Factors to Consider When Buying Cabinets

As anyone who has redone his home knows, some of the most expensive remodeling involves kitchens and bathrooms. A major aspect of both spaces is the cabinetry. When remodeling, one of the first decisions you have to make is if you want to keep the existing cabinets or to replace them. Much of this decision depends on whether you will be keeping the same floor plan and cabinetry configuration.

If you are making changes to the layout, then it is likely you will need to purchase new cabinets, as it's nearly impossible to retrofit older cabinets into a new layout. If it's not impossible, it probably will cost as much in added labor charges to do so as it would to build new cabinets.

The Four Basic Types

So, if you have decided that it's time for new cabinets, where do you begin? There are basically four different types of cabinet: custom, semi-custom, stock and ready-to-assemble.

• Custom cabinets, also known as "stick-built," are completely made-to-order. The sky is the limit when it comes to design, configuration, finish and size. Your only real limitations are your imagination and your budget.
• Semi-custom, or customizable, cabinets offer a certain level of customization on a standard stock frame. The sizes available are less individualized than fully custom cabinets, but there is a lot of flexibility in the design style and finishing. These cabinets are less expensive than fully custom cabinets but they are still a pricey option.
• Stock cabinets are out-of-the-box, standard cabinets. Most lines come in a limited selection of design styles and materials. There is a wide price range, and the quality difference within this category stretches from the very high end to low end of the spectrum. At the high end, cabinets are made from solid wood or wood veneers over plywood. At the lower end, you will find particleboard and MDF.
• Ready-to-assemble cabinets (RTA) are a newer choice on the market and are often very stylish and of decent quality. They come in pieces and can be put together and taken apart easily. They are a lower-cost option.

Design and Quality

Once you've done your research about different lines of cabinetry and determined your budget and desired level of customization, the fun starts. It's time to finalize your design style. Are you traditional or modern? Do you want painted, stained or laminate cabinetry?

In terms of budget, stain-grade wood is the most expensive wood of any species. Paint-grade woods are just as strong and durable, but they are less refined and less attractive and are therefore less expensive than stain-grade wood. Laminates can be anything from a high-end wood veneer over plywood - which is strong, beautiful and of high quality - to modern laminated plastics over particleboard. The most important attribute is durability, so that the materials hold up for years to come. Poorly made cabinets and drawers that are stapled together tend to fall apart and require more long-run maintenance than their more expensive counterparts.

Installation

Ease of installation is another very important factor in your decision-making process. Cheap cabinets can be harder to install than more expensive cabinets because they may not be strong enough or level enough to slide into place. Installation charges can be some of the highest in your remodeling project, and they are not to be taken lightly.

Home Value

Finally, as with anything home-related, the price you pay for a remodel should be in line with the overall value of the home itself. Most of us will not live in our homes for the rest of our lives, and resale value is a very important factor. A $50,000 kitchen is not the right choice in a $250,000 home, but it is perfectly reasonable in a $2,500,000 home. Determining the overall value of the remodel will go a long way in helping you decide which cabinetry is right for you and your home, whether you want to invest in custom-made stain-grade cabinets or you're better off with a stock-option laminate.