Bathroom Cabinet Humidity Test: MDF vs Plywood vs PVC After 12 Months of Steam

Bathroom cabinets fail because of condensation rather than splashes, according to a new materials assessment published by UK furniture retailer Furniture in Fashion. The report compares MDF, moisture resistant MDF, plywood, laminate faced board and PVC in the conditions a British bathroom actually creates, and finds that all of them fail in the same places: unsealed cut edges, screw holes, hinge recesses and waste cut outs. Standard MDF swells permanently and cannot recover, plywood resists swelling but delaminates from an exposed edge, and polymer board does not absorb water at all but holds fixings less firmly. The analysis argues that ventilation matters more than board specification, noting that Approved Document F of the Building Regulations sets a minimum intermittent extract rate of 15 litres per second for bathrooms, and recommends wall hung units in rooms with condensation problems. Corrosion resistant hardware and annual silicone checks are identified as the maintenance steps that extend cabinet life most....