What Materials Do We Use?
As a custom shop, we use a variety of different materials depending on what we are making. There are (4) main categories of materials:
1) Case Materials:
The cabinet case is the main structure — the top, bottom, sides, and back — and it’s what you see when you open the doors. Because it forms the foundation of every cabinet, we always use 3/4" thick material to ensure long-term strength and durability.
The choice of case material impacts not just the cabinet’s durability, but also its appearance and cost. Our standard option is 3/4" prefinished maple plywood, which offers a clean, bright interior and excellent performance. However, we offer other material choices to fit different aesthetics and budgets.
2) Door Materials:
The door style you choose plays a major role in material selection. Door materials must be strong enough to support their own weight, durable enough for daily use, and heavy enough to give a solid, quality feel when opening and closing.
If the doors will be painted, material choices can be based entirely on strength, stability, and smoothness. However, if the doors will be stained to highlight the natural beauty of the wood, we limit our selections to stain-grade materials that showcase the desired grain and character.
We build two main types of cabinet doors:
Frame & Panel Doors:
These are constructed from four solid wood frame pieces surrounding a center panel. For stability and flatness, we recommend an MDF center panel — veneered with real wood when a stain-grade finish is desired.
Single-Piece Doors
These may be Slab doors, which are completely flat, or Routed doors, where the look of a frame-and-panel is machined into one solid piece. Slab doors are typically made from veneered MDF or plywood, while routed doors are made from High-Density Machine Board (HDM) for optimal durability and clean detailing.
3) Drawer Materials:
Drawer materials must be strong enough for daily use, durable enough to withstand sliding objects, and clean enough in appearance to complement the cabinet interior. We typically use 1/2" thick material to maximize available storage space without sacrificing strength.
Our standard drawer boxes are built from 1/2" prefinished maple plywood, joined using mortise and tenon construction for long-lasting durability and a clean, professional finish.
For a more refined look, we also offer upgraded drawer boxes made from solid wood options such as maple or walnut.
No matter which option you choose, all of our drawer boxes are built to perform for years to come.
4) Face Frame Materials:
Face frames are used exclusively on frame-style cabinetry (as opposed to frameless construction) and are always made from solid lumber.
For painted cabinets, we use paint-grade maple for a smooth, uniform finish. For stained cabinets, we match the frame to the desired wood species to highlight the natural grain and color.
All face frames are built from 3/4" thick stock and assembled using pocket screw joinery from the back side, ensuring strong connections and a clean, seamless look from the front.
Solid Wood Species:
Walnut
Cherry
White Oak
Alder
Maple
Vertical Grain Fir
Beech
Rift White Oak
Poplar
The wood species listed above represent the most common domestic hardwoods used in custom cabinetry—they’re reliable, beautiful, and widely available. However, they’re by no means the only options. If you’re looking for something more unique or have a specific wood in mind, let us know. We’re happy to source other species and help you find the perfect match for your project.
Composites:
While solid wood has a traditional appeal, composite materials like melamine, cabinet-grade plywood are generally preferable for cabinet case construction due to their stability, consistency, and performance. Solid wood is prone to expansion, contraction, and warping with changes in temperature and humidity, which can compromise the structural integrity of cabinets over time. In contrast, composite materials are engineered for dimensional stability and uniformity, ensuring tight tolerances and long-lasting performance. Melamine provides a durable, low-maintenance surface ideal for interior cabinet boxes, while plywood offers excellent strength and screw-holding capability. These materials also allow for more efficient use of resources and reduce waste, making them a practical and reliable choice for high-quality cabinetry.
Cabinet-grade plywood is a top choice for case construction because of its exceptional strength, stability, and reliability. Made from multiple layers of hardwood veneer bonded with alternating grain directions, it resists sagging and holds screws securely, making it ideal for structural components like cabinet sides, bottoms, and shelves. Its consistent thickness and smooth surface allow for precise machining and clean joinery, resulting in a high-quality finished product. Cabinet-grade plywood is built to perform under the daily demands of kitchen and bathroom use, offering a strong, long-lasting foundation for custom cabinetry.
Melamine on industrial particle board core is a popular and cost-effective choice for cabinet case construction, offering a clean, consistent surface with excellent dimensional stability. The melamine coating is durable, easy to clean, and resistant to scratches and staining, making it ideal for interior cabinet boxes. One of its key advantages is the wide range of available colors, textures, and woodgrain prints, allowing for versatile design options without the need for additional finishing. When paired with a high-quality industrial-grade particle board core, melamine provides a stable and uniform material that machines cleanly and maintains tight tolerances, making it a practical and efficient solution for modern cabinetry.
MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and HDF (High Density Fiberboard) are excellent materials for certain parts of cabinetry, though they are not used for case construction due to their lack of structural strength compared to plywood or particle board. Where these materials shine is in doors, panels, and trim. Their dense, uniform composition allows for precise machining and a smooth surface that takes paint beautifully, making them ideal for painted cabinet doors and detailed profiles. HDF, being denser and harder than MDF, is especially well-suited for high-traffic areas or components that require added durability. These engineered materials are also free from knots or grain inconsistencies, ensuring clean edges and consistent results in every piece.