What should I look for when comparing kitchen cabinets?

muncybob

We have decided to gut and renovate our very outdated kitchen. Been looking at cabinets and there are several manufacturers available. I've been concentrating on being sure drawers are dovetailed, everything is soft close and full extension, shelves are 3/4".
What else should be on my checklist to be sure the product is quality build? If you listen to the salesperson they all claim to have the best available.

tonyb

Like everything, depends on whats important to you. Do you want solid wood, or wood by-products....solid well built hinges or cheap stuff you can't adjust. Drawers with automatic closers and a good quality rollers, or stuff that feels like it came from Ikea. Can you have a level of customizing or are you stuck with standard sizes. Variety of finishes....warranty. How about the matching trim to go along with the cabinets, does it look cheap....nice....expensive ? If your a slob in the kitchen, you may want to consider a laminate front to easily wipe down....no offense, Italians can be pretty messy.

Usually a well built cabinet is easy to tell and those who make them stand behind them with a long warranty. The soft close function is nice, I have it and love it. Consider a built in spice rack to get all those little suckers off the counter or from taking up space in another cabinet.

westmassguy

Look for plywood drawer bottoms, not melamine (same for the exposed sides), dual rails instead of the single center guide.

charley95

Did mine last year and got them from Amish cabinet makers in southern Illinois. Mine are maple and have all the features listed above. Mine are guaranteed for life. I would buy through a local shop verses a Lowes, Menards... Mine arrived with no flaws or damage, I was very impressed. Douglas Kounty [with a K] Kitchens made mine. A shop where the workers ride their bikes to work since the workers don't own cars. Their quality is top flight. My installer told me there is about 200 different Amish shops in southern Il. My favorite feature in my kitchen is my deep well stainless single basin farm sink, so much nicer than a double basin when cleaning large pans... Good luck with the remodel! Remodels are a PITA.

charley95

Also, for sinks,lights,faucets... signature hardware.com was great to deal with. They are pricey though. Remember, budgets don't exist when doing kitchens & baths. We went over 5k when doing ours to a total of 25k. If your staying for life in your house don't go cheap on quality or you'll regret it.

tonyb

Nice Charley, my kitchen table is Amish, and built like a tank. No cheap Chinese parts in there that's for sure. Old world craftsmanship that will last longer than you.

charley95

dkkkitchens.com if interested. Mine priced at $7500 with a pantry,lazy susan... for a 10' by 11' kitchen.

muncybob

We have 1 estimate so far. Looking at gutting the sink/cabinet area for new cabinets, backsplash and countertop, new floor there and in the dining area. The cabinet area is small so I was hoping that would hold down the cost but looks line I'll need to borrow a few $$. Going to leave the floor to the pros due to my bad knees and countertop too esp if we go with granite. I may take a stab at installing the cabinets myself.

The Mrs doesn't know this, but planning on putting in a pocket door while all the work is being done. Hopefully this will allow me to crank up the tunes a bit more while she's sleeping on her work nights.

mrbiron

If you're going to spend the money, you want plywood cabinet boxes.
Particle board is junk!
If you are gutting, install cabinet blocking. a run of 2x6 top and bottom (uppers) and a run for the bases will create a solid platform. Costs associated would be about (6) 2x6@8' which is about $25.

Unless you have done cabinets before, get someone else to do it for you whether a pro or a friend who is a pro that works for beer&pizza.

vcwatkins

We used Cuisines Laurier about 5 years ago. Here is a pic. Lots of options, but features I especially appreciate are: dovetailed wood construction, traditional face frame/inset doors, full height overheads, hand-rubbed edges, stove-side hidden pedestal spice racks, self-closing drawer glides.