The Inside of Your Cabinets Is Important Too
Most people focus on the exterior of their cabinets — the door style, the finish, the hardware. But the interior deserves just as much attention, especially in a kitchen where you’re storing food and dishes.
Best Interior Materials for Residential Kitchens
Two materials stand out for kitchen cabinet interiors: melamine and pre-finished plywood. Both are clean, durable, and easy to wipe down.
Basic white melamine is typically the least expensive option, though premium versions are available in various colors and wood-grain finishes. Pre-finished plywood features real wood veneer with a factory-applied clear coating — a step up in appearance and feel.
Food Safety Matters
Your cabinet’s interior should be sealed from pests, chemicals, and other contaminants. At Mandina’s Cabinets, we address this through:
- CARB-compliant materials — all our man-made wood products meet California Air Resources Board standards for formaldehyde emissions
- Fully sealed edges — edge-banding on all exposed interior edges seals in any adhesives or materials, preventing off-gassing and pest entry
Construction Specifications
Our cabinet interiors are built with:
- ⅝″ or ¾″ thick tops, bottoms, and sides
- ½″ thick back, dado’d and glued in place to seal out unwanted pests and strengthen the box
- Exclusively American-made wood products
These specifications aren’t standard everywhere — they’re part of how we build cabinets that last.
Learn more about our construction methods or contact us to discuss your project.