Hot take: particle board cabinets can actually work fine for rentals

I see everyone on here trashing particle board like it's the devil but I put some cheap particle board cabinets in a duplex I own near downtown Nashville about 4 years ago and they still look decent today. The trick is keeping them dry and not slamming the doors. I sealed all the edges with that iron-on edge banding and put some decent soft close hinges on. The tenants have been fine with them no swelling or sagging so far. Meanwhile I have a friend who put real plywood cabinets in his own house and the finish peeled after 2 years because he didn't prep right. I think people blame the material when it's really about installation and care. Has anyone else had good luck with particle board in a rental or am I just lucky?

3 comments

3 Comments

carter.jennifer12d ago

You said "the trick is keeping them dry and not slamming the doors" and I think that's the part most people miss completely. I've got four rental units and I've used particle board in two of them with no problems. But here's something nobody talks about - it depends on your renters. In my units that attract younger couples or families, particle board is fine. But in the one near a college where I get new tenants every year, I had to switch to plywood because kids just don't care. They spill water, leave wet towels on the cabinets, and slam doors like they're trying to break things. It's not about the material being good or bad, it's about matching the material to the tenant type you're getting.

karen27512d ago

Honestly @carter.jennifer, my buddy used particle board for his college rentals and three doors swollen shut within a month.

parkerb7512d ago

Your college rental story hit me hard, I was totally against particle board before reading this.