I hope this is an appropriate question to ask here. I am considering having some built-in cabinets made for my family room. They will hold books, tv, etc and be painted white. The remodeling company that I deals with says they make these and that their standard material for this kind of project is birch plywood. From doing some research on this website, that seems to be an acceptable material. Did I get that right? Also, I’m wondering what sorts of things I should be asking about or insisting on. His estimate doesn’t mention a thickness. Is 1/2″ ok or do I really want 3/4″? Is there anything else I should know?
Thanks very much for any help or advice you can offer.
Replies
1/2" birch ply is fine for the carcass -- assuming you'll have a face frame, this will be plenty strong enough, and there should be no visible edges to give away the thickness. I'd definitely go with at least 3/4" for the shelving though -- more if they are wide bookcases. The builder will likely cover the edges of the ply for appearance sake. I prefer to use solid stock for this as opposed to veneer tape -- it's more durable and, if you make it wider, it can double as a support element for the shelf. Make sure you discuss how the builder intends to mount the shelving. There are several options, both fixed and adjustable, and all have advantages / disadvantages and you may find you prefer one over the others. (For example, my wife almost always insists on fixed shelving -- she hates the looks of adjustable shelves.)
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
You might find the following link informative:
http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Hi miriam2 ,
For custom built cabinets 3/4" material is fairly standard . Believe it or not the cost difference to 1/2" is only slight , so imo there is no advantage to use thinner material for the carcasses themselves . The drawer boxes typically can be made of 1/2" . Weight should not be a factor to you for built ins . What type of solid stock for faces and doors and drawers will be used .Soft Maple is a good choice .
Lastly , in my experience Maple plywood has a smoother surface than Birch and paints up great . Depending on the application you may want to know if backs are included or desired by you . If there will be any drawers or doors you may want to see the type of hardware included in the bid , and review any options offered .
Using the better and best hardware will add a small amount to the cost , especially in the life time of the work .
Ask to see a similar job installed at a clients place as opposed to a show room . If the company is reluctant to show you a finished real job , try and get a referral from some one you know .
best of luck dusty
Old dusty gave you good advice. I would add that while 3/4" plywood is necessary for shelves of any substantial length Particle Board is acceptable for the case/box. Cabinet grade Particle Board is flatter and smoother than most any plywood product. The only downside is if it gets wet (from a flood or other substantial amount of water, not a spilled glass of water) it will fail quicker than plywood.
Pardon my spelling,
Mike
Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.
I've always built paint grade cabinets with 3/4" birch ply and poplar for the solid wood.
My local cabinet supply has recently started carrying poplar plywood and I'm gonna give it a try on the next paint grade project. It's a little less expensive than the birch and (hopefully) it will paint out as well as solid poplar.
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