Some people in the furniture industry believe that the best board for cabinet and furniture applications is plywood. While plywood certainly does have a place in some specialty applications, casegoods and cabinets are not among them.

When it comes to cost, there’s no comparison. Even the less expensive plywood products will cost double, triple and even four times as much as industrial grade particle board without all of particle board’s advantages.

When you factor in strength, durability and water resistance, particle board is the clear choice. Here’s why:

Strength & Quality

At Contemporary Interiors, we round (a process called post-forming) all of our tops, leg panels, shelves, drawer fronts, doors and most vertical dividers. Post-forming demands the highest quality in workmanship, so the ability to machine the wood is critical.

Particle board’s consistency and density make it the perfect choice for this process. What’s more, particle board has the same dimensional stability as high-pressure laminate. This means that as the room temperature and humidity change, the board and the laminate will expand and contract together.

Plywood, by comparison, has voids. It is typically a “soft” wood - clearly the wrong board for heavy machining. And because it’s a layered product, plywood/laminate will often produce stress cracks, seam separation, and/or delamination.

This is why the laminate industry uses high-density particle board – and never plywood - to ensure their laminates meet NEMA standards for wear and impact resistance.

These tests have shown that particle board with laminate on both surfaces more than doubles the strength of raw board to prevent unwanted flex and bowing in shelving situations. Our post forming process increases the board capability even more.

Surface Texture & Wear

Because our particle board is extraordinarily smooth, the laminate will adhere without any pitting or bumps. With plywood, the surface is not nearly as smooth. Imperfections on the plywood surface show up as pitting or bumps on the laminate surface. Over time these points wear at a far faster rate than the rest of the surface, which results in unsightly blemishes.

Waterproofing

Water intrusion can be a problem. Just not with our product.



Some people feel that plywood is the best material for applications where sinks are used. Again, this can be the case in rare circumstances. However, in most applications industrial grade particle board is an equally good product.


Contemporary Interiors completely wraps all products. This means that there is NEVER any exposed board on any product. With very few exceptions our product is wrapped completely with only one seam. This eliminates the chance for water intrusion. In cases where cut outs, such as sinks or grommet holes are required, we have another solution. All cut outs, regardless of the purpose, are coated with a thick layer of polyurethane sealing to keep moisture out.


Already Green

Contemporary Interiors uses only industrial grade particle board that has been certified to be an environmentally preferable product (specification CPA 2-06 and CPA 3-08). This means it can contribute towards points in both the LEED and Green Globe Rating Systems. Our M2 grade high density composite board contains 100% recycled and/or recovered fibers. Plywood, in contrast, is far less environmentally friendly.

Contemporary Interior Commitment to Quality and Service 


We’re committed to providing you the best in quality and service. Learn more about our industry-leading 10-year limited warranty and guarantee. All of our products are available on a quickship program. All Aptus Flex furniture is ADA compliant.



Contemporary Interiors, Inc. is a manufacturer of high quality commercial, educational and institutional furniture lines. Based out of Ocala, FL, our company's growth and reputation over the past 18 years has been achieved through our ability to meet the requirements of each individual customer. We build "furniture that fits you." Contact one of our professional consultants to help you choose the right furniture for your needs.

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Contemporary Interiors Inc.
2626 N.W. 35th Street
Ocala, FL 34475
Toll Free: 1-800-831-9360
Ph: 352-620-8686
sales@aptusflex.com