Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets will take up nearly half of your kitchen remodeling budget. So this is the place to focus on if you need to bring the price down to a comfortable level.

These cabinets can be classified as: Discount Cabinets; Semi-custom, and Custom Cabinets. What's the difference? You get what you pay for, right? You might be surprised.

If you're dealing with a reputable manufacturer of discount cabinets, most of the differences are in places where people wouldn't look. Of course, you have to stay away from the guys who make inferior cabinets. They're out there - an army of them.

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Discount Cabinets - There are 3 huge manufacturers who have been around for a very long time. They all sell a line of discount cabinets on a national level. They are: Merillat, Mills Pride, and Kraft Maid. There are others, but these are the biggest. You don't do what they've done unless you produce a consistently good product.

I'm going to get a bit technical on you. The Architectural Woodwork Institute has defined 3 grades of wood used for cabinetry. Economy Grade (which speaks for itself), Custom Grade (used by good manufacturers of semi-custom and discount kitchen cabinets), and Premium Grade (used by good manufacturers of custom kitchen cabinets).

It has to do with knots, checks, and other defects. The Premium grade has none, custom grade has a few, and economy has more. These materials are used where people normally would see the product (i.e. doors, end panels, cabinet frames, drawer fronts, and drawer boxes).

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The insides ("the box") of discount cabinets are usually made of either melamine (particle board with a thin sheet of laminate on the surface) or mdf (medium density fiberboard). Inexpensive, when compared to plywood, but don't get it wet.

Another cost issue, that comes under the heading of materials, is the drawer slide. Most discount houses use cheap drawer slides. Some offer better slides as an upgrade.

Sure, nobody sees them, but those high-end self-closing slides have so much more appeal, and it would only add about $150 to the cost of making an average set of kitchen cabinets. Somebody should talk to their marketing people.

Comparison to Custom Cabinets - The serious cost difference between discount and custom kitchen cabinets is (of course) labor. The interior finishes are not as smooth on the discount cabinets - not as much sanding. Machines can sand flat boards, but when you sand inside a box, a person has to do it.

Then there's the finishing process on the outside - 5-step process instead of 7, with less drying time between steps. Look at the less expensive cabinets by themselves and they'll look fine. Put them next to the custom kitchen cabinets and you'll see the difference.

One comparison which puts all manufacturers on a level playing field is door design. There are 3 basic styles - raised panel, recessed panel, and flat. There are many, many, and a few more, variations on this basic theme. There are so many being offerred, you will certainly find something agreeable wherever you look.

The choices of wood species are greater when selecting custom cabinets. Maple and cherry are the most popular. There seems to be a growing trend toward using bamboo kitchen cabinets, probably because of the environmental benefit of quick replenishment.

Sizes - This is the primary reason for the time delays. Inexpensive cabinets are pre-made in 3" increments (i.e. 21", then 24", then 27", etc.). When (notice I didn't say "if") your cabinets don't fit exactly on your wall, they use a filler piece to make up the difference.

Semi-custom cabinets combine stock sizes with custom sizes to make the cabinets fit. Example: for a 91" wall, they would use 2 stock cabinets at 30" and make a custom 31" cabinet to complete the run.

When using custom kitchen cabinets, for that same wall, they would make 3 cabinets at 30.33" each.

Colors- The discount cabinet manufacturers offer plenty of color choices, finishes (including glazes) and wood species to choose from. What the makers of custom kitchen cabinets offer in addition, are combinations, special finishes (like antiqueing) and - in some cases - custom colors.

Combinations like cherry with black trim, or pickled maple with light blue trim. Imagine the time that takes. A select few will even offer custom finishing, including gold leafing, right in your house. But be prepared to spend $100,000 or more for your cabinets (just the cabinets).

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Cleaning Cabinets - Okay, it's time to clean things up. Kitchen cabinets are in harms way. Grease in the air, food spills, grimy/sticky little fingers around the door knobs - what do you use to get rid of it all?

The answer depends on the surface. Painted wood, vinyl, plastic laminates, and metal surfaces can be cleaned with a mild detergent and water. Rinse with a damp cloth of clear water, and use a dry cloth to prevent streaks.

Wood surfaces, stained or clear, and usually coated with a spray-on lacquer finish, should be cleaned with Murphy's Oil Soap or an equivalent. Pledge is not a good alternative because it has a wax base and will cause a wax build-up which eventually turns "milky", making your finish appear dull.

Never use anything abrasive (like scouring powder) on any of these surfaces. And don't use paint thinner to remove grease from wood (okay on laminates). It will dissolve the grease, but remove the lacquer as well.

If you're not sure about what to use, test it on the back of the door to see what happens. A good rule of thumb is to read the labels. They usually tell you which surfaces are appropriate.

The subject of kitchen cabinets can be confusing. Whenever you have a question about kitchen cabinets, just click here.