There is a lot of misunderstanding about the differences between plywood and particle board, and which will be the most durable when used to make a cabinet box. Many companies advertise an “all wood” or plywood kitchen, when in fact the only parts made out of wood are the face frame, the drawer front, and (sometimes) the door. 

 

Plywood is made by layering thin layers of wood, with each new layer (ply) placed with the grain going in the opposite direction than the one next to it. These layers are glued together and pressed. The very outer layer will have a layer of paper-thin veneer of the wood species (maple, cherry, oak, maple etc.) chosen for the cabinet. These plys will remain stable forever in small sized parts such as in the construction of a cabinet box. However, some grades of plywood come apart (delaminate) quite easily. It all depends on the grade, the glue, and the pressure that was used to produce it.

 

Particle board isn't any less "all wood" than plywood is. It's just smaller particles (thus the origination of the name) versus thin sheets/layers of veneers. In a flood situation, plywood is not any more resistant to moisture damage than is particle board.  Also, in high humid areas such as Florida, plywood can shrink and swell depending on how consistant the humidity level is in your home.

(That is why almost all crown molding and doors are not made of wood, but rather a composite.)

 

The little round tables you buy in the big box stores are made with much lower pressure particle board and will fall apart rather easily. Industrial furniture grade particle board is what today's cabinets are made from, and it is made from much better glues and with much higher pressures to set it. It's actually much more "all wood" than plywood, and is therefore much heavier than plywood. It is just as durable as plywood if the proper construction techniques are used for each type of material. There isn't a detectible difference to the end product at all once it's installed, and the warranties are the same.          

 

If you’re on a tight budget and your first area of concern when shopping for cabinets is making sure they are made of wood, consider doing some research on cabinetry. If you don't, you will be susceptible to the sales pitch of every company that sells imported Chinese cabinetry. These companies have been doing quite well over the last few years by selling low end cabinetry at very high profit margins. They take advantage of unknowing consumers by hyping up the superiority of real wood cabinets versus cabinetry that uses any type of composite construction such as particleboard or Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) construction. Chinese plywood is not the same quality as American plywood! 

 

 So what are the advantages of a particle board box? It's usually about 10-20% less expensive in most American made cabinet lines. This savings can allow you to get that door style and finish you really want without having to sacrifice quality and design options.  

 

Our company offers only American made cabinets with both plywood and particle board construction options, so it’s all a matter of your budget and preference.  In our opinion, upgrading to plywood is money that could be better spent on organizational conveniences (such as roll-out shelves, cutlery dividers, trash pull-outs, etc.) that will make a difference how you live!