By sunny 
When it comes to whole-house customisation, many people who have experienced it may have something to say. In fact, the requirements of most families for whole-house customisation are not complicated, with the main concerns focusing on the environmental friendliness of the panels, the reasonableness of the price and the reliability of the quality.
Today, we will start from these aspects, in-depth discussion on how to build an ideal eco cabinetry, and avoid those common traps.
First, before customisation must know: plate selection is the key
In the whole house customisation, the choice of plate is crucial. Need to be clear, there is no ‘0 formaldehyde’ plate, environmental protection or not mainly depends on whether the manufacturer can provide formal national standard E1 level test report. The new national standard has also increased the E0 level and ENF level, the higher the level, the more environmentally friendly panels. However, even if the choice of environmentally friendly panels, more ventilation is essential to open the window.
Solid wood panels
Pure solid wood panels are made from a single piece of wood, and the surface may only be coated with a layer of varnish or wood wax oil, while solid wood panels may be a mixture of solid wood and other panels. Solid wood panels have relatively low formaldehyde content, are environmentally friendly and durable, and have a natural grain with a light wood flavour. However, it is expensive, requires careful maintenance, and needs to be protected from insects, so the cost-effectiveness is not high compared to man-made panels.
Eco-board
Eco-board, also known as joinery, large-core boards or carpentry boards, the core of the board is made of small strips of wood spliced together, the surface is coated with glue and then pressed with a thin layer of wood. Overall, eco-board uses less glue and is relatively environmentally friendly. However, eco-board is easy to deform, afraid of moisture, not suitable for use in wet environments such as kitchens and bathrooms.
However, due to its ease of processing, carpenters often choose ecological boards when playing cabinets. For families pursuing ecological cabinets, ecological board is a good choice, but need to pay attention to the use of the environment.
Multi-layer board
Multi-layer board is made by chipping large trees into layers of thin boards and then glued together. The more layers, the stronger the board, but the environmental protection may be slightly inferior.
Multi-layer panels have a strong resistance to moisture and deformation, which makes them suitable for use in humid areas in the south or in the kitchen and bathroom space. At the same time, its weight-bearing capacity is also good, suitable for making furniture cabinet and cabinet doors. For families that need to build eco-cabinets, ply is an option worth considering.
Particle board
Particle board, also known as chipboard, is one of the most widely used boards on the market with a high environmental factor. Many imported brands use particle board, such as the Austrian Aegis Group’s Aegis Board, which has an environmental rating of E1. Particle board with rich finishes, in addition to wood grain and metal finishes, high value. Its load-bearing and moisture resistance are very good, not easy to deform, wardrobe and cabinet doors, cabinets can be used.
However, its moisture resistance is slightly worse than multi-layer board, so the southern region may be more inclined to choose multi-layer board, while the northern region is more favourable to particle board. For families pursuing ecological cabinets and with limited budgets, particle board is a cost-effective option.
Fibreboard
Fibreboard, also known as density board, is hot-pressed from wood flour and glue and has a lower environmental protection factor. Its biggest drawback is that it is not moisture-proof and tends to swell and deform when it encounters water vapour, so it is not suitable for wet environments such as bathrooms.
Fibreboard has poor load bearing capacity and is generally used for the back panel of cabinets to prevent dust fall, or used to make cabinet doors with rich modelling. Fibreboard may not be the best choice for eco-cabinets, but it can still be useful in certain specific scenarios.
Second, environmental details: edge technology is equally important
In the whole house customisation, sealing technology not only affects the formaldehyde release and moisture resistance, but also directly affects the aesthetics. Common sealing technology has EVA, PUR hot melt sealing and laser sealing.
- EVA hot melt adhesive edging: more than 90% of manufacturers use this technology. Its gap is large, the use of a long time may become black line, but the price is cheap and affordable. If the quality of the edging machine is poor or the process is not properly controlled, the edging strip may warp open.
- PUR hot melt adhesive edging: more expensive than EVA, but waterproof, more resistant to high and low temperatures, longer life.
- Laser edging: one of the most environmentally friendly way, smooth and no gap, almost can not see the glue line, but the price is higher.
For families with limited budget, it is recommended to choose PUR edging for door panels, light panels and open cabinets, and EVA edging for internal cabinets and back panels. If the budget is sufficient and the pursuit of minimalist effect, you can choose the door plate laser edging + cabinet PUR edging with. If the budget is very sufficient, directly use all laser edging.
When checking the quality of the cabinet, look at the edges to see if the sealing is neat and inconspicuous, whether the hand touch is smooth, and whether the corners are smooth. These details are crucial to creating a high-quality eco-cabinet.
Third, the purchase of notes and practical Tips
Environmental grade
Regardless of the type of plate, the national requirements for formaldehyde are the same. Used for indoor panels as long as the test report reaches the E1 level can be. When buying, be sure to let the businessman show the test certificate with CMA logo. Understanding the environmental grade helps us to better choose the plate, laying the foundation for building ecological cabinets.
Projected Area vs Expanded Area
Merchants may use various calculation methods to make the price look similar in both ways. It is important to ask what is included in the offer and what is not, such as how many drawers, how many partitions, pull styles, standard sizes, the amount of each type of material, brand, craftsmanship and so on. The more detailed it is written in the contract, the better, in order to avoid later disputes. For eco-cabinets, clear details of the offer is the key to ensure that the budget is not overspent.
Chinese brands VS international brands
Chinese brands of panels are relatively cheap, environmental protection and durability is also good, but the finish may not be as good as the international brands, the texture is also slightly worse. International brands of panels focus on particle boards, such as Aigle, Keraf, Fansa, Fidelity, Knorr-Bremse, Terrebonne, etc., the environmental rating have reached the E0 or ENF level.
Among the Chinese brands, Jilin Forestry Dushuihe and Daya are famous for particle board. Brands such as Rabbit Baby, Millennium Zhou and Moganshan, which have emerged in recent years, specialise in multi-layer boards and ecological boards. When choosing boards, you can decide whether to choose Chinese independent brands or big international brands according to your needs and budget. For families pursuing ecological cabinets, they can make a choice based on their aesthetic preferences and budget.
Fourth, summary and recommendations
In the selection of whole-house customisation, especially ecological cabinets, what we have to do is to try to choose a big brand, bearing in mind that a penny for a penny, never fall into the trap of low prices. The panels have their own advantages and applicable scenes, we need to make a wise choice according to our needs and budget.
At the same time, it is also important to pay attention to details in the customisation process, such as sealing technology, environmental rating and quotation details, to ensure that the final result is an eco-cabinet that is both environmentally friendly and practical.
In addition, in order to create an ideal eco-cabinet, we can also consider the following suggestions:
- Reasonable planning of space: before customisation, it is necessary to give full consideration to the use habits and storage needs of the kitchen, and reasonably plan the spatial layout of the cabinet.
- Focus on material matching: in addition to the plate, the cabinet hardware accessories, countertop materials, etc. also need to be carefully selected to ensure the overall beauty and practicality.
- Consider the later maintenance: when choosing plates and accessories, consider their durability and easy maintenance to reduce the later maintenance costs.
Through the above analysis and suggestions, I believe you have a clearer understanding of how to create an ideal eco-cabinet. In the process of whole-house customisation, as long as we remain vigilant and pay attention to details, we will definitely be able to avoid those common traps and create a home environment that is both environmentally friendly and practical.