Unless you have a major leak particleboard is ok. My old kitchen was fine for twenty years and would still be in use if we hadn't demolished.

The new kitchen is still particleboard and we plan on staying there a long time.

I am a huge fan of plywood- 3/4" is all we build with no matter if it is a 10k or a 100k kitchen. Plywood with face frames is much stronger and will last longer. I am not opposed to partical board when it is frameless. It is more stable than plywood. Try to negotiate and see if they will give you the upgrade for no charge.
Travis Alfrey- Pinehurst, NC

Our current kitchen is particle board and there was a leak at some point under the sink and it puffed up like a sponge. We are going with plywood. I think the option of doing just a plywood sink base would be good especially since you do not intend to stay in your home.

cribbs, can you please explain why particle board is more stable than plywood when it is frameless? Thanks

Here's one blogger's take...

Here is a link that might be useful: Water test

By going w/particle board, you may be saving a significant amount of money. It is just as strong as wood (will hold up granite) and is perfectly acceptable. Cabinets are installed exactly the same either way. And, if your cabinets are ripped out, good time to check for leaks!
BTW, no one will ever the know the difference. Except you, when you have a little money left over!!

Cabico is a fairly high-end custom company that doesn't do ply as standard (I don't think any of the Quebec companies do). As pointed out above only you will know - they spec the construction in there gallery can you tell the difference between the particleboard and ply kitchens? Warranty isn't different either. Particle is less prone to contracting, expanding and twisting so it is considered more stable and better for frameless construction where there is no face frame to add stability.

Here is a link that might be useful: cabico gallery

I'm a KD, and I wouldn't pay the extra to put plywood in my own personal kitchen. In fact, I did not. I didn't even "upgrade" the sink cabinet. I just sealed the seams with caulk and invested in a good water monitor for there, under the DW, and under the fridge. I know have peace of mind, and 20% more useful "stuff" in the cabinets.

Partical board and mdf are made up of small chips and sawdust. Plywood is made up of veneers. With the chips it is more deminsionally stable since plywood has the veneers with alternating grain direction which can cause it to warp a little- which is not a problem with a faceframe but can cause some headaches on frameless if it is not installed correctly. We still normally use plywood for frameless but we keep our box sizes down and make sure we have a good batch of plywood.
Travis Alfrey Pinehurst, NC

Can I ask how your layout turned out? I'm curious what you decided after all the discussion that went around...

There is a lot to know about MDF and Particle BoardÂThere is high, medium and low density, finer particles, and larger particles, different glues ECT. Not all are created equal just as not all wood cabinetry is created equal. Below is an example of the bad non-wood stuff that you should avoid.
http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/old%20cabinets/?action=view&current=P1010141.jpg"; target="_blank">

You stated that you are looking at Diamond, when I was researching them I found this on an internet site.

Diamond Cabinetry's APC (All Plywood Construction) upcharge is usually 16%. They reduced it last year to 5%, and as of now are extending the promotion for the whole year of 2010. This promotion does NOT apply to Diamond Core.

I don't know if this is true or not, but when I mentioned it to 2 KD firms, they did not tell me that I was mistaken.

We have all plywood boxes in our cabinets. It is worth it to me because of the outgassing done by the glues used in particle and MDF.

Go with 3/4" birch plywood for peace of mind.

I am sure mdf is good too but I built my own cabs and could not imagine moving those heavy mdf cabs! Frameless with full tops to support the counters.

I went with 1/2 thick 7-ply plywood cabs w/3/4 solid wood front frame. I also upgraded bottoms of large pot drawers to 3/4 thick. It didn't cost much extra to do the thicker bottom upgrade. My cabs should be here monday from cabinetmakerschoice...so can't give review yet but order was almost half of my 2nd choice of very nice med priced Medallion cabinets in non-wood.

I need to make a correction on my above comments; I meant to say that my new cabinets were a little more than half the price of my 2nd choiceÂnot less. Also, we have to put the boxes together ourselves. Sorry, didnÂt mean to be misleading I just have jet lag.

Another place besides the sink to use all plywood would be on exposed end cabinets or add a plywood end to the open end. Because on the particle board cabinets the ends are just a paper like veneer (in lack of better terms) & that won't change color & age at all where as your solid wood fronts, doors & drawer fronts will. Of course the wood specie & color matters for that.
Just a thought- other than that- I'd do the particle board ones for the $$ savings. I don't see it as a big difference structurally.

I know this is a little late but it may help someone in the future. I work for a cabinet company and our in-house line comes standard with upgraded plywood boxes. See here: http://www.citycabinetcenter.com/lotus-cabinetry.shtml AND they are on the lower scale in price. The drawback is they are 'what you see is what you get' (color & style). So if you shop around you may find some like these or if anyone is in San Diego come visit us! I hope you like your new kitchen!

Here is a link that might be useful: City Cabinet Center