Bathroom Fixtures as Furniture

High quality products contribute to better bathroom designs that meet current trends
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Sponsored by Duravit USA, Inc.
Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP
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Bathroom Furniture Material Science

Using wood products successfully for bathroom furniture starts with a basic understanding of the science behind the materials used. Depending on the product and its needs, there are three primary wood based materials that are commonly used as the base for creating flat panels that are later fabricated into finished products. Not surprisingly, these basic materials used for bathroom furniture are the same as those used for other types of furniture – the difference is in the treatment and attention to details. Each of these three panel materials relies on technology and engineering to provide their inherent strength and resistance to warping or shrinking.

1. Plywood is a common manufactured wood panel made from thin sheets of wood veneer that are glued together, typically with adjacent layers (plies) placed with their grain at right angles to each other. It is flexible and workable but can be more expensive for furniture making than some of the other wood panel options available. Compared to using solid pieces of wood, however, plywood is preferred because of its resistance to cracking, shrinkage, splitting, and twisting or warping and exhibits a generally high degree of strength. It is also possible to form plywood under pressure into curved forms that retain the intrinsic strength of the material, making it a particularly good choice for those applications. For flat panels that will be covered over or laminated, there are other less expensive and better performing choices.

Plywood can be molded and shaped for use in bathroom furniture that calls for such curvilinear shapes.

Photo courtesy of Duravit USA, Inc.

2. Particle board, sometimes also referred to as chip board, is an engineered manufactured wood product that is made from a combination of small wood chips and resin. It can actually be quite environmentally friendly when the wood is recycled and the resin is selected according to environmentally safe standards. It is less expensive than many other options so it is a popular choice for a base material in furniture. Its structural strength will vary depending on the density of the material but it does generally perform very well for furniture panels and shelving. It also provides a very good and stable base for laminated overlays that will provide a finished look and protect it from moisture. Particleboard does have some advantages over other materials when it comes to constructing a cabinet box and shelves. For example, plywood has the potential to feather off in sheaves when extreme weight is placed on door hinges that are screwed into it. By contrast, particle board has been shown to hold screws in place better under similar weight conditions. Additionally, particle board is favored for cabinet shelves since it will not typically bow under the weight like plywood may.

3. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF), is also an engineered wood product formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood into their basic wood fibers. These fibers are then combined with a wax and resin binder and formed into panels by applying high temperature and pressure. The end result is a very smooth surface suitable for painting or for laminating over. The density of the fibers can vary, hence the designations of Low, Medium, or High Density Fiberboard. The commonly used Medium Density Fiberboard is typically denser than plywood and usually stronger and denser than average particle board making it well suited to many furniture and cabinetry applications.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is an economical and functional choice as a panel material in many types of furniture.

Photo courtesy of Duravit USA, Inc.

Paramount to the successful functioning and durability of bathroom furniture is the use of a protective layer on top of the selected base material. One of the most common ways to do that is to provide a laminated covering that is in reality multiple layers of very thin material that give the laminate its strength and water resistant properties. As with most laminated products, there is a wide choice of appearance possibilities that fundamentally fall into two categories. First real wood veneer is an option where a thin slice of real wood is laminated between an outer protective layer of clear melamine and an inner set of layers of kraft paper that is impregnated with resin. This whole assembly is laminated onto particle board or another base material to provide the look and coloring of the selected wood veneer. The second option is for a décor finish that provides a pattern, color, or simulated grain of real wood. This look is printed onto heavy decor paper that is also laminated between an outer clear protective layer and inner layers of kraft paper impregnated with resin.

An alternative to using a laminate finish is to use a high quality lacquer paint finish that can seal and protect the base material. This treatment allows for very solid and dense colors whether in traditional white or black or in selected colors that may be offered by manufacturers. The characteristics of the lacquer paint finish usually mean a high gloss surface is achieved that is consistent with the design intents of certain bathroom spaces.

 

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Originally published in March 2013

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