Aluminium vs Plywood for Wardrobes and Kitchens: Which Should You Choose?

Short answer: aluminium furniture doesn't rot, swell or get termites, so it suits bathrooms, balconies, utility areas and houses with a termite problem that can't be fixed. Plywood gives more designs and finishes, holds hardware well, is easy to repair and alter, and lasts many years indoors when the right grade is used (BWR in kitchens, BWP under the sink). For most bedroom wardrobes and family kitchens in Delhi, good plywood is still the practical choice.

"Termites ate my plywood, I'm going aluminium" is a common comment under Indian interior videos. So is "aluminium wardrobe: how long does it last, and what's inside?". Here is a fair comparison.

What "aluminium furniture" is

An aluminium wardrobe or kitchen is a frame of aluminium profiles (sections), with panels of aluminium sheet or ACP (aluminium composite panel: two thin aluminium skins with a core) or glass. It's made by an aluminium fabricator, usually priced per sq ft, not by a carpenter.

Side by side

	Aluminium	Plywood (right grade)
Termites	Not affected	Treated BWR/BWP resists them; edges must be sealed
Water and damp	Not affected	BWR resists moisture; BWP resists water; edge band all edges
Strength for heavy loads	Depends on the section thickness; thin sections flex	18mm plywood is strong and stiff
Holding hinges and channels	Fixed into the profile; fine when designed for it	Very good in 18mm
Looks	Modern, mostly flat colours and wood prints	Any laminate, acrylic, veneer, PU, duco
Feel and sound	Feels cold; doors can sound tinny	Solid, quiet
Changes later	Hard; needs the fabricator	Easy; any carpenter can alter or repair
Fire	Use only fire-rated ACP panels	Fire-retardant plywood exists for special needs
Who makes it	Aluminium fabricator	Carpenter

Where aluminium is a good choice

• Bathroom vanities and cabinets where water is everywhere (WPC is the other option).
• Balcony and utility storage open to rain.
• A house where termites keep coming back from the walls or floor and treatment hasn't worked.
• Shops or kitchens that are washed with water every day.

Where plywood is the better choice

• Bedroom wardrobes: more finishes, quiet doors, easy to add a shelf or drawer later.
• Family kitchens with heavy utensils and a stone top, using BWR for the units and BWP under the sink: best plywood for a modular kitchen.
• Matching the rest of the house: TV unit, bed and wardrobes in the same laminate.
• Budget control: you can choose grade and thickness part by part. See the almirah material list.

If you chose aluminium because of termites

Termites usually reach furniture through damp walls and floors. Before giving up on wood:

1. Get the walls and floor treated by a pest-control service.
2. Fix the damp or leak.
3. Use BWR or BWP plywood that is termite-treated, and seal every edge.
4. Keep furniture an inch off the wall and on a plinth.

Our guides: why termites attack plywood, kitchen damaged by termites? and fungus and damp walls.

Mixing both

A common, sensible mix: aluminium or WPC in the bathroom and balcony, plywood in the bedrooms, living room and kitchen, with WPC or BWP under the kitchen sink: PVC vs plywood kitchen.

FAQ

Is an aluminium wardrobe better than plywood? In wet places or where termites can't be controlled, yes. In a normal bedroom, plywood gives more designs, quieter doors and easier repairs.

Does an aluminium kitchen get hot? Aluminium conducts heat, so panels near the hob get warmer than plywood. Plan a gap and a heat shield.

What is inside an aluminium wardrobe? A frame of aluminium sections, with aluminium sheet, ACP or glass panels. Ask the fabricator for the section thickness and whether the ACP is fire-rated.

Which lasts longer? Both last many years when made well. Plywood fails from damp and termites when the wrong grade is used; aluminium fails from thin sections and loose fittings.

Nitin Plywood House, Alipur

We sell plywood, WPC and PVC boards, laminates and hardware, not aluminium furniture. If you're going with plywood, send your sizes on WhatsApp to +91-9212017608 for the material list and today's rate; we deliver all over Delhi. See BWR plywood, BWP plywood and WPC boards.