I hear you on the particleboard—ran into the same mess when I moved in and tried to fix a leaky faucet. The bottom of the cabinet just crumbled in my hands. I went with plywood too, though I’ll admit I was tempted to just slap some waterproof paint on and call it a day. It’s wild how much sturdier things feel now, even if it took a bit more time. Honestly, I wish builders would stop cutting corners with the cheap stuff... it just doesn’t last.
Man, particleboard is the worst for anything near water. I swear, the second it gets damp, it just turns into oatmeal. I get why people use it—cheaper, lighter, whatever—but plywood’s a whole different ballgame. I did the same swap under my sink and now I don’t wince every time I set a bottle of soap down. Still, sometimes I wonder if even plywood is overkill for these cabinets... but then again, I’d rather overbuild than fix it twice.
Still, sometimes I wonder if even plywood is overkill for these cabinets... but then again, I’d rather overbuild than fix it twice.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve had decent luck with MDF in some kitchen setups—especially if you seal the edges and use a good laminate on top. It’s not as bulletproof as plywood, but for spots that don’t see direct water, it can hold up surprisingly well. If you’re really worried about moisture, there are even moisture-resistant MDF options now. Sometimes it’s about balancing cost and practicality... plywood everywhere can get pricey pretty fast.
Sometimes it’s about balancing cost and practicality... plywood everywhere can get pricey pretty fast.
That’s true, especially with how much plywood prices have jumped lately. I’ve seen folks use a mix—plywood for sink bases, MDF for uppers. Curious if anyone’s tried those new composite panels? Supposedly more stable, but I haven’t used them yet.
Curious if anyone’s tried those new composite panels? Supposedly more stable, but I haven’t used them yet.
I actually looked into composite panels when we were planning our kitchen, but I got a bit overwhelmed by all the options. Ended up sticking with plywood for the sink base, like you mentioned, since I kept reading that it holds up better to leaks. The MDF for uppers idea is smart—wish I’d thought of that before spending extra on plywood everywhere. Did you find the MDF easy to work with? I was worried about it chipping when cutting.
