Best Kitchen Cabinets: 9 Tips for Value and Quality

How to Decipher Which Kitchen Cabinets Are Perfect for You!

Kitchen cabinets are not only a primary defining feature in one’s home but also carry the responsibilities of being the most utilized units within the kitchen. Due to the many role’s kitchen cabinets possess, it’s no surprise they can add up to 60% of your overall kitchen remodeling cost. Although 60% might seem remarkably large, this cost is essential to ensure your kitchen cabinetry looks great and performs exceptionally well.

Since kitchen cabinets are necessary in one’s home and can be a substantial investment, choosing the perfect cabinetry can sometimes seem daunting. True value in cabinets is found in how good they look, how well they perform, and how long they stay in service.

Find the best kitchen cabinets with these 9 tips:

#1- Attention to Craftsmanship

Taking time to open drawers, doors, looking inside, and feeling the interior and exterior surfaces can be the defining factor when attempting to find the best value of kitchen cabinets. A skilled craftsman takes time with the details and does not rush the process. Finding flaws in workmanship such as poorly secured joints, inadequate finishes, or loose installed hardware is a tell-tale sign those aren’t the kitchen cabinets you should purchase.

#2- Review the Box Construction

Plywood is an excellent material to use for kitchen cabinets due to its lasting endurance and durability. However within recent years, medium density fiberboard (MDF) has become a popular alternative and continually advances to become more durable. Another common material choice among homeowners is particleboard. Particleboard is very cost efficient but is vulnerable to damage from moisture or water. Of course, the better the wood, the more expensive the cabinets but remember that quality kitchen cabinets are defined partly by their ability to withstand daily use.

#3- Check the Drawer Construction

Drawers and cabinet doors undergo a huge amount of wear-and-tear. When extended horizontally, drawers face additional stress along the length of the drawer and in the back of the drawer box. We have found that in most cases solid wood drawers hold up against this pressure the best.

#4- Sturdy Drawer and Cabinet Hardware

The slides, glides, and stops within the kitchen cabinets need to be tough and resilient so they can allow for the full extension of the drawer box. High quality kitchen cabinets should include hinges on doors that enable ease in opening and closing. Any pulls, plates, or decorative elements should be fully integrated and also able to withstand years of wear. Another wonderful feature to consider are soft-close hinges. This mechanism prevents doors and drawers from being slammed shut.

#5- Dovetail Construction and Dowel Joints

Using dovetail construction or dowel joints is a sturdy solution for your kitchen cabinets. With dovetail joints, two boards are joined together at right angles. First, the ends of two adjoining boards are notched with v-shaped cutouts. This creates tabs on either side of the cutout. The cutout and tabs connect with alternating cutouts and tabs on the adjoining board. This creates a tight fit that is extremely solid.

Dowel joints use round wood dowels or pegs that are in one board. These fit into corresponding holes on the adjoining board. Often the connection is made secure with glue.

Tip #6- Veneers and Finishes

All of our tips discussed above are important. However, if a cabinet looks shoddy due to the poor application of inferior coverings or finishes, then in essence you have a poor-quality cabinet. The veneer or finish will take the brunt of abuse away from the actual cabinet material. Hot and cold spills, dropped objects, dirty hands, and other types of contact that are made with cabinet surfaces each and every day will interact with the veneer or finish.

#7- Is There a Warranty?

Your kitchen cabinets should come with a minimum of a one-year warranty for all materials and workmanship. It should be an immediate red flag if a manufacturer is not willing to back their product. Typically, a cabinet warranty covers defects and not wear-and-tear from regular use or damage from accidents or other such incidents.

#8- Use Expert Installation

Hiring an installer who is experienced and knowledgeable in cabinet installation is worth the cost of your cabinets. After investing a substantial amount of money toward your new kitchen cabinets, it makes sense to hire someone who is an expert installer to do the job in order to capture your full return on investment from your kitchen remodeling project. This is a specialized field and improper installation can destroy your cabinets and compromise your kitchen design.

#9- A Complete Package

Some homeowners decide to work with a kitchen designer, retailer, or kitchen cabinet builder who can handle the entire process- aiding in design, building, providing the cabinets, and installing them. This can save time and effort and it offers a homeowner a coordinated effort that is quick and efficient. However, others prefer to piece out the work as they engage different companies to handle each aspect of their kitchen remodeling project. There’s no right or wrong way. The main thing is to make sure that all bases are covered and that you invest in quality and value simultaneously for the best kitchen cabinets and overall project results.

Select Cabinetry with Kitchen Solvers

There is an endless array of kitchen cabinet ideas. That’s where Kitchen Solvers can help! Contact our team, and we can help you find the perfect kitchen cabinetry you’ll be happy with for years to come!

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