When shopping for kitchen cabinets, it is important that you know how to recognize high quality kitchen cabinets from unworthy cabinetry. Columbia Kitchens is here to help you choose the right cabinets for your kitchen with our guide on details you should look for in your cabinets.
Your kitchen design and style choice tremendously affects the overall look, but the construction that you choose will dictate the value and longevity of your kitchen. When you decide to purchase new cabinetry, it is not a decision you should take lightly. Instead of looking at the overall cost, focus on how long you are going to be in the home, and a style that will compliment the rest of the house.
Be sure to carefully look into the construction details of the cabinet line that you go with, and make your designer aware of what you are looking for. Here are a few tips when shopping for quality cabinets:
Cabinet Box Construction
Top quality kitchen cabinets should be made with all plywood construction. Basic lines start out with particleboard, and will allow you to upgrade. However, if you are looking for a quality line to start, then ask your designer to show you a semi-custom line where plywood sides (or all plywood) and upgraded wood drawers are typically standard. Plywood sides give you a wood veneer exterior which will darken over time with the front of the cabinets, whereas particleboard sides will not. Particleboard sides are finished with a vinyl exterior, which is not wood, and will always remain the same color even though the rest of the cabinets will darken.
Drawer Box Construction
Your drawers should be made of solid wood, and should be dovetail joined at the sides of the box. The glides should be metal, and mounted underneath of the drawer box. Full extension glides are a nice feature to have as well, but aren’t a necessity.
Door Construction
The cabinet doors should be made of solid wood, even the center panel in the middle. Lower grade lines offer the option to get a thermofoil door, as well as just having veneered raised/recessed center panel. A thermofoil door is made of mdf (particleboard) and a heat wrap is applied. A veneered center panel is similar but has a wood veneer skin over the mdf. This is not ideal since the doors can chip, peel, and aren’t repairable because they aren’t solid wood all throughout. With an all wood door, you can sand and re-touch or re-stain if damages were to occur.
Details make the difference between well-built cabinets and inferior cabinets. So be sure to investigate your cabinet construction before making your final purchase. Your designer will be happy to direct you accordingly.
If your kitchen needs quality kitchen cabinets installed, come to Columbia Kitchen’s showroom today to explore all of your options, and make your dream kitchen a reality.
Here are our Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Services:
At Columbia Kitchens we offer stock builder grade cabinets for immediate purchase or you can choose from our semi-custom and custom lines which are all displayed in our beautiful showroom. When you arrive, we will also show you our vast array of custom countertop options which include: Laminate, Corian, granite, marble, Vetrazzo (recycled glass), Silestone, Cambria, Zodiaq, Caesarstone, Eco, Hanstone, Swanstone, and cultured marble.
Columbia Kitchens offers all this plus FREE estimates, FREE design services, and FREE in-home measuring all done by our friendly, creative staff of professionals.
Let us create the design of your dreams today!
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Tags: Cabinet Box Construction, Columbia kitchens, countertop options, Door Construction, Drawer Box Construction, Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Services, kitchen cabinets, Kitchen Design, Shopping for Quality Kitchen Cabinets