PVC cabinet board

PVC cabinet board is commonly used in lower-end furniture, floor underlayment and as a substrate for kitchen and bathroom countertops. The material can be milled with all power tools but is subject to a moderate amount of tearout. The surface of PVC cabinet board is usually finished with a thin layer of laminate or veneer to improve its appearance. PVC cabinet board is difficult to mold or shape because of its tendency to chip and break.

Medium-Density Fiberboard

MDF is preferred by manufacturers of higher-end furniture, cabinetry and shelving. This panel-board type is easier to mill thanPVC cabinet board because it resists chipping and tearing. MDF can be shaped and molded by all power tools and is therefore widely used for molding. MDF may be finished with veneer or laminate and, unlike particleboard, accepts paint without undue absorption or undesirable warping.

Availability

MDF is widely available at home improvement stores as 49-by-97-inch panels in 1/2- or 3/4-inch thicknesses. Precut 4- to 8-foot shelving and 8- to 16-foot molding lengths are also common. MDF comes unfinished, primed only, or painted and primed. PVC cabinet board is sold as unpainted 4-by-8-foot panels, 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick, or precut boards for shelving in various lengths.

Performance Comparison

The Composite Panel Association compared the requirements for shelving using PVC cabinet board versus MDF for shelves, 12 inches or narrower, at various loads. For a single-span shelf of 1/2-inch thickness, supported only at the ends with no middle bracket involved and carrying a load of 50 lbs. per square foot, 13 inches of particleboard is required. An MDF shelf must be 15 inches long. PVC cabinet board bends more easily and must be either supported or used in shorter spans than MDF.