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solid wood kitchen units

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RobertL

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Sep 28, 2012, 11:24:49 AM9/28/12
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There are several on-line suppliers offering kitchen units with solid wood carcasses. They seem to cost about the same (or less) than the usual chipboard ones from the big names. The wood is typically 18mm thick and made from panels 'assembled' from smaller planks.

They also seem to be made in factories in the UK which is nice.

Are there any things to worry about with cabinets made like this? Why would anyoen buy chipboard in preference?

Examples of suppliers:
http://www.discountkitchenfactory.co.uk/
http://www.solidwoodkitchencabinets.co.uk/
http://www.solidwoodkitchen.co.uk/

thanks for any comments,

Robert
laws at bcs.org.uk

newshound

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Sep 28, 2012, 12:18:00 PM9/28/12
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I can't see how they would compete on price with (say) B&Q carcases.
Their profit is in the doors, drawers, and worktops.

Chipboard was a PITA before the adjustable plastic pillars were invented
because it inevitably got damp at the bottom and decayed from there.
These days, I don't see any problem with it unless you are particularly
Essex. YMMV if you were renovating a classy old property.

stuart noble

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Sep 28, 2012, 1:08:37 PM9/28/12
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On 28/09/2012 16:24, RobertL wrote:
> There are several on-line suppliers offering kitchen units with solid wood carcasses. They seem to cost about the same (or less) than the usual chipboard ones from the big names. The wood is typically 18mm thick and made from panels 'assembled' from smaller planks.
>
> They also seem to be made in factories in the UK which is nice.
>
> Are there any things to worry about with cabinets made like this? Why would anyoen buy chipboard in preference?
>

It's melamine faced, so easy to maintain. It's almost certainly more
stable than wood. Unless your kitchen is prone to flooding, I can't see
the advantages of wooden carcasses

j...@arcade.demon.co.uk

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Sep 28, 2012, 1:18:24 PM9/28/12
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newshound wrote:
> Chipboard was a PITA before the adjustable plastic pillars were invented

I hate those plastic pillars. As you attempt to slide the base
unit into place the damn things snap off. Proper continuous
panel all the way to the floor lets you adjust the position
infinitely, and spreads the weight across two long lengths
instead of four spot pressure points.

JGH

newshound

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Sep 28, 2012, 1:23:53 PM9/28/12
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You don't slide them into place, at least not with any force. You screw
them up before you insert the unit, lift it into place, *then* adjust
the feet.

michael adams

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Sep 28, 2012, 1:42:25 PM9/28/12
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"RobertL" <rober...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ca649461-8db0-4244...@googlegroups.com...
- There are several on-line suppliers offering kitchen units with
- solid wood carcasses. They - seem to cost about the same (or less)
- than the usual chipboard ones from the big names. The wood is
- typically 18mm thick and made from panels 'assembled' from smaller planks.

- They also seem to be made in factories in the UK which is nice.

- Are there any things to worry about with cabinets made like this?
- Why would anyoen buy chipboard in preference?


Apart from the door and drawer fronts, which can be solid oak
or any other timber if you so choose, the only part visible part
aside from the end panels will be the insides of the cupboards
and drawers. Here white melamine is preferable, both from a
visibilty aspect and in terms of keeping it clean. Its a whole
lot easier to see what's at the back of a cupboard if the interior
is white, and its also easier to see if its been properly cleaned.

Apart from this, the reason chipbpoard and MDF are so popular is
because they're more stable in a kitchen environment, by design,
than is natural timber.

Quite what benefit there can be, in having the sides and maybe even
the backs of cabinets, which will never actually be seen - i.e all
but the end panels - made from solid timber is something only the
suppliers could possibly answer.


michael adams

...

meow...@care2.com

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Sep 28, 2012, 3:30:07 PM9/28/12
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On Friday, September 28, 2012 6:42:32 PM UTC+1, michael adams wrote:
> "RobertL" <robertmlaws> wrote in message
Chip doesn't last well. Timber does.


NT

michael adams

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Sep 28, 2012, 4:35:44 PM9/28/12
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<meow...@care2.com> wrote in message
news:4a356443-adad-4c3e...@googlegroups.com...
It usually lasts long enough to fulfil its intended purpose.

Up to 40 years and more, in some cases

> Timber does.

Often too long for a kitchen which will often be replaced within
30 years if not sooner.


michael adams

...







> NT


meow...@care2.com

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Sep 28, 2012, 8:32:59 PM9/28/12
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On Friday, September 28, 2012 9:35:50 PM UTC+1, michael adams wrote:
> <meow2222> wrote in message
I plan to use my kitchen for the rest of my life, then pass it on.

> Up to 40 years and more, in some cases

That is very optimistic for chip. I do however know a real wood kitchen still in use that looks over a century old.


> > Timber does.
>
>
>
> Often too long for a kitchen which will often be replaced within
>
> 30 years if not sooner.

Often because of deteriorated chipboard
Even more often because of dodgy melamine/chipboard styling. Wood tends to be more conservative, and not look so outdated.


NT

tin...@isbd.co.uk

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Sep 29, 2012, 5:09:28 AM9/29/12
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But of your floor isn't level you're in trouble!

--
Chris Green

tin...@isbd.co.uk

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Sep 29, 2012, 5:11:06 AM9/29/12
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meow...@care2.com wrote:
>
> Chip doesn't last well. Timber does.
>
Thin sheets of oak, in particular, don't last well at all - at least
not in the sense of staying flat and smooth.

--
Chris Green

fred

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Sep 29, 2012, 7:44:21 AM9/29/12
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In article <ca649461-8db0-4244...@googlegroups.com>,
RobertL <rober...@yahoo.com> writes
There are some pretty much waterproof mdf boards with smooth cladding
that get used in commercial and industrial installations. I'd love to
see them used for kitchen cabinets but no joy yet, the market seems
happy with cheap shit. Real wood might work looks wise but it's not for
me, I want bright wipe down surfaces that don't care about a bit of
damp.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .
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