Kitchen cabinets with slab doors & drawers create a very modern & sleek look in a kitchen. We are starting to see this modern look requested more and more in kitchens across the Hudson Valley. People are drawn to this type of cabinet not only for the modern design, but also the added benefit that flat doors are so much easier to clean. Something that many people may not know is that in most cases, these slab doors are NOT a solid lumber door, they are actually made of MDF. Not sure what MDF is? Don’t worry, we’re about to tell you all about it!

What is MDF?

MDF stands for medium density fiberboard which is an engineered wood product made from both hardwood and softwood fibers. Once the fibers are dehydrated, they are combined with wax and resin and are put under intense pressure & high heat to form panels that are strong & durable. 

Since MDF does not have the same grain pattern or knots as a solid wood door, its smooth texture is perfect for paint, which is one reason why we recommend this material for painted slab doors. In many cases for painted kitchen cabinets, recessed panel doors (the most popular one being a Shaker door style) has the center panel made of MDF and the outside frame being solid wood. 

Why Should I Use MDF for Painted Slab Cabinets?

Wood remains a living, breathing material even after it is harvested and turned into cabinetry or furniture, therefore, it will react to its environment just like a tree would in the forest. When wood is exposed to humidity, it will expand and when the humidity level decreases, it will contract. When using a solid slab door, this expansion and contraction can greatly affect this type of cabinet since it is one solid piece of wood. Excessive expansion & contraction of solid wood doors overtime can cause warping. Humidity does not affect other door styles as drastically (such as the Shaker door) because this door is made of 5 pieces (one center panel and 4 pieces of framing) so there is more wiggle room for the solid wood frame to move and not cause warping. Does this mean you can’t have a slab door style for your painted cabinets? Nope! That’s why we suggest using an MDF slab door for painted cabinets since MDF does not react as dramatically to humidity as a solid wood door.

At Apuzzo Kitchens, we use Roseburg’s Medex MDF panels for our painted slab cabinet doors. This specific MDF panel is an exceptionally strong & moisture resistant MDF panel. On top of its strength & moisture resistance, this product is also eco-friendly.

What About Stained Wood Slab Doors?

We also suggest using an engineered core (made of MDF) with solid wood edge banding and veneer fronts & backs if you are doing a wood grain look for your cabinetry. This is the better alternative to a solid lumber door, due to the warping mentioned before. The engineered core does not react to humidity as drastically as a solid wood door would and therefore has a far less risk of warping. You would never expect that the kitchen cabinets in the photo above are not solid wood!

To Wrap it All Up

In summary, you have the option of either using solid wood or MDF for kitchen cabinets with slab doors. However, we strongly recommend using MDF since the risk of warpage is much less and you don’t have to have battens on the back of the doors (battens are used on solid lumber doors to resist warping). Ultimately, the choice is up to you and whichever way you choose, you will have a beautiful kitchen for years to come!

To see more modern slab cabinets, check our kitchen portfolio.