Over the last decade the demand for MDF furniture to use in the bathroom as well as household has surged. It is engineered wood that an ecofriendly composite material made with combining small pieces of hardwood and softwood with chemical binders. All of which is compressed under high temperature and pressure to give it a sheet like shape. It a common material for bathroom furniture used to make vanity units and cabinets. It has become then natural wood over time. But why this material is getting popular? Should you choose the bathroom furniture made by it? It is difficult to decide without knowing the pros and cons of MDF.
In this article, we are going to discuss all about bathroom furniture material.
Your Options for Bathroom Furniture Material.
Bathroom furniture is available in different materials. Most common among all are
MDF. It is medium density fiberboard material that is a kind of engineered wood manufactured with hardwood and softwood waste that is compressed together with chemical. It is considered eco friendly and utilize the waste material from natural wood.
Solid Hardwood. It is generally considered to be the most sturdy and durable material for bathroom vanity units. It is made from the trees like oak, cherry and maple etc. However, it is a different from the natural wood. Similar to MDF, it is also a manufactured wood that is made with wood pulp from any of above discussed trees. It can withstand the humid environment and don’t crack with the exposure.
Suitability of MDF Vs Solid Wood for Bathroom Furniture.
When it comes to choosing the bathroom furniture material, the biggest factor is its ability withstand the humidity.
MDF Bathroom Furniture.
MDF is one of the common choices for bathroom vanity units and cabinets. It has its own pros and cons. Why we should avoid the natural wood is because it may expand and get damaged easily due to the exposure to humidity. However, in comparison MDF don’t contract or shrink as the result of the water exposure. Therefore, in case the water penetrates deeply into the surface, it may swell and get damaged. With some added precautions, you can use the MDF for bathroom. Other benefits that you can expect form it is
- MDF is a lightweight material. So, the furniture made by it is easier to handle and install in comparison to solid or natural wood.
- Another great quality of MDF is that it is most cost-effective material among all. As a result, the bathroom vanity units and cabinets made with this material cost less.
- The material as an alternative to the wood, easily available everywhere. Therefore, it becomes a lot easier to source it and make products from it.
- The surface of this material is smooth, making it easy to paint or colour as per your choice.
- It is resistant to the termites because of the various chemicals used during the manufacturing process.
Similarly, it has few cons as well that are as follows
- In comparison to the Solid hardwood, the furniture made with it is not very durable or sturdy.
- Technically once your MDF bathroom vanity unit is damaged it is beyond repair. That means you will have to replace the vanity unit.
- You will need to seal the vanity and varnish or paint in order to protect your mdf cabinet form damages from the water and humidity.
Natural Wood Bathroom Furniture.
So, what about the natural wood for bathroom furniture?
- Natural wood is a precious natural resource therefore many people avoid or dislike using it for bathroom furniture.
- On the other hand, it neither suitable for moist bathroom environment. It is due to the porous composition of natural wood that makes it absorb the water from humidity resulting in damages.
- Moreover, natural wood is expensive, and any furniture made with has considerably higher costs.
Solid Wood Bathroom Furniture
As discussed earlier solid wood is also a manufactured wood from the wood that is resistant to humidity. It has ability to expand and contract without getting damages. So, technically it can be ideal material for bathroom furniture. But it is not widely available every whereas few specific trees can be used for it. Moreover, it manufacturing cost is considerably higher. Therefore, installing it in the bathroom will require top budget and availability of it.
Final Thoughts.
In this article, we have discussed almost all the available options for the bathroom furniture. The first is MDF is popular and common material widely available around the globe. It is affordable so; you don’t have to pay a lot of money for it. However, it may require some precautions for using in the bathroom. Solid wood on the other also engineered wood but may cost higher in comparison to the MDF. So, technically, the cost is the biggest factor that makes MDF a preferred choice for vanity units and cabinets.
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