Advantages which one is better
Before you decide on the best material and start doing something, it’s worth considering the pros and cons of each.
In the photo - chipboard and MDF:
Pros and cons of chipboard
Let's start with chipboard and its positive characteristics:
- moisture resistance;
- strength;
- ease of processing;
- securely hold screws and nails that are used to fasten the structure;
- slabs can be painted and glued;
- they are superior to natural wood in certain physical and mechanical qualities;
- low cost.
Such material is not without its disadvantages:
- the presence of components harmful to health;
- high hardness of the material does not allow for fine processing;
- although the product is characterized by high hardness. For this reason, for decorative finishing of kitchen furniture from, however, after sanding the structure becomes loose.
You can find out which is better MDF or chipboard for furniture from this article.
Pros and cons of MDF
Now let's look at the advantages of MDF:
- high environmental friendliness;
- the material can resist moisture and temperature changes;
- long service life;
- MDF can be subjected to even the finest mechanical processing;
- optimal ratio between hardness and thickness;
- the presented product has a flat, smooth, uniform and dense surface, making external processing of the slabs much easier;
- MDF boasts all the benefits of wood, but the price is much lower and its service life is longer.
You can find out which is better for a cabinet using chipboard or MDF by reading the article.
The video explains which is better than MDF or chipboard for furniture:
About the difference between fiberboard and chipboard, photos and other technical data are indicated in the article.
As for the minuses, there is only one here - it is not well-established production of the material in Russia. It follows that purchasing a kitchen made from MDF will cost much more.
Now we can summarize and identify the furniture that is best suited for installation in the kitchen. If you choose between chipboard and MDF, then in terms of environmental friendliness, reliability and design, MDF wins. But not everyone can afford it, because the cost of a slab is much higher than that of chipboard.
How moisture-resistant tongue-and-groove chipboard is used for flooring is indicated in the article.
Fastener retention
Chipboard has long gained the reputation of a “disposable” material - furniture assembled from it is very difficult to disassemble without loss, transport to another place and reassemble. This is due to the fastenings, which, even if the screws are screwed in and out perfectly evenly during reassembly, at best will hold much weaker. The worst is also the more likely outcome - the attachment point will simply crumble and you will have to additionally treat it with glue or use screws of larger diameter.
As a result, if you have a choice, then you should take furniture made of chipboard, in which not screws are used as fasteners, but bolted connections with wide washers. If they break, then you won’t have to worry about the possibility of restoring the fasteners.
MDF, due to its density, easily tolerates repeated assembly and disassembly - in this, again, it is not very different from natural wood.
Choice for the bedroom
For such a room it remains a very important accessory. For this reason, choosing the material from which it will be made is a very important process.
Today, very often people order bedroom furniture from chipboard or MDF, but still do not understand which is better. First, let's look at chipboard. The presented product is obtained from shavings, which are then treated with a binding component, namely formaldehyde resins.
DPS today are very relevant in the manufacture of cabinet furniture, or rather bedroom sets. The main advantages of chipboard material can be considered: easy processing, strength, excellent water resistance, the material perfectly and firmly holds all fasteners and is not expensive.
You can see what a kitchen countertop made of chipboard looks like in this article.
Chipboard is very often used in the production of economy class furniture. In this case, furniture sets are often installed in offices. However, for those who do not have a lot of money, they can also try installing a chipboard product in their bedroom.
However, the presented material has one significant drawback: when formaldehyde resins evaporate, a negative effect on human health occurs. In addition, there is a specific type of chipboard that is prohibited for use in the manufacture of bedroom furniture.
You can find out what the thickness of laminated chipboard is from this article.
Now you can move on to MDF. The presented product is characterized by a slab, the production process of which takes place from sawdust. Their fastening is carried out using paraffin and lignin. Compared to chipboard, this material is environmentally friendly, therefore it is very widely used in the manufacture of bedroom furniture.
The main advantages of MDF can be considered:
- environmental friendliness;
- minimal thickness, making it easy to process;
- has all the benefits of wood.
Are MDF panels environmentally friendly?
In recent years, the construction market has been replenished with a new material - MDF panels. Due to their specific properties, these boards began to be used both in the furniture industry and as a finishing material. However, the environmental safety of these products raises many questions among consumers.
Concerns about the release of hazardous compounds by the material worry people and give rise to various speculations.
The only way out is to understand the peculiarities of production and the composition of the slabs, and study the expert opinion.
For children's room
The process of making children's furniture can also take place using chipboard or MDF boards. Of course, the most optimal material in this case would be natural wood. But the reason for the high cost is that not everyone can afford it. And then chipboard and MDF boards can act as an alternative. Also, later doubts may still arise as to what the difference is between MDF and laminated chipboard and which is better.
Let's take a closer look at MDF. They have a medium density and wood-fiber structure. For its production, small sawdust is used. The bonding process is carried out using paraffin. In terms of environmental friendliness, this material is the most suitable for children's furniture. A similar material is used to produce backs for chairs, cribs, and tables. Also, MDF boards are indispensable when obtaining cabinets, shelves and various parts.
How to choose the material for MDF furniture is indicated in the article.
The cost of such children's furniture will be much more expensive than that made from chipboard. But the indicators of strength, environmental friendliness and reliability of MDF material are much higher.
Chipboard is used to make the back walls of cabinets and act as the bottom for drawers. In a child's room, a closet is a very important element of furniture, so it is necessary to use reliable materials for its manufacture. The reason is that the bottom made from chipboard is very flexible, so it very often has to be repaired. But such material is characterized by low cost and long service life.
How much a 16 mm chipboard sheet weighs is indicated in the article.
Although chipboard boards have one important drawback, due to which many parents refuse to install furniture based on it in the nursery. This disadvantage lies in formaldehyde resins, which release elements harmful to health during evaporation. At the same time, it is these resins that give the slab fire resistance.
In conclusion, it should be noted that a product made from MDF boards inspires more confidence among people, but parents are not always ready to see chipboard material in their baby’s room. The reason is that this material is not environmentally friendly.
What sizes of MDF panels there are are indicated in the article.
Signs of quality products
The quality of MDF panels is determined by compliance with production requirements and the properties of the raw materials used. When purchasing products, you should check with the seller for a sanitary and hygienic certificate or certificate for the product. Domestic factories often violate the production standards for such slabs due to savings on materials. The most trusted and popular are slabs produced in European countries in accordance with unified standards.
You can significantly reduce the amount of formaldehyde released into the environment by gluing laminated strips on the cut line of the sheet. Panels coated with polymer substances can not only decorate the room, but also reduce the intensity of the release of formaldehyde compounds into the environment.
Due to their unique properties, MDF panels deserve attention from consumers. Their demand is due to the unique characteristics of the material: lightness, good performance and the ability to purchase sheets with specified properties (fire-resistant, moisture-resistant). The ability to produce shaped products and relief facades using MDF expands the scope of its application and contributes to the widespread distribution of boards of this type.
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Bathroom material
To be honest, none of the materials under consideration are suitable for making bathroom furniture. If, of course, there is no particular choice, then it is best to use an MDF board that has a laminated surface. But to the general misconception, you can choose a good laminate for the bathroom.
As a rule, such processing is present only on one side. If we consider chipboard boards, then they are generally not suitable for installation in the bathroom. You can, of course, also purchase a laminated product, but over time the furniture will begin to delaminate and deteriorate, and the furniture set will begin to lose its attractive appearance. Both options can be mounted on dowel nails that comply with GOST.
You can find out how to install a kitchen apron from MDF with your own hands here.
There is only one conclusion here: neither MDF nor chipboard are suitable for the bathroom, but for those who choose from these materials, laminated MDF has a great advantage.
3 more things to consider when updating your interior
In any case, it is advisable not to update all the furniture at once, but to do it slowly, in parts. This is quite reasonable: it will hit your pocket less, and you won’t once again test your health “to the limit.”
If you nevertheless decide to replace all the furniture in a room or apartment at once, then it makes sense to ventilate this room more often at first and spend less time in it.
But if you have old, good-quality wooden furniture, and it is not damaged by fungus and other pests, then maybe the best option is not to buy anything at all, but just leave the old one? Moreover, it can be restored. One way or another, everyone chooses for themselves what is more important to them - updating the interior at any cost or maintaining health.
By the way, since you are concerned about the topic of toxic furniture, you should pay attention to other harmful materials in your room. There may be no less danger to health, if not more.
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How furniture is made from two materials
MDF can be amenable to various types of mechanical processing, due to which it is actively used in the manufacture of facades for cabinet furniture. In this case, CNC machines are used during production. Thanks to this equipment, it is possible to make various patterns and figured designs.
The production process from MDF involves the use of a thermal vacuum press, as a result of which various PVC films can be applied to the surface of the board. For this reason, the cost of MDF boards is much more expensive than chipboards. In order for the final product to have excellent quality and price, the furniture production process can be based on a combination of these materials. As a rule, it is possible to produce not only furniture facades, but also table tops.
It was the low content of harmful components that allowed MDF boards to be used in the manufacture of a crib. Today there is a large number of PVC films, on the surface of which many children's drawings are applied. The result is durable and practical furniture that is very easy to care for. In addition, milling the edges allows you to avoid sharp ends, which is important when making furniture for a children's room.
Chipboard and MDF are very popular products today, which are actively used in the manufacture of furniture. It’s impossible to say unequivocally which material is better. Indeed, in terms of environmental friendliness and beauty, MDF material wins. But the cost is lower and the service life of chipboards is longer. When choosing furniture, pay attention to the purpose for which you are buying it and under what conditions it will be used.
