Pros and cons of solid kitchen

They belong to the category of expensive and elite furniture. The massif of oak of Russian origin is especially appreciated. The most budget option is a birch kitchen. Average in price - headsets made of pine, ash, alder and beech.

Wooden furniture is made the longest, as the raw material itself is subjected to prolonged drying.




From 27,300 rub.




From 30,786 rub.

Pluses of headsets from the array:

  1. Environmentally friendly - made without synthetic additives.
  2. "Live" furniture - releases oxygen into the room.
  3. Service life - over 40 years.
  4. Stylish and rich appearance.
  5. It is possible to make milling and stucco molding on the facades.
  6. Strong and dense - resist many damages.
  7. Easily eliminated defects - scratches, cracks.
  8. Special processing of wood does not allow fungi and insects to spread through the furniture.

Minuses:

  1. Heavy and massive furniture.
  2. High price.
  3. Sensitive to sudden changes in temperature.
  4. Regular and thorough care.
  5. Detergents must be specially selected.
  6. It is necessary to periodically tighten the fittings.
  7. Do not place hot dishes.
  8. It is important to monitor the humidity in the kitchen. For a headset from an array - optimally 50-70%.
Choose the best cuisine for your home

So, you've decided to get a brand new headset, but don't know how to choose the right one? good furniture and what material is better for the kitchen - plastic, MDF or solid wood.

Kitchens must meet 4 main criteria: high wear resistance, functionality, attractive appearance and ease of use.

7 steps to the perfect kitchen:

  1. Take measurements of the room before visiting furniture stores or call the measurer at home.
  2. Make a rough layout of the headset - draw layouts of the future kitchen.
  3. Choose the material for the facades, backsplash and countertops. What kind of material is best suited for your kitchen - our furniture factory specialist will tell you.
  4. Think about filling cabinets and drawers for maximum functionality of the headset.
  5. Think carefully about what Appliances will be in the kitchen.
  6. Order the production of furniture to order, preferably without prepayment.
  7. Wait for delivery and assembly, and enjoy cooking in the brand new kitchen.

Veneer or solid: which is better?

It has long been no secret that veneer furniture has a number of advantages compared to similar furniture not only made of chipboard (which is obvious in its essence), but even made of solid wood. Furniture made of chipboard or MDF and covered with oak veneer will be perceived as massive, oak, both by eye and by touch. Such furniture is environmentally friendly, not subject to natural deformations, has a much lower weight and cost compared to solid wood, and besides, care for it is less scrupulous. And if we remember the natural factor (compare how many trees it takes to produce the same furniture from solid wood and veneer?), then the choice becomes completely obvious.

In addition to covering the veneer with protective and aesthetic layers of varnish, it can not only be tinted, but also combined different drawings or even types of veneer in random order (marquetry technique), which is unattainable when working with an array.

However, let's not get ahead of ourselves, let's dwell on this issue in more detail.

Consumers are primarily interested in the main operational parameters of purchased furniture - these are strength and durability, hygiene and environmental safety. These characteristics of furniture directly depend on the materials from which it is made. Speaking of wood materials, consider solid wood and furniture panels with chipboard and MDF with various types coatings.

So, natural wood, in other words, solid wood, is the highest quality, expensive, but at the same time a very capricious material. Solid wood furniture requires proper care, otherwise it risks losing its external gloss from changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, when caring for furniture made of natural wood, wet cleaning is contraindicated, you need to use special compounds, most often with wax to remove dust and give shine. The durability of such furniture depends on the type of wood, how it is processed, and how much this type of wood is prone to warping (i.e. swelling), sensitive to light and changes in humidity (usually wood is much more capricious in this respect than other materials). Of course, at the same time, solid wood furniture guarantees high environmental cleanliness in the house, the absence of chemical components and synthetic resins. High-quality solid wood furniture speaks of the taste and social status of the owners, however, without proper care, it loses its appearance and operational properties over time.

Furniture from wood boards in many respects it is more practical than wood: it is cheaper and easier to handle. But it causes negative associations associated with the recent past among our compatriots, when chipboard furniture crumbled around the edges and emitted harmful formaldehydes, which was caused by the poor quality of adhesives and violation of technological processes.

Modern particle boards are made by pressing and gluing small wood chips with special adhesives. Adhesives of sufficiently high quality are now used, and manufacturing technologies are regulated by special standards. Russian standards for chipboard are generally considered to be the most stringent in Europe, and strict certification prevents boards of inadequate quality from appearing on the market.

In addition to ease of handling, chipboard furniture is the cheapest in the general price grid, and this affordability makes it the most popular. Mass production provides a large selection of sizes, colors and styles. The only limitation is that furniture shapes can only be straight. If you like rounded corners, embossed facades - you need to choose furniture from MDF - fiberboard.

This multilayer board is made by dry pressing fine wood fiber under high pressure and temperature conditions. The binder is lysine, which is released by wood under the influence of temperature and pressure. Therefore, MDF is as environmentally friendly as wood, as it consists of absolutely natural components.

Both chipboard and MDF, before becoming furniture, need additional processing - cladding - covering with films, plastic or veneer. The appearance of furniture and the strength of its surfaces depend on the type and quality of this coating.

Film cladding is either a laminating process, when the coating is applied during the pressing of the board, or laminating, when the film is glued onto the already finished board.

Facing plastic is also made from compressed paper layers according to special technologies, and, in addition to high decorativeness, has refractory properties. Furniture lined with plastic is most often used in kitchens and bathrooms.

natural veneer refers to the oldest ways of finishing the surface of the plates. A protective varnish must be applied over the veneer. Furniture lined with veneer is indistinguishable from solid wood furniture in terms of decorative qualities, but it is very dependent on compliance with the veneer sticking technology and the quality of protective varnish coatings. Therefore, the manufacture of such furniture should be trusted only to professionals in their field, working on high-quality equipment.

Based on the described characteristics and the conditions in which the furniture will be used, some recommendations can be made.

If you are short of money, your choice is chipboard. A large selection of such furniture is presented in the well-known IKEA store.

If the possibilities allow the use of more expensive materials, try to diversify the interior. For example, furniture in classic oak veneer will look good in the hallway, in the kitchen you can use plastic or enamel coating (enamel looks especially interesting in combination with the effect of mother-of-pearl or patina), and in the living room you can put solid wood furniture or furniture in veneer with using the marquetry technique, - at the same time, the interior will acquire its own zest and will form a single harmonious ensemble.

In any case, trust your taste and let your imagination run wild! After all, it will depend on how comfortable you will feel.

There are many materials for wood based, which can be used in construction and interior design, but most often the choice is between chipboard, fiberboard, MDF and solid wood. Let's compare them with each other and decide for what purposes each of them is most suitable.

Chipboard

Production technology: created by pressing sawdust with formaldehyde resins. Standard thickness - up to 25 mm.

In the production of chipboard, two types of resins are used - E1 and E2. E1 is less harmful than E2 and can be used to create children's furniture.

chipboard

Production technology: the same as chipboard, but additionally finished with a polymer film.


fiberboard

Production technology: created from steamed and compressed wood dust. Standard thickness - from 2.5 to 12 mm.

When buying products from fiberboard or chipboard, check with the seller for certificates of product conformity with GOSTs. So you can be sure that the amount of harmful chemical components used does not exceed the norm.


MDF

Production technology: produced in the same way as chipboard, but using smaller wood particles - less than 1 mm. The standard thickness of an MDF sheet is from 1.8 to 50 mm.


array


Application of materials

Based on the performance properties of each material, the following conclusions can be drawn:

Chipboard is not taken into account, since it is simply a more expensive variation of chipboard that has thermal stability.

The table indicates that chipboard, MDF and solid wood can be equally used for the production of furniture. A clarification is needed here.

  • Chipboard is good for the production of furniture that must withstand heavy loads in conditions of low humidity.
Do not worry about the harmfulness of formaldehyde included in chipboard. Recently, such harmful substances have ceased to be used in the production technology of this material.
  • MDF is suitable for installation in the bathroom or in the kitchen. However, MDF products cannot be placed directly above the stove, as they begin to deteriorate when in contact with temperatures above 70 degrees. MDF is also used when additional decorative surface treatment is planned (for example, cutting out patterns). AT classical style this material looks somewhat unnatural, but the “unnatural” colors of MDF are well suited for techno, modern and high-tech.
  • The array requires a high-quality protective coating for wood. In some cases, it is enough to buy wood oilto protect it from possible decay and moisture. Solid wood furniture is suitable for classic and country style.