Custom Cabinetry Pros & Cons
Working in the remodeling industry for the last 38 years, and exclusively in the kitchen and bath remodeling sector for the last 8 years, I have noticed a good deal of confusion and misunderstanding regarding custom cabinetry. This article is intended to shed some light on the subject.
The dictionary defines "custom" when used as an adjective as meaning "made for an individual". It says nothing regarding the quality of what is made. This is an important distinction primarily because people make assumptions and decisions based on the meaning they associate with a word.
To illustrate, let's say that I offer to build a "custom home" for you. You agree and I proceed to construct one out of popsicle sticks. This would by definition be a "custom home" but would not meet any sane person's criteria for quality nor match your idea of what a "custom home "should be.
Something similar occurs when people consider, as one of their options for a kitchen or bath remodel, purchasing "custom cabinets'. The problem arises when they discover that what they have purchased falls short of their expectations. This is, more often than not, the result of making assumptions based on a false definition of the terminology and neglecting to investigate the quality of the products important components.
There are basically 3 types of custom cabinetry:
- Those made by fine craftsmen both here and abroad.
- Those made by major manufacturers with customization capabilities.
- Those made by small to medium sized local shops.
The first type ends up in exclusive high end homes or establishments. These clients have both the time and financial resources to acquire something unique. This satisfies their discriminating taste and sets them apart from others much like owning an exclusive watch, car etc..
The second type appeals to reasonably affluent clients who want something better than average and don't mind spending a bit more to get it.
The third type is by far the most prevalent and the category with which we are concerning ourselves here. These run the gamut from one man operations to reasonably sophisticated facilities producing thousands of kitchen and bathroom cabinets each year.
At this point I should mention that my experience is primarily in Southern California, and consequently my perspective will reflect that and may not accurately describe conditions in other parts of the country. However, I believe there are sufficient similarities nationwide to make this material relevant and useful for consumers wherever they may live.
So now we know that making any quality assumptions regarding "custom cabinetry" is not a good idea. So what should one do?
The quality of each potential cabinet purchase should be evaluated on its own merit with little, if any, weight given to terms such as "custom", "semi-custom", "manufactured" or "modular".
So what are the important questions to ask when selecting kitchen, bathroom or other cabinets?
They can be broken down into the following categories:
- General box construction:
What are the materials and their dimensions used to construct the cabinet and drawer boxes. Cabinet boxes should be constructed of plywood anywhere where fasteners are installed since it has a much greater holding strength than furniture or particle board. The drawer boxes should be solid birch or maple with dove-tailed glued joints. - Door and drawer fronts and face frame:
What is the wood species (i.e. maple, cherry, alder, etc.) and is it solid or a thin veneer over plywood or a lesser quality wood. These should be ¾ to 1 inch in thickness and properly jointed. Veneers can be used if price is the primary consideration but the client should ask about their limitations as well as their cost. - Hardware:
What type of hinges and drawer and rollout slides are used. Who makes them and what is the warranty. This is important because the moving parts are what tend to wear out first and the cheaper imitations fail sooner and frequently have little if any warranty. - Finish:
How are all the visible portions of the cabinetry finished. How are they sanded, how are they stained and most importantly, which method is used to topcoat or finish-coat the cabinets to protect them from sunlight, moisture and oil from people's hands. What is the warranty for the finish. The very best topcoat is what is call pre-catalyzed oil based varnish and is dried under lights to provide a durable finish that is warranted to last many years.
While these criteria are by no means exhaustive, they will provide more useful guidelines for the average consumer than relying upon mistaken assumptions regarding the various types of cabinetry.
