A kitchen is the hardest-working room for plywood. Steam, spills, wet cloths, floor washing, and a sink that may leak one day. Choose with that in mind.
A sensible plan
- Sink base: marine plywood, or BWR with sealed edges and a protected base.
- Other base units: BWR.
- Wall units: BWR. MR can work in a dry kitchen, but steam rises.
- Tall units: BWR.
The mistakes that cause failures
- Leaving cut edges bare. They soak up moisture.
- Sink cut-outs and pipe holes left unsealed.
- Base units sitting directly on a wet floor without a plinth.
- A thin back panel against a damp wall.
Thickness
18 mm is common for carcasses. Back panels are thinner. Check hardware requirements before finalising.
Laminate and edge banding
Pick a laminate suited to the use, laminate the inside if the budget allows, and band all exposed edges. Read laminates for kitchen cabinets.
Ask your kitchen maker
- Which grade for each unit?
- What brand and range?
- How are edges and cut-outs sealed?
More detail on the plywood for modular kitchens page.