1、 Material selection

1. Cabinet panel selection

The main types of boards used for customized furniture include particle board, formaldehyde free board, European pine board, multi-layer board, ecological board, and solid wood board.

① Particle board

Generally refers to solid wood particle board. It is a synthetic board made of wood or wooden poles, crushed from logs, with fine wood fibers on both sides and long wood fibers sandwiched in the middle. After applying adhesive, it is glued together under heat and pressure. The panel is decorated with melamine and has a honeycomb shaped cross-section.

Advantages: Good stability, easy to process; High strength, not easily deformed; The interior is a granular structure with a staggered pattern, which has strong nail holding force and can be used to nail round or screw screws.

Disadvantages: Glue will be used during the processing, resulting in slightly poor environmental performance; High hardness, difficult to create curves and shapes.

Mainly used for: cabinets, wardrobes, furniture

② Formaldehyde free plate

Formaldehyde free artificial board is produced using wood or non wood plant fiber materials as the main raw materials, with or without formaldehyde adhesives, and without adding other additives containing formaldehyde. Only boards that do not contain formaldehyde additives from the core to the finish can be called formaldehyde free boards. The limit value for formaldehyde emission is 0.03mg/m.

At present, the internationally authoritative formaldehyde free exemption certifications include CARBNAF and EPANAF from the United States. NAF certification does not certify decorative artificial boards, it only certifies the substrate of artificial boards. But the formaldehyde free panels on the market are all decorated, and if the decorative surface used contains formaldehyde, the decorative panel is not really formaldehyde free. This can be easily misled, so be sure to pay attention when making a purchase.

Advantages: High environmental friendliness; Good stability; Affordable price, much cheaper than solid wooden boards; Moisture and heat resistance.

Disadvantage: Difficult to identify

③ Ousong board

The raw materials for OSB are mainly small diameter wood of soft needle and broad-leaved trees, fast-growing thinning wood, such as eucalyptus, fir, poplar thinning wood, etc. The sources are relatively wide and can be manufactured into large panels (such as 2.4 × 9.8m or 3.7 × 7.3m). The manufacturing process mainly involves drying, gluing, directional paving, and hot pressing of a certain geometric shape of planing pieces (usually 50-80mm long, 5-20mm wide, and 0.45-0.6mm thick).

Advantages: Low formaldehyde emission, high environmental friendliness, comparable to natural wood; Durable and sturdy, lighter in weight than furniture made of particleboard

Disadvantages: High price, poor flatness, and a slight prick when the surface is not painted

④ Multi-layer board

The production method of multi-layer boards generally involves first creating the inner layer graphics, then using printing etching to make single-sided or double-sided substrates, and incorporating them into designated interlayer spaces, followed by heating, pressure, and bonding.

Advantages: Stable structure, strong compressive strength, not easily deformed, high waterproof rating

Disadvantages: Not suitable for surface carving techniques, low environmental friendliness

⑤ Ecological board

Ecological board, also known as unpainted board or melamine board.

Advantages: It has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, acid and alkali resistance, moisture resistance, fire resistance, etc. The surface is not easily discolored or peeled, and it is easy to process into veneers with different styles and strong textures

Disadvantage: The main body of the ecological board is made up of wooden blocks, which are easily deformed, moldy, and infested with insects when exposed to moisture

⑥ Solid wood board

Solid wood panel is a wooden board made of complete wood (logs).

Advantages: Natural texture; Natural environmental protection; Has good moisture absorption and breathability, beneficial to human health; Long service life;

Disadvantages: expensive price; Easy to deform and crack; Not easy to maintain

Purchase suggestion:

At present, the most commonly used particle board on the market can be chosen if the budget is limited. For those with a higher budget, you can choose formaldehyde free board, European pine board, or multi-layer board. If you don't need money, you can choose solid wood panels.

2. Backboard thickness

Many people tend to overlook this point and believe that the thickness of the backboard attached to the wall has little impact. Actually, the thickness of the back panel affects the stability of the cabinet.

At present, there are three main thicknesses of backboards on the market: 5mm, 9mm, and 18mm. The 5mm backboard is too thin and difficult to slot on, resulting in poor overall stability and easy deformation. 9mm backboard, slotting is not a problem, stability is also good, and it saves space. 18mm backplate naturally has the strongest stability, but it also takes up a lot of space.

3. Hardware

Hardware directly affects the service life of cabinets. So, the quality of hardware must be good. Imported hardware is better than domestically produced ones, so I won't go into specific brand names here.

If you choose a customized merchant's package, be sure to ask in advance what brand of hardware is used in the package, how much it costs to upgrade to regular hardware, whether you can buy it yourself without the package, and whether there is an installation fee if you buy it yourself. Also, pay attention to the model you buy that matches the cabinet. Don't let hardware affect the overall experience of using customized furniture.

Suggestion:

Try to choose big brands for better quality and after-sales service. You can compare several companies based on your budget and needs. After reading more, you will naturally have a clear understanding in your mind. When signing a contract, it is important to carefully review every item on the contract and ask questions face-to-face if there are any uncertainties. It is recommended to include as many details as possible in the contract to ensure greater security.

2、 Environmental Protection

One of the most concerning issues in whole house customization is environmental protection. Environmental issues are related to the health of family members after moving in and must be taken seriously.

At present, the certified formaldehyde emission standards on the market mainly include national standards, European standards, and Japanese standards. As long as it reaches the E1 level of the national standard, it meets the standard, and the higher level is the ENF level of the new national standard. When making a purchase, be sure to refer to the testing report from an authoritative institution.

3、 Acceptance check

The acceptance mainly depends on these details:

1. Is there a gap at the joint between the cabinet and the wall

The gaps are prone to forming hygiene blind spots, and over time, they can easily produce cockroaches and other harmful substances. If there are any gaps, be sure to let the merchant handle them properly.

2. Whether the content of formaldehyde, benzene, etc. exceeds the standard

Although environmental issues are discussed during customization, it is still necessary to conduct on-site testing after the cabinet is installed to feel more at ease. You can find a professional testing company to conduct on-site inspections.

3. Is the hardware installed properly

Hardware installation is a delicate task, and it must not be overlooked during acceptance. Attention should be paid to details such as hinges and nail holes.

4. Is the edge sealing intact

Edge banding not only affects aesthetics, but also relates to environmental protection and health. Good edge sealing can suppress the volatilization of harmful substances such as formaldehyde. It must be taken seriously.

5. Are there any bumps, dents, or damages on the cabinet doors and cabinets

If there is such a situation, please point it out in a timely manner and let the merchant solve it. Otherwise, it will affect later use.