Material
Chipboard or chipboard is a material made from wood processing waste - sawdust and wood shavings. These particles are connected using a special resin-based adhesive composition.
There are many types of chipboard, but only 2 types are used in furniture production - pressed chipboard and laminated chipboard.
Coating
Depending on the design of chipboard kitchens, a variety of coatings can be applied to the material.
Coating with a polymer film or paper with a special hydrophobic impregnation not only improves the appearance of the material, but also protects it from exposure to water and detergents.
Most often, a polymer film with a wood pattern is used for this purpose. Countertops and kitchen fronts made of laminated chipboard are in the lower price segment.
Veneer cladding allows you to make kitchens from chipboard with imitation wood. Veneer, unlike polymer film, does not increase the moisture resistance of the material, but it looks much better than its competitor.Finishes made from plastic, PVC or acrylic film usually have a glossy sheen and deep color. In the photo, such kitchens made of chipboard look more modern.
However, instead of PVC film, it is better to choose acrylic film - it is more resistant to fading, water and steam.
Laminated chipboard is also covered with paper impregnated with melamine resin. Only, unlike the first type of coating, thicker paper is used for laminated chipboard and is secured under pressure. For this reason, the chance that the coating will begin to peel off over time is minimal.
Review of chipboard manufacturers
Today it is not difficult to find laminated chipboards in a wide variety. To have an idea of the offer, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the main manufacturers.
Egger
This brand has a place of honor in its entire segment, and its products have been on the market since 1961. The company is constantly expanding its product range and improving production technology. It produces not only laminated chipboards, but also edges and countertops. All products have a presentable appearance and last a very long time. There are no harmful chemicals in the composition.
Egger
Kronospan
This enterprise is the largest in Ukraine and throughout Europe. It offers a large selection of sheet materials made using wood, namely laminated and sanded chipboard. It has been operating since 2004 in Novovolynsk, although activities began in 1897 in Austria.
Kronospan
Lamartie
The brand produces environmentally friendly material that meets Russian and European quality standards. All products are distinguished by a high level of reliability and manufacturability, 70% of items are completely unique.
Lamartie
Nevsky Laminate
The plant operates in St. Petersburg and offers a huge selection of materials for bases and embossing of laminated chipboards. The catalog also presents variations of MDF and HDSP of various thicknesses.
Nevsky Laminate
Points for and against"
Like all others, kitchens made of chipboard have their pros and cons. The main thing is to sensibly weigh all the arguments before purchasing kitchen furniture.
Pros:
The main indisputable advantage of furniture made from chipboard is its low cost. Even with a very modest budget, you can choose a set of good quality and quantity of items.
Products made from chipboard are quite durable and hold nails and screws well.Chipboard is a very easy-to-process material. If you have enough desire, you can make simple furniture from chipboard yourself.
Minuses:
The most important disadvantage of furniture made from chipboard is the release of harmful formaldehyde, which is a strong carcinogen.
Due to its structure, the material cannot be finely processed, so chipboard furniture does not have shaped elements.
What is stronger - MDF or chipboard?
MDF is denser not only than chipboard, but also solid wood.
This material is not afraid of high humidity, so it is suitable for use in the bathroom or kitchen. MDF is a more flexible material, so furniture of complex, streamlined shapes is made from it. It is also good for deep milling and drawings due to its fine structure and high density. Chipboard is less durable than solid wood and MDF. It is not recommended to use it in bathrooms and kitchens, since moisture can seep inside through cuts and peelings on the film. This causes swelling, change in shape and further reduces strength.
Order furniture
If you decide to realize your ideas on how best to make a kitchen from chipboard, then you need to seriously consider the question of what materials to choose for its manufacture.
The main indicator by which the choice of material can be guided is safety. For chipboard, this indicator is reflected by the emission class - the amount of formaldehyde released into the external environment.
In documents, this indicator is designated by the letter E. The safest slabs are with an indicator of E1 and E 0.5. Material with such indicators can even be used for the manufacture of children's furniture.You should avoid materials with emissions E2 and higher - although they are approved for indoor use and have a lower price, they are still dangerous if in long-term contact with them.
Dimensions
There are no standard sizes of chipboard as such. But each manufacturing company has developed its own parameters.
In the catalog you can find sizes 2440 * 1830 mm with a thickness of 16, 18, 22, 25 mm and 2750 * 1830 with a thickness of 10, 16, 18 mm. Slabs with dimensions of 16, 18 mm are used in the production of dressing rooms and wardrobes. Thicker materials (22, 25 mm) are necessary in the manufacture of tabletops and other furniture elements with high loads.
It won’t be difficult to find the optimal sizes. Most often it is 2800*2070 mm. The thickness of the structures can be any; in this particular company it is varied and is the same as in Swisspan, 10, 16, 18, 25 mm. 19 mm slabs are produced less frequently.
At Kronospan Russia you can choose products 1830*2070 mm, 2800*2620 mm. And the thickness, as in other cases, can be anything - from 8 to 28 mm. The thinnest slabs are usually used in the manufacturing process of furniture elements that bear minimal loads. Or during the production of MDF fillings, sliding wardrobes.
It is these slabs that are classic for most brands of domestic and foreign production.
How to choose ready-made furniture?
When choosing a finished kitchen made from chipboard, you need to understand that the newly purchased furniture will be exposed to water, steam, and temperature every day. Furniture should also be able to easily withstand the effects of aggressive cleaning agents.
The best kitchens are made from laminated chipboard. In addition to moisture and heat resistance, this material is resistant to mechanical damage.
When choosing a kitchen, pay special attention to the places where the screws and self-tapping screws are fastened - if the screw falls out of the hole, it is no longer possible to fix it and you should refuse to purchase such a piece of furniture.
Also carefully inspect all corners and sides for cracks, chips and peeling of the film.
It is worth remembering that the more the integrity of the external coating of the furniture is compromised, the greater the amount of formaldehyde it emits. Also, damage to the protective film significantly reduces the service life of kitchen furniture.
Before purchasing, be sure to ask for a certificate of conformity. It must indicate the emission class of the chipboard.
Photos of kitchens made of chipboard
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