Kelco Cabinets, a custom cabinetry and remodeling company owned by Preston Kelsch, published a homeowner guide on September 16, 2026, explaining how solid wood, cabinet-grade plywood, and medium-density fiberboard each perform inside a kitchen. The guide outlines the construction approach the company follows and describes why different parts of a cabinet call for different Kitchen Cabinet Materials.
According to the guide, cabinet-grade plywood belongs in the cabinet box because it resists warping, holds hinges and drawer slides securely, and handles swings in humidity better than alternatives. Solid hardwood is reserved for doors and face frames, the visible surfaces where grain and depth show. MDF, the guide notes, is well suited to painted doors because wood grain tends to telegraph through paint over time, but it is a poor match for stained finishes or for areas near a sink where moisture gathers.
The guide also compares common hardwood species. Oak shows a pronounced open grain, maple offers a smooth and consistent surface that takes paint and stain evenly, and walnut brings a naturally dark tone. Cherry receives particular attention because it darkens noticeably with light exposure during the first few years, a characteristic homeowners are encouraged to anticipate when selecting a finish.
The same reasoning extends beyond the kitchen. In bathroom and laundry cabinetry, where humidity runs higher, the guide stresses that sealing becomes more important and that material choices should account for the added moisture these rooms carry throughout the day.
Preston Kelsch of Kelco Cabinets said the material decision deserves attention before a door style is chosen. "People often start with how a cabinet should look, but the material determines how it holds up and how the finish ages," Kelsch said. "Deciding where plywood, hardwood, and MDF each go comes first, and the door style follows from that. It saves homeowners from finishes that disappoint them a few years in."
Kelsch added that the guide was written to make those trade-offs clear before a project begins. "A stained MDF door or a solid wood box near a sink can cause problems that show up later," he said. "The intent here is to give homeowners the reasoning we use every day, so they understand why a cabinet is built the way it is."
The full cabinet materials guide is available on their website and walks through each material by location within a cabinet, along with the species comparisons and sealing considerations described above.
https://youtu.be/t7d1IA21FVk?si=UU44s0juV1y1uDvK
Kelco Cabinets builds custom kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and built-in cabinetry and handles countertops, flooring, and backsplash installation from its Springfield showroom. The company serves homeowners across Southwest Missouri on both new construction and remodeling projects.
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For more information about Kelco Cabinets LLC, contact the company here:
Kelco Cabinets
Preston Kelsch
417-307-9955
Preston@KelcoCabinets.com
1926 W Woodland St
Springfield, MO, 65807