Bathroom Vanity Materials – Pros and Cons (1)

Choosing the perfect bathroom vanity is tough enough as it is, but when you factor in bathroom vanity materials, it becomes even tougher. Whether you're fully renovating your bathroom layout or simply updating your decor, you will need to consider what is best for you, your home and your wallet - long term. No one renovates or updates to come back and do it again in a year or two. While choosing the first cheap, attractive vanity you see may seem like a no brainer, it would do you well do do a little research (or just read this article!).  

In vanities or cabinets, you will most often find Solid Wood, Plywood, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), or Particle Board as the material listed. It can be confusing as to what you need to base your decisions on. Obviously price and durability are the most important. While ALL vanities work, they may not ALL work for YOU. Your daily hygiene habits and design choices can play a part in what will hold up best in your bathroom.   Let's look at a Comparison. 

Most Common Bathroom Vanity Materials

Bathroom Vanity Material - Particle board

• Composite sheet material made by combining wood particles with glue and then heated and pressed into sheets

• Classified by particle size and overall density

• Some particle board is stronger than others

• Price; cost less to produce and less to buy

• Can be covered with wood veneer, melamine, or laminate

• Sags over extended period of time and under the weight of solid surface countertops, such as granite or quartz.

• VERY easily damaged by water, and most importantly, steam

You may not realize how much steam comes into contact with your vanity. Every time you shower, take a bath, or even have the hot water running for more than a few seconds, your vanity is subject to the steam. This will cause the material to break down, and you will need a replacement. 

For this reason, we do not use particle board for our bathroom vanity materials at either of our retail locations. While profit margins might be higher, we value our clients and want their purchases to last as long as humanly possible.