Why are homeowners in Miri choosing to use aluminium over wood for their kitchen cabinets nowadays?
When it comes to kitchen cabinets, wood is typically chosen for its natural aesthetics. The warm colours and grains on natural wood create a naturally homely and inviting kitchen ambience. However, its many disadvantages have led some homeowners in Miri to seek an alternative.
Of the many materials available, aluminium has surfaced as one of the top choices thanks to its superior qualities, which include termite and heat resistance.
However, the advantages of using aluminium in kitchen cabinets don’t end there. Read on to discover all the 7 advantages of using aluminium over wood in your kitchen cabinets and decide if you should also make the switch.
Advantage #1: Aluminium is termite resistant
Wood’s biggest appeal is also its drawback: the organic cellulose inside the wood is food for termites.
Termite infestations can result in serious damages that may require you to replace your cabinets completely. This is an especially rampant problem in homes close to forests or vegetation.
On top of that, you may need to pay a pest control company for termite removal if the situation goes out of control.
Aluminium kitchen cabinets, on the other hand, are termite-resistant. Metals are inorganic and do not attract termites and are therefore much more resilient compared to wood.
Advantage #2: Aluminium is fire-resistant
According to one infographic shared by the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the number of fire cases in Sarawak is on the rise – with 2,090 cases reported in 2023 compared to just 1,648 cases in 2022.
More alarmingly, Bomba Sarawak director Datuk Khirudin Drahman revealed in 2023 that only 5.3% of households in Sarawak are equipped with fire extinguishers and just 1.9% have smoke detectors installed.
Suffice to say, fire hazards cannot be overlooked.
With wood being one of the most elemental fuels for fire, this puts wooden kitchen cabinets particularly at risk of catching fire, increasing the chances of harming the residents within the household.
Conversely, thanks to its natural oxide layer, aluminium is a uniquely fire-resistant material. Even putting a direct flame to aluminium will not ignite a fire.
Therefore, when you choose aluminium kitchen cabinets over wooden ones, you’ll add a layer of protection against fire hazards, giving you peace of mind whenever you are preparing meals at home.
Advantage #3: Aluminium is moisture & flood resistant
Wood expands and changes shape when exposed to moisture. This means that long-term exposure to humid kitchen conditions will inevitably cause damage to kitchen cabinets, requiring fixing or replacement.
The situation is made worse by Malaysia’s already hot and humid environment.
Moreover, wood cabinets don’t stand a chance in floods, which are getting worse by the year in Sarawak. While floods may not be a big deal if you live in an apartment or condo, for owners of landed properties, this can result in a significant amount of losses.
In comparison, aluminium is completely moisture resistant and can retain its shape well even with long-term exposure to moisture. They are unlikely to be damaged or will be damaged much less significantly during floods compared to wood kitchen cabinets.
Advantage 4: Aluminium is lightweight
Aluminium kitchen cabinets are also lightweight compared to wood. This is thanks to aluminium’s structural integrity, which means that less aluminium is required for the cabinets to remain stable.
Thicker wood is usually required in the construction of cabinets.
This means that wood kitchen cabinets will put more pressure on the structures, causing damage sooner.
When lightweight aluminium kitchen cabinets are used instead, the walls they are placed on will less likely be damaged due to the weight.
They are suitable in all homes, and especially suitable for rental properties where you will want to reduce overall damage to the property before moving out.
Advantage 5: Aluminium is easier to clean and maintain
Wood is porous and liquids that spill on wood kitchen cabinet panels are more likely to be retained inside the wood.
With wood, you also need periodical maintenance to ensure the varnish is intact.
Meanwhile, aluminium is a non-porous metal. Any spills on top of aluminium panels can easily be cleaned. Aluminium panels also don’t require varnish and do not need routine varnish or treatment application.
Advantage 6: Aluminium is long-lasting
As we’ve seen, being an organic material, wood is subject to wear and tear of everyday use, and is prone to moisture damage. They require periodical maintenance of the top finish and even additional treatment.
Aluminium is much more resiliant, durable and easier to maintain.
While wood kitchen cabinets typically last 10 – 15 years, aluminium kitchen cabinets can last between 25 – 30 years.
Advantage 7: Aluminium is eco-friendly
Deforestation is a huge problem in Malaysia. When more trees are cut down, the quality of the air that we breathe in also drops. A reduction in air quality or polluted air can also cause a multitude of diseases to develop, especially in young children (source).
Aluminium is a more sustainable material compared to wood. Aluminium can be infinitely recycled, and although wood can recycled too, recycled wood loses many of the attractive qualities of virgin wood.
Treated wood, which is commonly used for kitchen cabinets, are also much harder to recycle.
Aluminium from kitchen cabinets that are no longer in use can find new life by being made into another cabinet or as part of the construction of another thing.
Wood cabinets. Wood needs to be cut down. Wood is downcycled.
Conclusion
There you have it. Why Miri homeowners are increasingly choosing aluminium over wood cabinets. Would you use aluminium in your next kitchen cabinet design? Let us know in the comments below!
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