What is better to choose when ordering furniture - MDF or chipboard?

Operational properties, service life and appearance of furniture depend on the source material. Today in the manufacture of kitchens, bedroom sets and wardrobes, the most commonly used are chipboard and MDF. An inexperienced buyer does not see the difference in the eye and wonders: “Which material is better?”.

What is chipboard?

Decoding of the abbreviation Chipboard - wood chipboard. Make it as follows:

1. They take chips and wood chips resulting from wood production at sawmills. The raw materials are coniferous and deciduous trees of low value species.
2. Pass production waste through special crushers.
3. Compress the resulting particles at high temperature. The smallest shavings go to the top layer.
4. As the adhesive base, substances of non-mineral origin are used - phenol-formaldehyde resins. At the same stage, flame retardants, antiseptics and other components are added to the stove, which provide protection against fungus, parasites and improve the characteristics of the finished material: make it stronger, more resistant to moisture and fire.

Coating the slab with a melamine resin film is called lamination. So it turns out chipboard. More expensive products are additionally varnished. Compared with conventional chipboard, a laminated plate looks better, has higher strength and water resistance.

Demand for furniture made of chipboard and chipboard is still high due to the low price and a wide selection of colors. A big plus of the material is its resistance to high temperatures. However, it has a number of serious drawbacks:

• Formaldehyde emission (emission).

Formaldehyde is a gas with a pungent odor and high toxicity. Its content in the chipboard can reach up to 18%. It has carcinogenic properties, irritates the mucous membranes (and for this reason is especially harmful to the eyes, respiratory organs), it can cause allergic reactions.

Particleboard classes E0.5, E1 and E2 are distinguished depending on the quantitative content of formaldehyde. Laminate makes the wood panel more environmentally friendly, preventing the evaporation of toxic gas, although it does not completely solve the problem.

• Low density

The chipboard is easy to crumble and crack due to mechanical stress, therefore it is suitable for the manufacture of cases and straight furniture facades. You cannot screw a self-tapping screw 2 times in the same place. Material does not hold clogged nails, glass. In case of careless handling, you can accidentally pull the handle out of the cabinet door or drawer.

• Rabies

The outer surface of the chipboard is moisture resistant, but the risk of water penetrating through the side sections, chips and gaps remains. This leads to an increase in the volume of the material by 20-30%. The laminate is cracking, and the appearance of the chipboard is deteriorating. It is highly recommended not to use material for furniture in the bathroom.

What is MDF?

The original name is medium density fibreboard (MDF). Like chipboard, it is produced by pressing at high temperature, but with some features:

• not chips, but very small sawdust (wood dust) are used, so the finished material is more dense and uniform;
• Urea resins, the formaldehyde content of which is insignificant, act as binders.

Thus, MDF is an environmentally friendly and healthy material. Not only cases are made from it, but also voluminous facades, furniture with carvings. Withstands high loads, practically does not react to water.In addition, MDF furniture is practically not susceptible to the formation of fungus and mold.

However, the material has two significant drawbacks:

• High price. This material will cost you 1.5-2.5 times more expensive than chipboard. At the same time, you will not notice the external difference on standard furniture (direct cabinets, tables).
• Flammable. MDF is a material prone to rapid fires. But first, it smolders imperceptibly, which increases the risk of a fire in the apartment.

Comparison of chipboard and MDF

If we analyze the characteristics described above, then the chipboard loses to the MDF according to the following parameters:

• environmental friendliness;
• health safety;
• density: 300-600 kg / m³ (Chipboard) versus 600-800 kg / m³ (MDF);
• water resistance;
• ease of handling.

It seems that only the low price makes attractive chipboard. But take your time to draw conclusions. A laminated chipboard has several useful “chips”:

• light weight;
• the hardness of the material (not to be confused with density) is higher than that of MDF, therefore it is suitable for use in harsh conditions: in warehouses, production, in the garage;
• resistance to high temperatures.

Knowing the properties of chipboard and MDF, you can understand whether you have chosen good material for a bedroom, a nursery or a kitchen.

What material to choose for a bedroom and a nursery?

A bed is a place where you spend at least 6-8 hours daily. Obviously, the constant inhalation of formaldehyde vapor will harm you. Therefore, buy or order a bed for a bedroom from MDF. The same applies to bedside tables, tables.

But the cabinets and dressers at the opposite end of the bedroom can be made of chipboard. Or consider a combined option: the material of the internal shelves and cases - chipboard, and beautiful facades - MDF.

The choice for the children's room is obvious - safe MDF. But if the child is no longer a preschooler, then you can buy (order) a desk and a wardrobe made of chipboard.

What material to choose for the kitchen?

Since MDF has low thermal stability, we do not recommend placing cabinets of this material above the stove, near the oven, old electrical appliances. But the lack of chipboard - fear of moisture. Furniture should not be near the sink, dishwasher.

If you want to order an original project from a designer (with voluminous facades, carvings, glass inserts, other details), you have to fork out and choose MDF. Chipboard is less preferable for the kitchen also because at high humidity and temperature the formaldehyde emission increases.

Material combination

If the issue of price is not acute, then it is clear that it is better to choose MDF apartments for the interior. And what about those people who want to save? Combine materials. Below is a table that will help you not to overpay for the arrangement of the apartment.

conclusions

Thus, from the point of view of operational characteristics, MDF is still better, although the price is more attractive for chipboard. But keep in mind that expensive material is more profitable in the long run, because it has a long service life.