I think solid wood doors age better than the popular MDF ones people push now

After 8 years in my own kitchen, my MDF cabinet doors started swelling near the sink, while the solid oak ones I built for my neighbor still look sharp. Anyone else notice MDF just can't handle humidity over time?

2 comments

2 Comments

perez.thea26d agoMost Upvoted

Exactly my experience. Put MDF in our bathroom vanity and it started puffing up around the edges within two years. Solid wood holds up way better where there's any moisture at all.

cooper.reese26d ago

Did you catch that article from a material science blog about how MDF is basically engineered to fail in bathrooms? I remember reading that the manufacturing process leaves it super vulnerable to moisture because the wood fibers are so fine and the glue breaks down over time. Solid wood has natural grain and resins that help repel water, so even a cheap pine cabinet would outlast any MDF setup near a sink or shower. Two years is actually pretty generous for MDF in a bathroom vanity, I've heard stories of it warping in six months.