RE: Balsa core Laminate
OK, I've been in the wood working game for a long time. The piece you describe sounds more like a "skin", attached to the side wall of a cabinet. Why it would have a balsa core is beyond me. They usually have a light weight core of something like Luan, still a light wood though. Skins are not structural at all, they just cover over the side of a cabinet. As for solid wood, it sounds good at first. The problem is that, aside from the prohibitive cost, solid wood changes dimension over time and with the seasons. It's a humidity thing. For cabinets, engineered lumber, ie. Melamine, Particleboard and the like are a blessing. Not to say solid wood has no place in cabinets. It's just that solid wood is used more for trim pieces and face frames. BTW, look at the construction of the cabinets. They should be using glue and screws or glue and biscuit joints in the construction. If they are using drywall screws to assemble the boxes, you might want to look elsewhere. Good luck with your new cabinets.