Facade materials for the kitchen: key properties, advantages and disadvantages.

Characteristics of the main materials for kitchen facades

In order not to make a mistake with the choice, it is necessary to have a good idea of what materials facades are mainly made of, what are their pros and cons. First, you need to understand the technology of manufacturing kitchen facades from composite materials – the most common on sale.

The base of the facade is usually made of chipboard (chipboard) or MDF (fiberboard). Then a coating is applied to this base, performing protective and decorative functions. Sometimes the base is made of plywood or even wood, but such kitchen facades are much more expensive. The role of decorative coating is usually performed by plastic, but it is also possible to use wood veneer and other materials.

The choice of material for the kitchen is determined by rather harsh operating conditions: high temperatures, high humidity, the content of soot and fat particles in the air, the possibility of aggressive liquids getting in – all this imposes certain requirements if you want the set to serve you for a long time.

Today, MDF boards are the most popular as a material for the base of kitchen facades, since MDF has a dense structure similar to the structure of wood, allowing you to form any patterns. The properties of kitchen fronts depend on the characteristics of the coating when using composite materials for their production, and on the properties of the wood species when made from wood.

When thinking about which fronts to choose for the kitchen, it is necessary to pay attention not only to their decorative qualities and price, but also to the characteristics of the materials from which they are made. The more resistant these materials are to aggressive environments, high temperatures and high humidity, the longer the kitchen set will last without changing its appearance.

Overview of the main materials for kitchen sets

Laminated facades

The procedure of covering MDF (or chipboard) panels with melamine film is called lamination. Such a film is paper that is impregnated with resins and varnished. This is the most economical option, which does not look very attractive and does not last long. Sometimes, kitchen furniture cases are also made from such panels.

Pros:

• Low price;
• Availability of various facade shapes while maintaining a low price for them.

Cons:

• Unattractive appearance of the set;
• Low resistance to aggressive substances;
• Quick loss of appearance;
• Only straight facades can be made.

MDF facades for the kitchen with enamel coating

These facades are made of medium-density fiberboard, which allows them to be given any shape. They are painted on top using the technology adopted in the automotive industry: first, the surface of the panel is primed, then covered with paint in several layers, after which a varnish coating is applied. Each applied layer is sanded, and the resulting coating is highly resistant to external influences and has an attractive appearance.

Pros:

• It is possible to use various colors and color combinations;
• The texture of the kitchen facade can be varied: matte, glossy, mother-of-pearl, pearl, “metallic”;
• The facades do not require complex care, it is enough to wash them with water and a mild detergent;
• The material is resistant to external influences, retains its original appearance for a long time;
• Facades of any shape can be made – round, wavy.

Cons:

• Quite high cost of production, resulting in a high final cost of the set;
• The glossy surface is sensitive to grease stains and even fingerprints;
• The paint can fade in the sun and under the influence of ultraviolet light;
• They do not tolerate mechanical impacts well, and may chip.

MDF kitchen facades with PVC coating

When manufacturing these kitchen fronts, all the advantages of the MDF base are used, while a polymer film is used as a covering layer instead of expensive painting, which is much simpler and cheaper. The film can have a matte or glossy surface. The pattern applied to the film can be made any, for example, imitate wood, stone, marble, ceramic tiles, granite surface. The color of the film can also be any.

Pros:

• A large number of options for drawings and colors of facades;
• Budget cost;
• High resistance to aggressive environments and abrasion;
• The same cost for both standard and non-standard kitchen elements.

Cons:

• When imitating the texture of natural materials, it is impossible to achieve an acceptable visual effect, the result obtained is very different from the original;
• Film coating does not tolerate high temperatures well, peeling from the base is possible;
• The pattern applied to the film is subject to fading in the sun.

Materials for plastic kitchen facades

HPL – paper-laminated plastic – is also used as a coating for MDF panels. This unique material is made using a special technology. The paper is impregnated with specially designed resinous compounds, folded in layers and pressed at high temperature and increased pressure. The result is a very high-quality and beautiful material for kitchen furniture.

This material is glued to a base plate made of MDF or chipboard. In this case, the end processing is usually done using the postforming method: two sides of the plastic are folded over the ends, and the remaining two are covered with a special edge. There are also alternative edge processing methods, for example, all ends can be covered with an acrylic edge, an aluminum edge, ABS or PVC. The edge may not differ from the color of the facade, or it can be contrasting.

Pros:

• Good resistance to mechanical impacts, high humidity, aggressive substances;
• Facades are not subject to fading under the influence of sunlight;
• Long service life of the set without loss of appearance;
• It is possible to manufacture facades of any complex shapes.

Cons:

• The glossy surface gets dirty easily, fingerprints may remain on it;
• The inner part of the facades is white;
• The matte surface is difficult to maintain, dirt is difficult to remove from it;
• Geometric defects may appear.

Frame facades based on MDF profile

The most popular are combined facades – another material is inserted into frames made of MDF material, such as rattan mats, glass, plastic. The frame itself is covered with PVC film or veneer (a more expensive option).

Pros:

• Less weight compared to standard kitchen facades, respectively – a longer service life of mechanical units of furniture;
• A variety of materials for inserts allows designers to create original, expressive kitchen projects suitable for various interior design styles;
• Non-standard sizes do not increase the cost of furniture;
• Low price.

Cons:

• Low stability wear and tear, high humidity;
• The coating may peel off during operation;
• Quite difficult to maintain on a daily basis;
• The frames may be weakly fastened.

Kitchen facades with aluminum frames

Modern interior design styles dictate the choice new, modern materials, which should be taken into account when deciding which facades to choose for the kitchen. In particular, facades consisting of frames assembled from an aluminum profile are perfect for the high-tech style. Rattan, MDF, plastic or glass panels are inserted into these frames. It looks original, and in the case of using glass inserts it also “lightens” the furniture set, giving it airiness.

Pros:

• The metal base increases the strength and durability of the facades;
• The combination of different materials opens up wide decorative possibilities;
• The price for standard and non-standard facades is the same;
• Increased resistance to moisture and mechanical stress.

Cons:

• The need to use special fasteners systems;
• Low resistance to abrasive and chemically aggressive substances;
• Over time, the metal fades and loses its appearance;
• Quite a high price.

Wooden kitchen fronts

When choosing a material for the kitchen, it is necessary to keep in mind that natural The materials look solid and elegant, but they are also expensive. Wood, as the most traditional material for making any furniture, including kitchen furniture, will certainly bring warmth to the interior and create a homey feel, but such a kitchen is appropriate for a large area.

Wooden kitchen fronts come in two types: made entirely of wood, and paneled – a panel of another material, for example, MDF, chipboard, glass, is inserted into a wooden frame. Facades with a panel are a more budget option, and if the panel is veneered, then it is impossible to distinguish it from a completely wooden structure by eye.

Pros:

• Solidity, elegance, high aesthetic quality;
• Environmentally friendly;
• Durability;
• Long-term relevance in terms of interior fashion;
• Possibility of decoration in various ways – carving, inserts, cornices.

Cons

• High price;
• Difficult to maintain;
• Poor resistance to UV radiation;
• Resistance to high humidity deteriorating over time;
• Ability to absorb kitchen odors;
• Little variety of models offered.