RE: [GBlist] "Green" kitchen cabs

[Cameron Beasley <Cameron.Beasley@perkinswill.com>]

I personally do not have experience with wheatboard (would like to learn
more..) but I have used plywood for kitchen cabinets.
Here is what I chose to do with my home (and some of my clients)-

During the renovation of our kitchen- we wanted to develop a flexible, low
cost and, if possible, sustainable system.  I designed and built the
cabinets and countertops out of plywood.  We had several old base cabinets
to use- which were included in the remodel.  Since the total base cabinets
would then be a combination of old, reused cabinets and new ones built by
myself- we chose to paint all of them to create a uniform look.  New doors
were installed- all from 3/4" high-grade plywood.  These doors were stained
and varnished.  Ditto for the new countertops.  The result is a very warm,
unique, clean (visually) and low cost set of cabinets.  I spent more money
on the various hinges and hardware than the wood itself- say about $500
total!  Such a low cost was important- since this renovation is actually
"temporary"...  Later- when I have more time (and other, more pressing
projects are completed), I will alter the kitchen once again.  Why?  The
first renovatation was about learning (trial and error), about understanding
what is really needed before making a larger commitment- and about saving
money.  It was not intended to solve all of the issues- and indeed- it has
identified issues that were previously unknown.  Now- I have a much better
understanding of the cost (time, money), materials required, which varnishes
to avoid, etc.  
About sustainability:
-old cabinets were reused
-hardware will be reused in the next renovation
-cabinets "   "   "   "   "
-counters will be reused- either in the next version or for something else

About plywood- due to it's strength- it is possible to design cabinets that
do not have require handles- (the "handle" can be a circular hole, a notch,
etc...)  
But- is plywood itself sustainable (compared to wheatboard)? 

Cameron Beasley

-----Original Message-----
From: Sacie H Lambertson [mailto:dlambert@grasshoppernet.com]
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 10:42 PM
To: greenbuilding@crest.org
Subject: Re: [GBlist] "Green" kitchen cabs


Speaking of green kitchen cabinets, since I've never seen the material, is
wheatboard suitable for the carcasses of kitchen cabinets?  How does it
compare to plywood or MDF, not in its greeness, but in the practical
aspects of working with it?  Sacie Lambertson

______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________