Is HDF | HMR-HDF a popular choice?

Looking at all the beautiful interior photos from Pinterest and Instagram, have you ever wondered how many of those cabinets and wall partitions are natural solid wood? Or maybe it didn’t even pass your mind that those cabinets could be something else other than natural solid wood. Well, that could be true if it was back in the 90s.

Nowadays, most of the cabinets and furniture are built with materials such as HDF or MDF. This is because natural solid wood is extremely costly as trees are being cut down at an alarming rate. Not everyone could afford it, especially for people who recently started their careers and bought their first home. When compared with solid wood, the price of HDF is at least 50-60% cheaper.

 

Is the durability of HDF the same as natural wood?

Prices aside, some might think that investing in a solid wood cabinet or doors might be better in the long run. However, the myth that HDF and MDF do not last long is not true. On the contrary, HDF might be better than solid wood in terms of durability. This is because natural wood will warp and cause cracks over time. When water seeps into these cracks, unrecoverable damage will be done to the furniture over time.

Meanwhile, HDF will maintain its original shape for decades if taken care of properly. Thus, making HDF much more durable. However, HDF is still prone to water damage as it’s a wood-based product. Therefore a newer version of HDF known as HMR-HDF has been invented. HMR-HDF contains an adhesive that is water repellent. Thus, making HDF even more durable compared to solid wood.

 

Is HDF better compared to other engineered wood like plywood and particle board?

Even when compared to plywood and particle board, HDF is still superior as it’s much more versatile and has smoother finishes. This result is due to HDF being made with very fine particles under higher pressure. Besides, HDF is still cheaper compared to other engineered wood.

 

Is HDF environment friendly & safe to use?

Furthermore, HDF is a material that helps reduce global waste. This is because it can be made from any wood, including recycled wood. Also, it does not have any rigorous production processes, which means that it’s not putting any strain on our renewable and non-renewable resources. Hence, helping us to reduce our carbon footprints for years to come. The only issue consumers need to be careful of is some manufacturers might use cheaper adhesives and ingredients that might emit a high level of formaldehyde. Our advice is to check on the formaldehyde emission labeling/grade and the manufacturer.

Formaldehyde Emission Labelling
Emission Class – Formaldehyde Emission Limit (mg/l)
E0 – Less than or equal to 0.5 (The best in the industry)
E1 – Less than or equal to 1.0
E2 – Less than or equal to 2.0
E3 – Greater than 2.0

 

Learn More about our 4M Series Laminate Door that uses HMR-HDF.