What is the back wall of the cabinet made of?

The back wall is an important part of every cabinet. Although this detail is the least paid attention to when choosing furniture, the wall that is not visible to the eye is of great importance.

Let's figure out what materials the back wall of the cabinet is made of.

Purpose of the rear wall

Its main purpose is to impart rigidity to the entire structure. Over time, the closet becomes filled with things, the weight of which may be distributed unevenly. If the rigidity is not enough, it will become deformed. It is the back wall that gives the furniture the necessary hardness and stability.

Gone are the days when cabinet furniture was made from solid wood. Today, back walls are most often cut from fibreboard (Fiberboard), laminated particleboard (LDSP), and plywood.

These materials differ in the following characteristics:

• purpose;
• hardness;
• thickness.

There are also significant differences in moisture resistance and fire resistance.

Fiberboard

The back wall, made of wood-fiber boards, is installed on the assembled furniture body. Its thickness is most often 4 mm.

This “backdrop” is attached in a lying position with self-tapping screws or a construction stapler. If a wall made of this material is mounted vertically, then it is first divided into parts and assembled in stages.

Fiberboard is made from low-quality round wood or wood waste - sawdust and shavings.They are processed into fiber mass. Various chemicals are added to it in order to increase the water resistance and strength of the future material. Next, it is sent to casting machines to increase humidity, and then under a hot press.

Advantages

Fiberboard has only one advantage - relative cheapness.

Flaws

This material has much more disadvantages.

• The strength of fiberboard structures, especially high ones, is very limited.
• A limited range of colors - no more than 5 shades.
• The material does not withstand high humidity, as often only one side is painted or laminated.
• Installation requires a lot of free space, which is physically impossible in small rooms.
• Often the wall has a persistent unpleasant odor.
• Due to the overlapping installation, the material is visible from the end of the furniture, which spoils the aesthetic appearance. Attaching tall wardrobes to the wall becomes more difficult.

laminated chipboard

Back walls for a cabinet made of laminated chipboards are a more reliable option than those made of fiberboard. They are stronger, mounted in an inset manner and have a decorative coating, therefore they are more aesthetically pleasing. This coating can imitate the structure of wood or be smooth.

Laminated chipboards are made from ordinary sanded chipboards with a lamination section connected. Covering the material with laminating film can occur using three technologies: lamination, lamination, smooth lamination.

To produce this material, a hot press is used, the temperature of which is 160-220 degrees.Several layers of prepared paper and a mixture of several resins are applied to the chipboard, which, when heated, turn into a durable film and reliably protect the surface of the material.

Laminated particle boards are manufactured in a variety of thicknesses. There are three options: 10, 16 and 18 mm.

Advantages

• High strength and durability.
• A large selection of colors allows you to choose a shade that matches the color of the case.
• Installation can be carried out in confined spaces.
• Possibility of fastening in several ways: euroscrews, corners, eccentrics.
• It has high moisture resistance and scratch resistance.

Flaws

The only drawback may be the high cost of this material.

The cost of installing laminated chipboard walls often reaches the cost of finishing work for the walls of premises.

Plywood

Plywood is one of the best, but expensive materials for the back wall of a cabinet. It has a smooth surface that does not require additional sanding. The production process uses heat treatment and drying. Therefore, the product retains its presentable appearance for a long time, does not dry out or become deformed.

Plywood is made from various types of wood, but the most popular raw material is birch.

Advantages

It has a smooth and durable structure, which is why smooth and high-quality veneer is made from it. After giving the desired thickness, the veneer sheets are glued together, resulting in the well-known plywood. Sheets of this material for the back walls of cabinets are traditionally made 3 mm thick.

Flaws

Despite all the advantages, plywood walls have their drawbacks, which can significantly complicate the installation process.

• There is a need to cut grooves in parts.
• If deformed, the wall may pop out of the grooves.