Furniture made of MDF or chipboard. Let's study which is better: MDF or chipboard? Comparison of properties and costs of materials

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Furniture made from natural wood can surprise you with its exorbitant cost. Besides this, there are other materials. Many have heard and know about such material as chipboard. There is also furniture made from MDF. This material is less familiar, but deserves consumer attention. All that remains is to find out what is better, more practical and more beautiful in the kitchen - chipboard or MDF?

Features of laminated chipboard (chipboard)

LDSP is a well-known chipboard coated with a facing film. The technology for manufacturing such boards has been known for a long time; in the 80–90s, furniture made from chipboard was one of the most popular.

Later, obvious shortcomings were identified, which somewhat reduced the popularity of this material. At the same time, simple chipboard less advantages than its brother with a laminating film on top of the plate.

Advantages of the material

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Even reputable furniture manufacturing companies produce collections made from chipboard. Cabinets, tables and cabinets are budget-friendly due to the low cost of the material itself. In addition to the economical price, laminated chipboard also has the following advantages:

• different sheet thickness;
• high hardness;
• widest choice color solutions;
• good tolerance to humidity and high temperatures.

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Disadvantages of laminated chipboard

One of the most critical disadvantages laminated chipboard is toxicity. When making this type of particle board, formaldehyde resins are added to the mixture before pressing, which ensures adhesion and rigidity.

When purchasing furniture made from chipboard, you should pay attention to the class of the material. The E1 indicator indicates less toxicity of the components. At the same time, it is always worth studying the quality of lamination of joints - they should be covered or covered with special corners made of plastic, rubber or metal.

Besides toxic effects If the assembly is of poor quality or the laminating film is damaged, there is another disadvantage. It is not so significant; for some this disadvantage does not even matter. Due to the high hardness of the material, it is impossible to create relief patterns on the surface using milling machines. Instead of a beautiful relief, chips will appear on it, so the surface remains simply smooth. It is possible to create a small imitation of the relief structure of wood or stone through the use of a special plastic film.

Characteristics of MDF

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This is a more environmentally friendly type of material for furniture facades. It contains no chemical resins and uses paraffin as a fixative. Lignin is also added to this fine fraction (MDF) of wood.

The manufacturing process itself takes place under high pressure and at high temperatures. The slabs after this pressing method are strong and light.

Advantages of MDF

Unlike laminated chipboard, MDF allows the production of patterned doors for furniture. They are more aesthetically pleasing, and with the appropriate coating they almost indistinguishably imitate real wooden furniture.

Its most important advantage is environmental friendliness. If it were not for the existing disadvantages, then MDF would have long been ahead of chipboard in demand, although even now furniture made from finely divided fraction boards enjoys well-deserved popularity.

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Disadvantages of MDF

Previously, its disadvantages included limited design solutions regarding the number of color solutions. Now this is no longer a categorical disadvantage - the variety of colors is growing, only slightly inferior to the range of laminated chipboards.

There are only 2 drawbacks left:

1. High price.
2. Risk of coating peeling.

Compared to furniture made from natural wood, MDF is cheaper, but laminated chipboard is even more economical in cost. At the same time, the price is not a minus for some. There remains only the risk of the coating peeling off at high temperatures. 75 degrees Celsius is enough for the coating to move away from the slab. This does not always happen, but only in cases of technological voids at the heating site.

What is better for kitchen furniture? How are these materials different?

At first glance, it is difficult to understand how MDF differs from chipboard. Experienced people can immediately see the differences, but beginners, even after several years of use, cannot guess the difference. The undeniable advantage of the first is its environmental friendliness, which determines high operational safety, although the cost of the material also dictates its own rules. If you have the financial means, you should choose furniture made entirely from MDF for your bedroom and children’s room.

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The ability of laminated chipboard to resist high level indoor humidity has made it a frequent companion in bathrooms and kitchens. It is difficult to imagine more suitable inexpensive furniture for these rooms. At the same time, when n high quality laminated chipboard joints has the ability to absorb moisture. In order for such furniture to serve for a long time, you need to carefully inspect all ends of the product. At the same time, this allows you to make sure that furniture made from chipboard is safe for use.

If the cost of MDF were comparable to the price of laminated chipboard, then the choice would be obvious - fine wood fraction. This is not yet the case - laminated chipboard is cheaper than its competitor, which determines its demand among consumers.

Combinability of materials

Many will not be able to determine whether it is laminated chipboard or MDF by appearance. The visual differences between them are understandable only to experienced people. If the product is clear rectangular shape without relief and angled ends, then even professionals who know the difference between MDF and laminated chipboard will not immediately identify the differences.

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Often manufacturers combine both materials in one product. Beautiful carved doors, smooth end parts and aesthetic relief on them are made of MDF. The remaining parts of the furniture are made from laminated chipboard, which can significantly reduce the final cost.

This approach to combining materials allows you to use the aesthetic characteristics of the fine wood fraction without spending a lot of money. From the point of view of operational safety, everything remains the same - chipboards must be protected from chips.

Video: difference between MDF and chipboard

Also, when using furniture made from combined materials in the kitchen, it is worth remembering that MDF is afraid of high temperatures. Need to P hang wall cabinets correctly to avoid heating them from a nearby stove or hob. This will avoid peeling of the coating on the finished product.

Which is better - MDF or laminated chipboard for furniture? ? — Many of us ask this question when carrying out repairs and replacements. old furniture in an apartment or private house. It is very important that the material combines environmental friendliness, high quality, and also fits elegantly into the interior of the room. Modern construction and Decoration Materials greatly facilitate the repair process. With the help of such materials the consumer has a great opportunity create durable and exclusive pieces of furniture for various purposes.

Today, laminated chipboard and MDF are in great demand in the manufacture of cabinet, kitchen and other furniture, which in some respects have properties similar to natural wood, and in some respects even surpass it. In our article we will tell you in detail Which furniture is better - MDF or laminated chipboard? , let's get acquainted with the main properties and areas of application of these materials.

What is laminated chipboard?

Almost everyone who works in the furniture industry or has dealt with the issue of repair is familiar with the name chipboard. Chipboard began to be used for furniture production back in the period when the building materials market did not have such a wide range of products. Over time, manufacturers improved their products and began to cover the stove with a special film. So chipboard received the new name LDSP. This decision Improvements in the material have significantly increased its wear resistance and strength.

Advantages of laminated chipboards:

• A durable, durable surface that can withstand various mechanical loads and damage.
• A wide range of shades, imitation of various types of trees and other materials.
• Simple mechanical restoration slabs
• Reasonable price.

Disadvantages of the material:

• Laminated chipboard panels are not recommended for finishing or decorating bathrooms or rooms with high moisture.
• Due to the presence of large wood particles in the composition, it is very difficult to produce objects with curved contours. The panel cut will have an unpresentable appearance.
• For chipboard manufacturing use formaldehyde. Boards with a high content of this element are not suitable for use in residential premises.

Important! Formaldehyde is a volatile Chemical substance, which is very dangerous for humans. As a result of intense exposure to the substance on the human body, poisoning can occur, and in some cases, death.

• Boards with a high content of formaldehyde are used exclusively for technical purposes.

Important! Before the purchase Chipboard boards read the quality certificate and hygienic certificate for this material.

MDF furniture, what is it?

The production of MDF panels is practically no different from the production of chipboard. We can only say that the MDF board is more advanced. And to find out Which is better - MDF or laminated chipboard for furniture? , you need to understand the difference in production technology. The board is made from small particles of sawdust, carefully pressed together. This process allows us to produce products High Quality, uniform in texture and strong enough for making furniture and other items.

Advantages of MDF boards:

• The material is absolutely harmless to humans, as it is made from environmentally friendly raw materials.
• MDF can be confidently used for the manufacture of interior items for various purposes.
• Moisture-resistant, durable material.
• The homogeneous structure allows us to produce furniture elements of any complexity.
• MDF panels almost never deform during operation.
• Large assortment of shades and variety of textures.

Disadvantages of the material:

• High cost compared to chipboard.
• At mechanical damage Dents, chips and cracks easily form.
• The material is classified as flammable and may therefore be prohibited for use in some areas.

Furniture made of MDF or chipboard - which is better?

Having carefully considered all the pros and cons of these materials, we can say with confidence that each of them is perfect for making furniture or other items. Even such obvious advantages of MDF boards will not be so important if we take into account the significantly lower cost of laminated chipboard. Some consumers sometimes focus on this indicator, despite the fact that more cheap option less quality and wear-resistant.

In the furniture industry, MDF and laminated chipboard are excellently used for production; they compete with each other. Often these two types of slabs are combined in one product, because they combine well and complement each other.

Important! When ordering furniture for your home, take into account all the factors of the product’s operation and your financial capabilities. In some situations it will be very appropriate to combine MDF and chipboard to obtain optimal option quality and price of the finished product.

Cabinet made of MDF or chipboard?

It is very difficult for a person who has never encountered these building materials to “by eye” determine what this or that piece of furniture is made of.

The only thing that can point to use of MDF- this is the exorbitant cost of furniture, although manufacturers very rarely use only MDF:

• In most cases, corrugated and shaped parts are made from MDF.
• The internal filling, shelves and partitions are made of chipboard or laminated chipboard.

Important! If you are looking for an answer to the question: what is better chipboard or laminated chipboard for a cabinet? then give preference laminated boards. They are more durable and wear-resistant, and appearance They are a little more attractive than a regular panel.

What material should I use to make the bedroom?

First of all, to produce furniture for the bedroom, you need to choose an environmentally friendly material. A person spends most of his free time in the bedroom, so give preference to products made from MDF.

As mentioned above, for the production of chipboard they use substances that can affect human health; take this factor into account when choosing furniture for yourself. In order to reduce the cost of products, as an alternative, you can combine these two types of slabs.

Important! Before purchasing a product, be sure to read the quality certificate.

What is better - MDF or laminated chipboard for children's room furniture?

The room in which the child will be is a place where you should not experiment with the quality of the material. In this case, it is advisable to make all products from natural wood or use MDF.

When choosing any furniture for a child, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Manufacturer's warranty.

Important! Some companies save on the quality of their products by adding impregnations or adhesives to the raw materials.

• If the laminated chipboard is of high quality, there are no obvious film defects on the panels, the joints and connections are well closed with an edge. Such products can also be installed in the nursery.
• Too low cost and flimsy assembly finished products- this is a sign of low-quality material. We recommend that you refuse to purchase such furniture.
• When choosing furniture, you should not focus solely on your financial capabilities.

Important! You can reduce the cost of a finished piece of furniture by installing less expensive fittings, choosing self-delivery or assembling the furniture yourself.

What to make a kitchen set from?

When choosing tabletop drawers and other kitchen utensils Both types of plates are widely used. The production of kitchen furniture also has its own nuances that are worth paying attention to:

• Laminated chipboard is a material that is afraid of moisture, so it is not used in bathrooms. For the same reason, you should not purchase a cabinet for a sink or countertop located near a water tap.
• MDF - on the contrary, is very sensitive to high temperatures Therefore, you should not place it near the hob.

If you take into account all the features of these slabs, you can safely design the placement of furniture in the kitchen, successfully combining two material options.

Wood slabs are successfully used both for construction and for creating packaging, decor and furniture. Moreover, most often chipboard or MDF is chosen for home improvement. Which is better for furniture cannot be said for sure, since their roles are somewhat different. However, assessing their advantages and disadvantages will help determine which option is better to choose for certain purposes.

Terminology

Chipboard (chipboard) or particle boards are produced by hot pressing of small shavings and sawdust. Binder are resins containing in their composition a large number of formaldehyde, hazardous to human health. In Russia, low-quality particle boards are often found, the content of harmful substances in which is 40 times higher than the permissible level. A good stove You can often distinguish from bad ones by their smell - the more pronounced it is, the worse the product.

IN furniture production Laminated chipboard (LDSP) is actively used. To make it, the surface of the chip sheet is covered with a melamine film that imitates the texture and color natural wood or simply having a single color color.

MDF is a wood fiber board medium density. In English, its name sounds like “medium density fiberboards”, which is why a very common abbreviation appeared. MDF has a smoother texture because it consists of small, almost dust-like particles. The binder for them is urea resins, the formaldehyde emission of which corresponds to class E1 on the European safety scale for wood-based materials. The coating for MDF in furniture production is usually paint, veneer, polymer film or hard plastic.

Main differences

Performance characteristics, advantages and disadvantages are what they look at first before buying chipboard or MDF. What is best for furniture will help you decide short review main features of competitors:

1. Density and strength. These characteristics for chipboard are different, depending on its membership in a particular group. The density of the chipboard can vary from 350 to 650 kg/m3. MDF has a more stable indicator - on average from 720 to 870 kg/m3. This indicates greater strength of the fiberboard. Due to its high density, MDF has good moisture resistance, surpassing even some types of wood in this indicator.
2. Eco-friendly, which we mentioned earlier. In terms of safety, MDF is comparable to natural wood, which cannot be said about chipboard.
3. Appearance and manufacturability. Particle boards have a fairly textured surface, so applying to them decorative covering preceded by thorough sanding. Otherwise, the texture will be lumpy. The surface of MDF immediately after production looks smooth and has no noticeable flaws. Even the thinnest decor (for example, polymer film) is glued onto it perfectly evenly.
4. Treatment. Chipboard does not lend itself to fine decoration - even small curves on the board are often impossible to cut out without chipping. Therefore, the scope of its application is often limited to hidden elements upholstered furniture or a cabinet frame. MDF is more pliable, so it is most often used to create custom carved facades. Minimal roundings, a beautiful bend and the finest pattern - the wood-fiber sheet is subject to absolutely any milling.

About the pros and cons of chipboard

Despite the apparent superiority of MDF over its competitor, both materials have something to boast about. First, let's talk about particle board.

Its advantages:

• Availability. Finding chipboard with almost any decor and texture is not difficult. It is produced by both domestic and foreign factories.
• Price. It is at least 1.5 times lower than the cost of MDF. The low price makes this material a leader in sales in the construction and furniture markets.
• Moisture resistant. This item applies to laminated chipboard. It is also worth paying attention to the special moisture-resistant laminated chipboard used to create kitchen countertops.

Flaws

• Difficulty in repeated use. Often, when moving, you have to disassemble large cabinets and assemble them in a new place. The disadvantage of chipboard is that the re-screwed screws practically do not stay in their holes. To strengthen them, it is necessary to use sealant or epoxy glue.

As we noted above, this material is environmentally friendly, durable and ideal for creating beautiful facades. Let's find out what other advantages MDF has:

• Excellent resistance to moisture and temperature changes. Even in the event of a flood, fiberboard can retain its shape for several hours.
• Long service life.
• High density and strength make it possible to produce sheets with a thickness of 4 to 22 mm.
• The rigid structure helps to securely hold the fittings, making it possible to screw screws into the bottom and the same hole several times.

Flaws:

• High price. Pure untreated wood fiber sheet is 1.5 times more expensive than chipboard. Prices for decorated MFD boards are even higher - especially for coatings made of high-quality plastic or enamel.
• Softness. Prone to forming dents upon impact. If decor is applied to the surface, it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of unsightly depressions.
• Easy flammability from open fire.

When it comes to making home furnishings, the first thing to do is choose the material – chipboard or MDF. It’s difficult to say which is better for furniture, since both options have their own purpose. Chipboard is an inexpensive frame material, ideal for creating enclosures. MDF is an expensive, beautiful and elegant facade. The right combination of materials will create perfect furniture for home and office - strong, durable and not too expensive.

Choose: chipboard or MDF, which is better?. Wood panels are widely used in the construction and furniture industries. But what is better, chipboard or MDF, what is better and how do they differ, besides price? Let's try to figure it out in detail. Chipboard or MDF, which is better, we'll figure it out.

Let's decipher the terms

Chipboards, known to us under the abbreviation chipboard (or chipboard), are a material obtained by hot pressing waste from the woodworking industry (chips, bark, sawdust, slabs, residues of substandard products). The wood pulp is pre-crushed, mixed with thermosetting resin, after which it hardens under pressure, cools and is cut into slabs.

MDF is the Russian version of the abbreviation of the English term Medium Density Fiberboards, which translates as “medium density fiberboard.” For MDF production Fine technological chips obtained from debarked and crushed wood are used. The board is made by dry pressing, the binding material is paraffin or lignin (polymer substances that wood releases when heated).

How is MDF different from chipboard?

Strength characteristics

The average density of MDF is 720-870 kg/m3. Such indicators ensure comfortable use of materials, wear resistance and long-term operation. In terms of moisture resistance and mechanical properties, MDF is even superior to some types of natural wood. What is better MDF or chipboard, how to choose correctly.

The strength of chipboard depends on membership in the corresponding group:

• low density (from 350 to 650 kg/m3);
• medium (650-750kg/m3);
• high (750-800kg/m3).

Safety

The main difference between MDF and chipboard is environmental friendliness. All components of fiberboards are natural and do not emit harmful fumes. Therefore, even unveneered or MDF with a damaged surface will not become a health hazard.

High technology

Raw materials for MDF manufacturing homogeneous in composition and size of the fractions, due to which the slabs are smooth, even and ideally prepared for the application of facing and decorative materials. Among chipboards, only a polished board of the P-A brand can “boast” of such a surface.

Advantages and disadvantages of materials: chipboard or MDF, which is better

It just seems that MDF “wins” in all respects. In practice, more than 80% of the market wood boards belongs to particle boards.

Advantages of chipboard

• availability of choice - chipboards are produced by both domestic and foreign factories, and competition, as a rule, leads to lower prices;
• moisture resistance compared to natural wood;
• price - if you compare boards of the same density, chipboards will be at least a third cheaper than wood-fiber ones.

Cons of chipboard

• In 95% of chipboard production, phenol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, and melamine-formaldehyde resins are used, which evaporate substances harmful to health that negatively affect the nervous and respiratory system, provoking allergic reactions. The remaining 10% comes from isocyanate binders, but they are not used at domestic enterprises. It should be remembered that for residential premises it is recommended to use only products of class E1 or E0 - their formaldehyde evaporation is minimal (0-10 mg per 100 g of dry composite). The entire surface of the slabs (including the ends) must be carefully sealed using paint and varnish products or facing materials(laminate, veneer, paper-resin film, etc.);
• Many people know that products made from chipboard do not lend themselves well to fine processing, do not tolerate re-screwing fasteners, and do not hold fittings well. It's all about the low quality of raw materials, for which domestic standards are too flexible. For example, in European-made chipboards the ratio of deciduous and coniferous wood is strictly regulated (10:90); the use of bark, knots and roots is prohibited. At domestic enterprises, any waste wood is used, and insufficient density wood pulp compensated by increasing formaldehyde resins.

Pros of MDF

MDF is easy to process and allows for shaped milling, panels, and rounded elements. The big plus is high density material, which allows for good retention of fittings, and moisture resistance. Therefore, MDF is most common in the furniture industry.

Cons of MDF

• high price, which makes it profitable MDF application only for furniture and in production wall panels, in construction, chipboard remains the leader;
• predominantly imported origin of the material, especially moisture-resistant;
• the high flammability of the material is a significant disadvantage; it is better to avoid working near open flames.

Knowing the characteristics of the materials used in production is important not only for the manufacturers themselves. Buyers purchasing kitchen set or a sofa for the living room, you should also understand the difference between MDF and chipboard, and chenille from velor. This will help avoid unpleasant surprises in the form of defects that appear over time. Operating conditions play an important role for furniture. And even an inexpensive item will last a long time if you know the characteristics of the material and care for it properly.

Appeared in the 40s particle board has become a godsend for furniture makers. Economy-class products began to be produced from it. In the Soviet Union, the boom occurred in the early 80s. Chipboard was used to make bedrooms and kitchens, and various children's furniture, including for schools and kindergartens. Chiefs' desks and cabinets in clinics, as well as dozens of other items for public, medical, cultural and sports institutions, were made from these universal sheets. The dangers of formaldehyde resins were not discussed at that time. But most chipboards were produced in class E1, where the presence of formaldehyde was 10 mg per 100 g of dry matter. Now the requirements have become more stringent, but resins are still present in the slabs.

The production of chipboard is regulated by the provisions of GOST 10632-89. The material is produced by hot pressing a mixture consisting of wood shavings bound with formaldehyde resins. High-quality chipboards are characterized by the following properties:

• strength;
• rigidity;
• homogeneity of structure, absence of voids;
• water resistance;
• ease of processing with tools;
• ability to hold fasteners (nails, staples, screws).

In this case, repeated screwing of the self-tapping screw into the same place of the slab is no longer possible, since when unscrewing, the layers are damaged and pressed chips spill out.

There are 3 types of chipboard that absorb moisture differently. Differences are determined by immersing the material in water for a day. Classification is based on absorption results:

1. moisture resistant (the sheet swells by 15% in thickness);

2. grade A (up to 22%);

3. grade B (up to 33%).

For furniture, a moisture-resistant board is used, which performs quite well not only in dry rooms, but also in bathrooms. During its manufacture, paraffin is added to the main mixture.

When comparing brands A and B, it should be noted that the first (A) is different best performance water repellency, bending strength. It has a lower percentage of roughness and warping.

Grade

There are 3 types of chipboard:

1. first;

2. second;

3. sheets without grade.

Quality requirements allow for minor flaws even in the first type, but unlike second-grade material, the slabs do not have chips along the edges, stains, depressions, or grinding defects.

Chipboard density:

• small (less than 650 kg/m³);
• medium (650-750);
• high (750-800).

The highest density, as a rule, is found in sheets with a thickness of 8-12 mm.

Other types of chipboard classification:

• polished and unpolished;
• extrusion and laminated;
• with fine-grained, regular and coarse-grained surfaces.

What is MDF?

The term MDF is interpreted in different ways. In English, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) is a medium density fiberboard. In the Russian version, the first two letters (M and D) are taken from the abbreviation of the word “fine”, and the third (F) is “fraction”. It is the concept of “fine fractions” that fully reflects the essence of MDF production. Wood dust obtained by grinding wood chips is pressed at high blood pressure and temperature. When heated, wood releases lignin, which becomes a natural binder. Of course, this method is better than using formaldehyde. Accordingly, the material can be used in the furniture industry, including for the manufacture of bedrooms, kitchens, and children's furniture.

Physical indicators for MDF:

• Density – 850-950 kg/m³.
• Swelling in thickness is 20-30% per day.
• Bending strength – 30-36 MPa.
• Humidity – 6%.
• Tensile strength (in the direction perpendicular to the panel) – 0.4 MPa.

Advantages:

• easy installation;
• affordable price;
• wide choice of colors.

Classification of slabs

1. Differences in production technologies:

• whole pressed;
• laminated;
• moisture resistant.

2. Type of external surface:

• veneered;
• glossy;
• painted.

The only difference between solid-pressed and laminated panels is that front side laminated polymer film is glued. This provides a wide range of colors, which is important for furniture. Moisture-resistant sheets are better in the sense that they are made from more quality wood and under prolonged temperature exposure. They tolerate it well natural humidity not only in kitchens, but also in bathrooms, on loggias and balconies.

Analyzing the differences in the outer surface of MDF boards, it should be noted that there is a significant difference in technology:

• for veneered ones front part a layer of natural wood veneer (3 mm) is applied;
• for glossy ones, the plane is laminated with a polymer film;
• painted ones have paint applied to the front side.

What to choose: chipboard or MDF?

When choosing furniture for a bedroom or nursery, kitchen or bathroom, as well as sheathing balconies and loggias, you should take into account the difference between chipboard and MDF. What works in one room may not work in another.

MDF positions are preferable according to the following parameters:

1. environmental friendliness, safety for the body;

2. moisture resistance;

3. density;

4. bending and tensile strength;

5. aesthetic appearance;

6. ideal front surface;

7. better retention of fasteners.

Chipboard performs better in terms of fire safety and has more low price. The surface of the MDF panel is deformed at temperatures above 70 ºС, and the film peels off. That's why kitchen furniture made of MDF should be protected from open fire and heat, that is, installed away from stoves, heaters, ovens.

If chipboard sheets can be operated at a humidity of no more than 60%, then for MDF the figure rises to 80%. Another aspect where it appears advantage of MDF– tendency to process on milling machines. You can make any shaped recesses on the panel, thereby creating different configurations of furniture facades.

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