MDF white cabinets in beach house?

Kathy K
by Kathy K
We are renovating the kitchen in our beach house and have been told to use MDF cabinets since I want them to be white. If paint on wood told salt air will cause them to split. Now we are being recommended not to use the inset style we wanted as the ocean air will show more warped doors to be more noticeable. Any one build a white kitchen on the ocean?
  6 answers
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on Mar 20, 2014
    White is awesome on the beach, but there's also a lot of humidity and salt air. Stuff rusts like crazy, and I wouldn't recommend MDF. I've seen it swell and crumble. Wood should do fine.
  • Kathy K Kathy K on Mar 20, 2014
    Thanks Adrianne. If we get white painted on wood it will split at the seams. The present bathroom vanity etc. was wood painted and all split. All the 6panel wood doors painted white have split. Didn't know about the crumbing of the MDF. thanks
  • Kathy K Kathy K on Mar 20, 2014
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • Edward Cogan Edward Cogan on Mar 24, 2014
    @KathyK - KathyL You may want to go on the CoastalLiving.com website. You may be able to find some comments there from people that encountered similar issues. Perhaps it is all in the finish, and there is some protection (i.e., clear coat) that you can put over the painted wooden cabinets.
  • Jerry Jerry on May 03, 2015
    PVC PLANKS FROM LOWES SHOULD WORK FINE.THAT STUFF STANDS UP TO WEATHER REALLY WELL. YOU CAN EVEN PUT THAT STUFF OUTSIDE.
  • Donnie Springer Donnie Springer on Nov 04, 2015
    MDF is bad to use in a salt air environment. MDF = Medium Density Fiberboard pretty much just glue together sawdust core. Solid wood . is your best bet. if you really can afford it Teak wood :) Good quality Cabinets are not cheap but they will last for a very long time