How to Identify Particle Board

Particle board is made of wood shavings and formaldehyde-based resin.

Particle board is a type of man-made wood sheeting that is commonly made by pressing together wood shavings, sawdust and a formaldehyde-based resin. Production of particle board in the United States began just after World War II, and the product is in wide use today. Particle board is used as the main material for cabinets and furniture and sometimes for subfloors and walls. Identifying particle board is not difficult, since the characteristics of this board are very different from those of natural wood products.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Examine the surface of the board, if it is unpainted. The surface will look like a collage of multiple pieces of wood shavings that are laid in a mishmash pattern. See the main picture above for an example of how this looks. This pattern is slightly visible on painted particle board as well, since it is hard to paint particle board to a smooth surface.

2. Examine the insides of furniture or cabinets to determine if they are made from particle board. Particle board is often visible from the interior or underside of furniture. It may be necessary to disassemble a drawer with a screwdriver to look at the edge of the wood panel. If the edge appears very rough, with an almost sawdust-like texture, it is probably particle board. There is no visible wood grain in particle board.

3. Identify cabinets and furniture that have a veneer or laminate surface. The core of these items is almost always comprised of particle board. Looking at the unfinished edges may reveal the particle board.

Tips & Warnings

• Another indication of particle board in furniture is the loosening of screws. Particle board does not hold screws very well, and they often loosen, producing a crumbling of the wood.

References

• Green Seal: Particle Board and Medium-Density Fiber Board
• Green Living Tips: Particle Board Nasties