The world of building materials is constantly changing and improving. In our interconnected world, it is important to use our resources to their fullest potential so that as many people as possible may benefit from trees, water and food stores. One of the ways that we, as a society, make use of even the scrap materials from the forestry industry is through medium-density fibreboard (MDF) cabinet doors.

Of course, MDF cabinet doors are only one way that we use the base product, which is MDF wood. We also use this material in the cabinets themselves as well as other indoor building projects and shop fitting, to name a few. For such a resilient and helpful product, the origins and manufacturing process seem shrouded in mystery. Today, we pull back the curtain.

The Process of Making MDF Wood

Fibre Production

After the lumber is gathered, the bark stripped, and the planks cut, there is a fair amount of leftover material. This is sent into the chipper, which makes chips of a regular size and cut. They are then stored or used for the creation of fibre.

The fibre production involved the heating of the wood chips to soften the natural binder material between the wood fibres. They are then fed through a rotating machine that pulls apart the fibres and turns them into a form of pulp. They are then coated with wax and then urea-formaldehyde, which serves the functions of binding the fibres together, increasing moisture resistance and reducing the likelihood of material clumping.

Sheet Formation

During the sheet formation, the bound and coated fibres from the previous stage are put through machinery to produce even sheets of material. It is pressure-treated and compressed to ensure a dense and strong final product. Occasionally, the boards will be laminated for additional strength.

Where to Find MDF Cabinet Doors

Even though it is thrilling to learn where these building materials come from, it is even more exciting to see them inside your home performing their intended function. To learn more about MDF cabinet doors and how they can reinvigorate your favourite rooms, give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you.

Handhills is a cabinet maker and manufacturer serving central Alberta. We specialize in custom cabinet design and installation, closet design, bathroom vanities, bookcases, custom entertainment centers, kitchen cabinets, shelving, MDF cabinet doors, cabinet parts and more. Send us your measurements and get started with custom cabinets from Handhills. Call the best cabinet maker in Calgary today on (403) 910‐2373 or send an email to [email protected]

If you love the look of your kitchen cabinets, but they are becoming worn out after years of use, refacing them can be a worthwhile investment.

Refacing is a popular choice for many homeowners who want to keep their kitchen style the same, but just give it a more modern look. By bringing on board a professional cabinet maker, you can ensure that your kitchen retains its look and feel.

However, how much do you have to pay to reface your kitchen cabinets? Before we get the project’s cost, it’s important to recognize when you should do it.

When to Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets

There are many clear-cut signs that your kitchen cabinets should be refaced, including:

The look of your kitchen is downgrading
The cabinets are damaged with the hinges being loose or flimsy
The paint is wearing off
You feel the need for an upgrade without the expensive costs

If you notice any of these with your cabinets, be they hardwood or M D F cabinets, then it is time to consider undergoing refacing.

How Does Cabinet Refacing Work?

The process behind cabinet refacing involves refreshing the cabinets’ front coverings, instead of removing and replacing them. It is noticeably cheaper than the cost of installing brand new cabinets. The process usually involves:

The doors, drawers and hinges being removed
Cabinet surfaces are then matched with the same style and tone, or a new style that can enhance your kitchen
The cabinet doors are trimmed for the perfect fit
New doors, drawers, hinges and handles are installed

While the process might sound simple, it can take a lot of work and involve some intense rework. As such, you should look towards hiring a professional cabinet manufacturer or maker instead of managing it as a DIY project.

Installation of drawers handles on kitchen cabinets

What Affects The Price of Refacing Kitchen Cabinets?

Many factors can include the overall cost of the refacing project, including:

The size of the kitchen and the number of cabinets
The quality of the materials, like laminate or hardwood cabinets, which cost more than MDF cabinets
The labour costs of the professional
Any extra work that might be required for the project

As the above points suggest, you should always look out for value.

How Much Does Refacing Cost?

Having a thorough understanding of the project’s cost can help determine if it is a valuable investment for you.

According to Home Guide, the “average cost to reface cabinets is $6,518, with most homeowners spending between $4,214 and $8,110 for a 10′ x 12′ kitchen”. It also says that a “smaller kitchen costs $1,000 to $3,000 and larger kitchen costs can rise to $8,000 to $10,000”.

Home Advisor backs this claim up, showcasing similar numbers. It suggests that “cabinet refacing costs $6,943 on average, or between $4,258 and $9,635”. It does note that “refacing is typically 30% to 50% cheaper than replacing semi-custom or custom cabinets”.

With this guide as a firm foundation, you can begin searching for a professional to reface your kitchen cabinets.

The question, “Is MDF Waterproof?” is a good one to ask, if you’ve ever noticed a water stain on one of your MDF cabinet doors. Many people wondering if their MDF doors are waterproof get told that they aren’t, and also that they need to replace the doors with either vinyl or aluminum. These are both terrible options, though, so let’s take a look at why this may be the case.

The first thing to remember is that the moisture will not go all the way through the doors – they will just leak out and have to be removed by a professional. Also, even if the moisture did reach the MDF door, it is usually only a small amount of water that leaks in, so the panels don’t typically splinter or crack, which is because the water from the leak isn’t all of the same temperature. The cabinet doors aren’t going to burst apart or melt because of the low moisture levels.

MDF Cabinet Door Considerations

You should also know that the components that make up MDF cabinet doors will almost always weather off over time and will need to be re-stained and repainted. When you decide to replace your doors, you can get an option of having the doors replaced or having the entire cabinet doors replaced (with new hardware). There are times, though, when you want a whole new cabinet, and that’s when the standard replacement cabinets come in handy, which is because, generally, the replacement parts come with the extra hardware.

Another thing to keep in mind is that MDF cabinet doors have designs in a wide variety of patterns. Some companies will print out various materials and colours so that their customers can choose them in a sense. Some of these materials will then need to be finished by a professional painter, though, as they may be too heavy for MDF doors alone.

If you’re a little confused about this, you might consider how a patterned material will look on the inside of a cabinet door, so that you can get a better idea of what might be available for your project. When you find a material that you like, you can make sure it matches the pattern you want for your doors, and also that it matches the colour you’re trying to get.

MDF cabinet doors are also pretty inexpensive and are available for purchase in your local hardware store. As long as you have a good budget set, you can find a cheap set of MDF cabinet doors to fit your needs. Usually, they’re made from simple quality wood, so they’ll look nice, but there will still be enough room for all your baubles and decorations to fit in.

The Right MDF Cabinet Doors

Choosing an MDF door for your project will be something that you will have to live with, however. It’s not the end of the world, but it will affect the overall style of your room. Your project will not, however, look any worse for it than a door made from inferior material, and that you’re replacing will cost a lot more money. It would be best if you also remembered that you could get a door that has a built-in frame, which will also provide you with a less expensive way to replace the cabinet doors in your room.

Now that you know some of the basics, you should know how to handle this decision. If you do decide to replace your MDF cabinet doors, just remember that it will be an essential part of your room’s decor.

Finding cabinet manufacturers can be difficult for some. Naturally, this problem is understandable. You want to make sure you find a company with sufficient experience and outstanding quality. Further, you probably want a reasonable price and an excellent turnaround time.

Of course, with each of these stipulations, the search becomes a bit narrower, but also a bit more difficult. Luckily, with the help of information and knowledge, the search won’t be fruitless. See below for more info:

Traits of Cabinet Manufacturers

Their Experience

One of the first traits that you should look for in a cabinet manufacturer is their level of experience. If you find a company that consists of a single individual working out of their garage, the chances are that they lack some experience. While this isn’t always the case, established cabinet makers usually have a workshop and some apprentices working with them.

Their Quality

Next, you will want to verify the quality of the company’s work. If you can, go to their business and look at their completed works. Clean finishes, drawers and doors that open easily and attractive designs are all marks of exceptional quality. If you cannot travel to their location, look through a gallery of past jobs to get a feel, or request examples of their work instead.

Their Price

Honestly, this part of your search will probably have the most research attached. You will need to look at several companies and find their prices for the cabinetry you are looking to purchase. Then you will need to compare their prices with the other factors listed here and make an informed decision to avoid making the wrong choice.

Their Timelines

Finally, you want to make sure that you are going to get your cabinets in a reasonable time frame. Obviously, the complexity and style of your cabinets will play a significant role in how long they take to build, but make sure you check with your chosen company before you begin. This step will allow you to plan appropriately for the next phase of your project.

Come to Handhills Cabinets!

Yes, the steps above will certainly help you find a kitchen cabinet manufacturer. However, you can contact our team of experts who meet the skills above and skip all the hassle. We specialize in custom cabinets and would love to hear from you!

To begin with, multi-density fibreboard (MDF) is a type of wood product. However, it is not a natural type of wood, rather it is a composite of several different types of wood by-products or scraps. It undergoes a process to become akin to wood and serves many purposes in our day to day life.

These purposes include MDF cabinet doors, panels, and more. It is better suited for indoor use because it has a tendency to warp and break when exposed to excessive moisture or high humidity. However, it is made in a very interesting way, that begins with:

The Process of Making MDF Wood

The process begins with debarked wood chips getting shaped and sized. It goes through several processes to get to small chips or plugs. These are then added into a heating chamber where the natural binder (lignin) is loosened and expanded to make the fibre more malleable.

MDF cabinet door. Joinery. Disassembled glass cabinet doors in workshop. Furniture manufacture

It is then treated to a small amount of acid to further loosen the binder before moving into another chamber. Here, it is loosened and separated into individual fibres for the last time, before being exposed to a new binder agent. This allows the fibres to gather together, and then they are compressed with a combination of heat and pressure to form panels.

These panels are made in several different thicknesses and sizes to be more useful and often treated with a seal coat to keep chemical vapours from leaking out during their life cycle. This is occasionally utilized to colour the MDF board in different styles and patterns.

Where to Find MDF Wood

Finding MDF wood is a simple process. Simply look for MDF cabinet doors and other products from your favourite hardware store, or if you are in the market for a new set of cabinets, consider consulting with a cabinet maker. Cabinet makers have many purposes for MDF wood and use them in the construction of custom cabinets for a variety of purposes in residential, commercial, and industrial scenarios.

Cabinet makers are also aware of the ins and outs of proper cabinet door preparation and will be able to advise you on proper sealing and staining materials to use with MDF wood. An important part of working with MDF wood is the proper use of cutting and shaping tools, and the protective equipment that must be used during this process.

When building or remodeling a home, one of the most sought after items for the construction is a quality set of cabinets. However, some people end up having a lot of trouble finding the sorts of cabinets they want available at a good price, so they may end up just refinishing existing cabinets. This does not have to be the case. Quality cabinets are fairly easy to find, so long as you’re locating the right cabinet manufacturer.

The right cabinet maker chosen means that you can find new cabinets for a fair price that are the exact pieces that you want, to complete the build with that important custom touch. Here are a few ways that you can locate the right business for your needs.

3 Ways to Locate the Best Cabinet Manufacturer for Your Needs

1) Look Locally

The first thing you can do is to look for a relatively local cabinet manufacturer. The reason here is that it saves you a lot of money on the distance the items have to ship, while it also means that the products will arrive quicker and allow you to get the cabinets installed sooner. This is always a smart move to make.

2) Check Out Their Products

You also want to pay attention to the items the business is offering. A lot of people offer kitchen cabinets, but are they quality? Are they protected by warranty? Are they affordable? If you can find new cabinets that are guaranteed and affordable, and the sorts of pieces that you want, then you never have to settle for second best.

3) Read User Reviews

Lastly, check out user reviews about the business. One commonality among all businesses is that their customers speak their mind online. If you’re wondering if the business you’re considering manufactures quality cabinets, then check out what people are saying who purchased those items from the store. They will tell you about the quality of the cabinets, the time it took to ship, their condition, the price, and more questions that you will want answered. When you want to know the true worth of a business, look at their customers and what they have to say.

Finding new kitchen cabinets for the home is a big deal. You want your cabinetry to be personal to you, and you never want to settle. Take your time and find the right manufacturer for the job.

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Designing a kitchen for your home is an exciting process. There are many ways to make the space fit your needs and reflect your tastes and personality. Cabinets make up a large portion of the kitchen, so they are an important part of the design process. Here are some tips for making cabinets fit with your kitchen design.

Choose Your Calgary Cabinet Maker Early

It might seem strange to choose a cabinet maker in Calgary as one of the first design steps, but it makes sense. If you choose a large manufacturer for stock cabinets, you’ll have to work with the standard sizes they offer. If you choose a custom cabinet maker, then you can have cabinets made the specific sizes you need. Contact your cabinet maker to find out if they offer any standard sizes at a discounted rate, then consider including some of those sizes in your design.

Create Storage Space

Do yourself a favour when designing your kitchen and include plenty of storage space. Your kitchen holds a lot of stuff, and a lack of adequate storage is one of the biggest mistakes people make when creating a kitchen layout. MDF cabinet doors can hide loads of oddly shaped kitchen items, but these items take up lots of space. Minimize wasted space with careful planning. For example, always put cabinets above the refrigerator.

Make Classic Choices for Cabinet Doors

There are always hot trends when you’re designing a kitchen. While some of these may be appropriate for you, it’s best to limit trendy designs because they have a short lifespan. Stick with classic choices for things like MDF cabinet doors and include trends in areas that are easy to update.

A cabinet maker in Calgary can help you create beautiful cabinets that fit with your kitchen design.

Handhills is a cabinet maker and manufacturer serving central Alberta. We specialize in custom cabinet design and installation, closet design, bathroom vanities, bookcases, custom entertainment centers, kitchen cabinets, shelving, MDF cabinet doors, cabinet parts and more. Send us your measurements and get started with custom cabinets from Handhills. Call the best cabinet maker in Calgary today on (403) 910‐2373 or send an email to [email protected]

Looking to purchase new cabinets? One of the decisions you’ll need to make is whether to choose wood or MDF for your cabinet doors. You’ve probably heard of MDF, but may not know much about it. Use this guide to MDF cabinet doors to learn about this option.

What is MDF?

MDF stands for medium-density fibreboard and is made from broken down bits of wood, wax, and resin binders. High temperature and pressure are used to create panels that are dense and sturdy. It is a common material used by a cabinet maker in Calgary for cabinet doors and other construction projects.

Benefits of MDF Cabinets

Many cabinet makers prefer MDF, and it offers numerous advantages to homeowners. It’s easy to maintain and clean MDF cabinet doors because they don’t require specialty cleaning products or additional staining. The surface of MDF is flat and smooth, giving it a nice feel when you run your hand over it and making it easier to paint. MDF is also easy to customize so you can choose the style of cabinet door that is best for your home.

Differences between Wood and MDF

MDF has many of the same properties as solid wood, but it lacks wood grain, including the rings and knots that make wood unique. Cabinet doors made with MDF have a uniform finish, which is ideal for painting. If you want the look of solid wood, a wood veneer or laminate can be added to the cabinet doors. MDF doesn’t warp or crack like solid wood and can be made highly water resistant. It’s also usually less expensive than using solid wood.

Both solid wood and MDF offer advantages for cabinet doors. Which one is right for you depends, but a cabinet maker in Calgary can help you navigate the choice.
Handhills is a cabinet maker and manufacturer serving central Alberta. We specialize in custom cabinet design and installation, closet design, bathroom vanities, bookcases, custom entertainment centers, kitchen cabinets, shelving, MDF cabinet doors, cabinet parts and more. Send us your measurements and get started with custom cabinets from Handhills. Call the best cabinet maker in Calgary today on (403) 910‐2373 or send an email to
[email protected]

When choosing a contractor to perform work on your home, it’s important to make sure you’re comfortable with them and able to communicate well. Asking questions to your Calgary cabinet maker is the best way to get a feel for the way they communicate and make sure you’re on the same page about the work. Just like with other contractors, it’s crucial to interview a cabinet maker before hiring them.

Ask A Cabinet Maker These Questions

What Materials Do You Use for Cabinets in Calgary?

Cabinets can be made of many materials including man-made materials and solid wood. The type of material you choose makes a big difference in the final product and how it looks in your home.

How Do Cabinet Makers in Calgary Assemble the Cabinets?

The right assembly helps cabinets last longer. Using pocket screws and glue is the preferred method for assembling cabinets to provide the best overall strength and appearance.

Will You Make Cabinet Doors Out of MDF?

You’ll also want to choose a material for the cabinet doors. Solid wood and MDF cabinet doors are the basic options. Wood cabinet doors are a better choice if you want to stain them, but MDF cabinet doors are a better choice for a painted finish.

Will You Provide Shop Drawings?

You want to know exactly what you’re getting before the work begins, so make sure the cabinet maker will provide detailed shop drawings of the cabinets and MDF cabinet doors. You should have a clear understanding from the Calgary cabinet maker of the final product before giving the okay to begin work.

Do You Also Install Cabinets?

New cabinets are an investment, so make sure the cabinet maker in Calgary is experienced at their job. They should install the cabinets for you or recommend a skilled contractor to complete the job.