Plywood vs MDF vs Particle Board - Difference and Comparison
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Plywood vs MDF vs Particle Board Difference and Comparison
The core material of any furniture is the wood product used. These days there are a huge variety of pre-processed boards available as wood is getting scarce and costlier. The most frequently used are Plywood, MDF and Particleboard.
Lets have a look at these and try to understand the differences.
Compare Plywood, MDF and Particleboard
| Property | Plywood | MDF | Particleboards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | Plywood is made of thin sheets of wood veneer that are laminated in alternating directions. | Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is made of very fine wood fibers that are glued and compressed under great pressure . | Particleboard is a combination of wood chips, shavings, fibers, and adhesives. |
| Strength | High strength. Plywood is good at providing rigidity for structures. | MDF is not as hard as plywood and can be damaged easily when roughly handled. | Low Strength. Particleboard cannot support heavy loads. |
| Shape Deformity | Cross graining of plywood improves dimensional stability by reducing expansion and shrinkage. | As the moisture content of MDF changes, it is subject to dimensional changes. | Expands too much due to Moisture. |
| Screw/Nails Holding Capacity | Nails and screws will hold strongly because of its stronger cross-grain pattern. | Because it consists of such fine particles, MDF doesn't hold screws very well, and stripping of screw holes may occur in the long run. | The softer and more brittle composition of particle boards, may not hold up well against nails and screws, and could fall apart. |
| Cost | Around Rs. 50-150/sqft depending on Brand and type of plywood. | Rs. 40-80/sqft depending on interior or exterior grade. | Rs. 15-50/sqft |
Right material for modular kitchen cabinets?
At Truww we recommend BWP Plywood (See types of plywood) for modular kitchen cabinets. Unless if you plan to rent out your flat and redo your kitchen after few years we recommend you to go for MDF or PLPB (Particle board)
Ply or MDF or Particle board for wardrobes?
For wardrobes we recommend MR plywood. However, if you are looking for a budget friendly option, you can opt for MDF or Particleboard too. If handled with care and used lightly MDF and Particleboard may last longer but not as long as plywood.
To understand more about how costing works you can also checkout my other post A brief guide to woodwork costing in bangalore
To get an understanding of modular kitchen costs read: Cost of Modular Kitchen in Bangalore
Hope I was able to address your doubts in this article. In case I have missed something do let me know in the comments below.
If you are struggling to find the right interior design firm for your interior project in Bangalore do try Truww - where you get pre-negotiated best rates, guaranteed quality work & on-time completion from the best interior design firm in Bangalore. To learn more about Truww check this link. To understand how we select the top interior firms read The defintive guide to find the best interior designer in Bangalore
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