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Common Questions

What kind of materials does Kerf use?

In an effort to build cabinets that last a lifetime, we use the highest quality materials available to us. They include plywood, colored laminate, and hardware. In this article, we get into the nitty gritty of how the materials are made. If you have any chemical sensitivities, we've provided links here so you can read more about our plywood, glues, and laminates.


Plywood: 

The "European style" plywood is what defines the signature exposed edges of our cabinets. These high-quality plywood sheets are made of FSC-certified birch veneers. These veneers are layered in alternating grain directions and bonded together with formaldehyde-free (NAUF) glue under pressure within a high-temperature chamber. Birch core plywood is ideal for its look as we ll as its strength and stability. Birch is also a fast-growing wood species widely available in the northern hemisphere; It is a plentiful renewable resource. More information on our plywood is available here. Both sides of our plywood are covered with thin decorative hardwood veneers, either Maple or Walnut, and finished with UV-cured, zero VOC acrylic coating (this is also the reason why we can't accommodate custom stain or finish!). The cabinet parts are cut out using a CNC router, and all the visible edges are sanded and finished with Osmo Polyx-oil, a benzene-free oil and wax finish that is both durable and repairable. 


Hardware: 

All of our standard door hinges and drawer slides are the top of the line Blum hardware. All Blum hardware has a smooth soft-close action that has become synonymous with high-end cabinetry. Blum hardware is backed up with a lifetime guarantee.


Colored Laminate: 

Most of the colored laminate we use is made by Abet Laminati in Italy. The decorative laminate is manufactured by pressing melamine-impregnated print and solid color surface sheets over a phenolic-impregnated kraft paper core at pressures over 1000 psi and temperatures of approximately 300 degrees F (149 degrees C). They have the GreenGuard Certification which demonstrates that Abet Laminati meets the third-party testing standards for low-emitting materials and products.  We keep 17 colors in stock at Kerf Design. If you're interested in ordering a custom color from Abet Laminati or another laminate manufacturer, you can discuss this with us! We just need to make sure the laminate is compatible with our CNC machine. There is also a $200 fee for ordering custom colors. To see our some digital swatches of our colors, check out our Details page. Every monitor is different, so it's hard to get a true match online. To get a real feel for our color, it's best to order a sample kit. Email us at hello@kerfdesign.com, and we can set you up with a sample kit that has real physical swatches of our 2 veneers and 17 laminates.


Healthy for you: 

By limiting ourselves to two high-quality materials of plywood and laminate, we're able to produce low VOC cabinets that are beautiful and made with honesty.


Close-up of a plywood drawer with dovetail joints. The drawer's light plywood edges contrasts with a light blue front panel.


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