Materials and Finishes
As experts at manufacturing custom doors, drawer fronts, drawer boxes and endless accessories, we feel it is important to share our knowledge so your project vision and execution are successful. We’ll try to not get too nerdy and if you want to know more either send us an email with your questions to cddquestions@cabdoor.com or call us at 1-800 650-2059
Hardwood Species
There are over 200 hardwood species in the world identified today. They vary in color, grain structure, heart and sap wood, hardness/density, board width, length and straightness, availability and of course cost. While a hardwood species may look pretty, it may not make for good 5-piece cabinet doors. It might be better for a veneered flat door. All hardwood lumber is milled into boards, graded, and kiln dried to a 7-9% moisture content.
Lumber Grading – This is what provides the quality, strength, and appearance you see in the final product. The mill inspects the lumber and veneers using standardized criteria such as knots, grain patterns, and defects to assign a grade. CabDoor grades the lumber again to produce a product that cabinetmakers and consumers will accept. The KCMA has door grading standard for what is acceptable on the door face vs. door back (more defects allowed on back).
MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard)
MDF is an engineered wood product made from breaking down hardwood or softwood scrap wood into wood fiber/flour. The fiber is then mixed typically 82% fiber, 9% resin glue, and 1% wax to be formed into panels by applying high temperature and high pressure. MDF Cabinetry Uses – painted grade flat panel and routed doors, thermofoil door cores, melamine panel cores for cabinet boxes, wrapped molding cores.
HDF (High-Density Fiberboard)
HDF is an engineered wood product produced the same as MDF, but with much higher temperatures and pressure to produce much harder, denser, and stronger boards. It can be used in many cases interchangeably with MDF, but it typically costs more than MDF.
CabDoor’s preference is to use HDF for all our Paint Grade products. We use water-based finishes and the HDF board resists water on the surface better than the MDF. What this means is when the water-based primer is applied to the HDF surface we get less surface fiber raising, so there is less sanding required to smooth the primer surface for painting.
CabDoor Direct is here to help you elevate your IKEA Kitchen Project by providing the custom doors, drawer fronts, and other accessories.
CabDoor Direct provides the POP for your kitchen project!
Whether it is a new design, provided by IKEA or an Interior Designer, or you are upgrading your current kitchen, CabDoor Direct being the actual door manufacturer, can offer more door styles, paint colors, and wood stains than most IKEA door companies. CabDoor’s core business has been providing custom cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and cabinet accessories to cabinet industry professionals for over 35 years, so for us “Custom is Standard”.
We suggest starting by exploring CabDoor Direct’s Door Style Collections. Find the style(s) that interests or excites you.
Wood Veneer Laminated Sheet
These are typically MDF sheets with thin wood veneer panels glued to both sides of the MDF core. The sheets are available in various wood species, panel layup types, various sawn cuts, and lumber grades. The veneer grade on the front side vs. the back side can be different in an effort to control costs.
Melamine Laminated Sheet
Melamine sheets are produced by impregnating paper with melamine resin, which is then bonded under heat and pressure to the surface of typically a MDF core. This process creates a hard, durable, and scratch-resistant surface that can mimic the appearance of wood or other materials. Decorative melamine laminates have made major advancements in the last 5 to 10 years. They replicate the look of real wood, with textured surfaces, various sheens, and high gloss surfaces. Another cool looks is Stainless Steel.
Paper/Foil/Vinyl Wrapped Moldings and Components
These items are produced by wrapping a paper, foil, or vinyl substrate onto a profiled core material with an adhesive, heat and pressure. If the image can be anything and the core materials can be MDF, Wood, Aluminum extrusions, PVC extrusions, high-density foam, or fiberglass pultrusions. These materials can be found in RV interiors, manufactured housing, closet systems, and picture frames.
CabDoor Uses – We have not use for these products as we don’t supply these industries.
CaDoor Direct is here to help you elevate your IKEA Kitchen Project by providing the custom doors, drawer fronts, and other accessories.
CabDoor Direct provides the POP for your kitchen project!
Whether it is a new design, provided by IKEA or an Interior Designer, or you are upgrading your current kitchen, CabDoor Direct being the actual door manufacturer, can offer more door styles, paint colors, and wood stains than most IKEA door companies. CabDoor’s core business has been providing custom cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and cabinet accessories to cabinet industry professionals for over 35 years, so for us “Custom is Standard”.
We suggest starting by exploring CabDoor Direct’s Door Style Collections. Find the style(s) that interests or excites you.
Finishes (what are they, the pros & cons for kitchen cabinets, and CabDoor’s why) ?? Answer all these question
Conversion Varnish (Solvent & Water based)
Catalyzed Lacquer
Polyurethane
Acrylic Latex (Paint)
Paint Grade 5-Piece Doors
Skinny Shaker 5-Piece Doors
Wood 5-Piece Shaker Doors
Wood 5-Piece Raised Panel Door
Door Construction (describe CabDoor’s construction, create competitor contrast with pros & cons , and finish with CabDoor’s why our decision is better) ?? Answer all these question
Measure your doors and drawer fronts for size.
We suggest using CabDoor Direct’s Door Worksheet for recording the sizing information. The worksheet is organized to help you gather all the information needed to complete your online order when you are ready. How to Measure Instructions are included as part of the worksheet.
For new kitchens using IKEA’s Kitchen Planner, you will need the component list showing the box sizes and IKEA part #’s and your kitchen elevation illustrations for the kitchen. Using the Door Worksheet and Cabinet Door & Drawer Front Identifier, identify the corresponding doors and drawer fronts that go with each cabinet box for the configuration in your elevation illustrations.
Wood Veneer Flat Doors
Melamine Laminate Flat Doors
Why we don’t sell Routed Doors
Why we don’t sell Thermofoil Doors
Why we don’t sell Wrapped Doors or Moldings
Answer all these question
