The Best Material for Bathroom Cabinets Is…

White bathroom vanity

Choosing new bathroom cabinets can be a daunting task. While a cabinet’s look and style plays a large role in the decision-making process, you also have to keep an eye on the costs.

With the average cost of a bathroom renovation costing $10,000 and the average lifespan of a bathroom being just 18 years, it makes sense to choose products that will last the lifespan of your bathroom. After all, 18 years is a very long time!

This is why the material of your bathroom cabinets is very important. The material that a bathroom cabinet is made from will determine its durability and therefore, lifespan.

But what is the best material for bathroom cabinets? Before I answer this question, you must remember that the material should be just as important as the overall look of the cabinet itself. With this in mind, manufacturers make bathroom cabinets only out of a few selected materials.

Today, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most commonly used materials used in bathroom cabinets. You’ll then know which material is the best and what cabinets you should look for.

Solid Wood

solid timber vanity

Nothing compares to the look and feel of solid wood. While solid wood is a popular choice for bathroom cabinets, it is not the best choice. This is because even the best grade of timber will expand and contract with humidity changes in bathrooms. Over time, this expansion causes cracks and reduces the longevity of the cabinet.

While wood can certainly be protected from cracks, solid wood cabinets are also incredibly expensive. Unless the price is not a concern, don’t consider solid wood cabinets.

Plywood

plywood vanity

Plywood is another popular material used in the manufacturing of bathroom cabinets, which consists of multiple veneers of wood glued together to form layered sheets.

It offers good strength but can vary greatly in quality and thickness. And while it is cheaper than solid timber, comes with drawbacks.

The ends and edges of plywood are prone to water damage and plywood never matches the feel of solid wood. While plywood will not expand and contract with humidity changes, it looks much cheaper than solid wood. Covering plywood with veneer is an option, but the layers may crack and peel over time. Avoid plywood if you’re looking to achieve a more luxurious finish in your bathroom.

MDF

MDF vanity

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is an engineered material that is another commonly used material in bathroom cabinets. MDF consists of composite fibres, and small pieces of wood joined together with a resin or wax. It is covered with veneer or painted for a finished look.

MDF is very cost-effective and looks great. However, they are not that great in terms of quality and longevity. MDF offers only 30% of the quality of solid wood and lasts only a few years. Prudent homeowners should steer clear of MDF cabinets.

View Our MDF Vanity Range

PVC

bathroom with monica 60cm pvc vanity unit
60cm Monica PVC Bathroom Vanity

Lastly, we look at PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride). PVC is a special type of plastic, which is widely used in a variety of applications. Here at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, we like to use it for the manufacturing of some of our more popular bathroom cabinets. This is because PVC offers many advantages over the materials I’ve listed above.

PVC is very cost-effective, yet it looks attractive. It offers a smooth surface and can be painted in any colour. And that’s not all – PVC offers an exceptional water resistance of 100%! Our PVC bathroom cabinets are completely waterproof and they have an extremely long life.

PVC cabinets are only just making their way into the market. But in Perth, you will only find 100% waterproof vanities made from PVC at Ross’s Discount Home Centre. While we offer bathroom cabinets that are made from all the materials mentioned above, for the best material, you simply cannot beat our PVC vanities.

Three of our PVC vanities that are perfect for you are our Courtney PVC Vanity, Brianna PVC Vanity and our Tianna PVC Vanity. Each is made 100% from PVC, available in various sizes, and at incredibly reasonable prices.

View Our PVC Vanity Range

Conclusion:

To increase the life of your bathroom cabinets, you must ensure that your cabinet is made out of the right material. While solid wood, plywood and MDF are popular choices for bathroom cabinets, PVC is by far the best choice. This is because PVC is extremely durable, is completely waterproof and offers a great look and feel as well.

For more help choosing a bathroom cabinet for your space, check out our article, What to Consider When Choosing Bathroom Cabinets.

To buy our PVC vanities, shop from our online store or visit us in Guildford today!