Quality Features of Fine Cabinets – Interior Options

• Quality Features of Fine Cabinets
• Hardware Types and Quality
• Drawer Construction
• Interior Options
• Cabinetry Box Construction
• Finish Type
• Subjective Items

Interior Options

An often overlooked but important attribute of new cabinet is the material chosen to cover the interiors. There are several options available for surfacing cabinet interiors. Cabinet interiors may be surfaced with natural wood veneers, painted or with synthetic laminate materials such as vinyl or melamine.

Painted cabinet interiors tend to be the least durable choice and are primarily used as a cost cutting measure in cabinet construction.

Wood veneer interiors are somewhat durable and attractive interiors. In modern cabinetry the veneer interiors can be sealed very well eliminating the need to line shelves.

Many cabinet makers now use a laminated or wipe clean interior. These materials can either be white or wood grained and are easy to maintain. There are two basic varieties of laminated interiors, vinyl and melamine. Vinyl is a less expensive material than melamine. Vinyl interiors are very similar to contact paper which is glued to the underlying core. However, this material is porous and water setting on top of this material can cause it to de-laminate and blister. On the other hand, melamine interiors are a low pressure laminate material which is non-porous, sanitary and will not delaminate in the same circumstances. For this reason melamine interiors are specified in high quality cabinetry, commercial projects as well as medical office applications. Melamine is considered a superior material to vinyl interiors and among the most durable available.