If you are interested in hiring a technician to do built-in work, this article will discuss the types of wood panels commonly used in built-in work, along with explaining their properties, advantages, disadvantages, and types of use, so that readers can choose the wood panels that are most suitable for their needs and use.
Properties and advantages-disadvantages of wood in built-in work
Built-in work is widely popular because the needs of people in using the space in each room are different. Sometimes, choosing to buy freestanding furniture may not meet the desired usage or limitations in terms of space, such as the narrowness, slope of the floor and walls that are not equal. Therefore, built-in work meets the needs of the function very well. In this article, Too Architects will present information about the types of wood panels that are popularly used in built-in work, each type has different advantages, disadvantages, properties and types of use. This is information for those interested in built-in work and knowledge for those who are looking for built-in furniture to put in their homes.
Particle board
Particle board Or in some countries called chipboard (Chipboard) has a production process by bringing wood chips and sawdust to be bonded together with chemicals and then crushed with high pressure mixed with glue. The wood will be tough but not tight. The toughness comes from the bonded fibers. But the wood will be fluffy, rough, not tight. There will be many small air holes in the wood. Generally, it will be only 15 and 20 mm thick.
Advantages of particleboard
It is a cheap plywood.
There are various thicknesses to choose from according to needs.
The lightest weight among natural wood substitutes.
It is widely popular and easy to find.
Disadvantages of particleboard
Not strong. The wood expands easily.
Short lifespan.
The installation of furniture hinges will not be durable.
Cannot be exposed to water.
Cannot be painted on the work.
Mold grows easily if there is moisture.
Particleboard is very popular in cheap knock-down furniture because it is not expensive and easy to find.
MDF (Medium Density Fiber Board)
MDF is produced by carefully processing pieces of wood mixed with special glue and pressed into sheets using a high-quality press. The most popular woods are eucalyptus and rubber wood. The resulting wood surface is smooth, dense and non-porous. It is usually covered with veneer, laminate or melamine. The standard size of MDF sold in the market is 1.22 x 2.45 meters (4 x 8 feet) per sheet. The thickness that is popularly used for furniture is various, from 3 millimeters to 25 millimeters, depending on which part of the furniture it will be used for assembly or weight support.
Advantages of MDF
Smooth wood surface
Beautifully painted
Easy to cut, notch and drill because the wood is fine
Available in a variety of thicknesses
Disadvantages of MDF
More expensive than particle board
Be careful about humidity
Generates a lot of dust when cutting the wood
MDF is suitable for general built-ins such as Built-in furniture, wardrobes, shelves, etc.
HMR (High Moisture Resistance Board)
HMR wood is produced by carefully processing pieces of wood and pressing them together with special glue that is moisture resistant, making it suitable for use in areas with high humidity. The wood is green because green is mixed in the wood to make it easy to separate from MDF and HDF. It is popular to CNC, paint or cover the surface with veneer, laminate or melamine. The standard size of HMR wood sold in the market is 1.22 x 2.45 meters (4 x 8 feet) per sheet. The thickness that is popularly used for furniture is various sizes, from 3 millimeters to 25 millimeters, depending on which part of the furniture will be used to assemble or support the weight.
Advantages of HMR wood
The wood surface is smooth.
Beautifully painted.
Easy to cut, notch and drill because the wood is fine.
Available in various thicknesses.
Works well in areas with high humidity, but cannot be directly immersed in water.
Good for carving or engraving.
Disadvantages of HMR wood
It is more expensive than MDF.
Although it is good at preventing moisture, it is not good when exposed to water directly.
HMR wood can be used for built-in work in areas with high humidity, such as kitchen counters, cabinets under sinks or shelves in the bathroom. It can also be perforated to decorate the ceiling or various patterns as desired.
HDF wood (High Density Fiber Board)
HDF wood is a high-density fiberboard produced by carefully processing wood and then pressing it together with a special glue that is highly effective in resisting moisture. For HDF Super E0 wood, a special glue formula is used that is free of formaldehyde, making it odorless and safe to use. HDF wood has additional layers of wood, making it denser than MDF and HMR wood. This results in a dense board with high strength, suitable for work that requires force or impact resistance.
Advantages of HDF wood
The inner part is dense and fine, without pores. It has a low shrinkage and swelling rate, so it can keep its shape well.
It is highly dense, so it can be used in areas with impact.
It works well in areas with high humidity, but cannot be directly immersed in water.
The wood surface is smooth.
Can be painted beautifully
Disadvantages of HMR wood
More expensive than MDF wood
Although it is good at preventing moisture, it is not good when exposed to water directly
HMR wood can be used for built-in work in areas with high humidity, such as kitchen counters, cabinets under sinks or shelves in the bathroom. It can also be perforated to decorate the ceiling or various patterns as desired.
Plywood
Plywood is made by slicing wood into thin sheets and pressing them together using glue as a binder. The binding of the plywood is to arrange each thin sheet so that the grain is perpendicular to each other, increasing strength and reducing expansion in the plane of the wood sheet as little as possible.
Advantages of Plywood
It has a dense texture, low shrinkage and expansion rates, so it does not twist or warp.
There are types that are waterproof.
It is strong and can be used as a structure.
It can be painted and shows the wood grain.
Disadvantages of Plywood
Not suitable for carved work Because it has layers of wood
The waterproof type is quite expensive
Plywood is very suitable for use in furniture or built-in work, especially in areas where the wood grain is displayed. In some cases, plywood can also be used as a structure. In the market, there is rubber plywood used for advertising signs, partitions, floors, walls and temporary shelves that do not emphasize beauty. The limitations of general rubber plywood are that there are fewer patterns to choose from and it is not as beautiful as plywood with a surface. It also has a low density, so it can withstand less force and weight.
OSB Plywood (Oriented Strand Board)
The production process of OSB wood is to take flat, thin and long pieces of wood and place them alternately, perpendicular to each other at least 3 layers, then use special glue and resin as a mixture through a process of pressing with heat and high pressure.
Advantages of OSB wood
Beautiful, natural look
Strong, durable, easy to fix and drill
Shrinks and expands very little in all environments
Disadvantages of OSB wood
Not popular for painting because the surface is not smooth
Not suitable for stencil work because the wood chips will fall off and the pattern will not be clear.
OSB is popularly used to make Sub-roof for Shingle roof or as a material for ceiling and wall work that emphasizes showing the wood pattern. It can also be used for various types of furniture but the edges must be well-preserved to prevent any splinters.
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