The first decision when selecting cabinets is whether to go for stock cabinets, semi-custom, custom units or frameless cabinets.
All have their own advantages and disadvantages.
There are the three basic classifications of cabinet manufacturing: Stock, Semi-Custom & Custom, and this can be further subdivided into Framed and Frameless.
Pricing will vary depending on your layout, the manufacturer, wood, finish, door style and the interior accessories you select.
Stock
Lowest price range
Limited selection of door styles, woods and stain colors. Solid woods and veneers are both used. Wood selection is usually oak, hickory, maple, cherry and MDF doors in white or off-white thermal-foils (see 'Kitchen Cabinet Terminology' below).
Usually offers three different grades of construction. Standard consists of particleboard sides and a 4-sided drawer box that is dadoed, stapled and glued. Mid-range upgrades the drawer box to wood with dovetailed joints and usually thicker shelves in the wall cabinets. Best offers all this plus plywood sides instead of particleboard. Hinges used are concealed, drawer glides are an epoxy side-mount. The finish is machine sprayed and sanded (finish quality will vary between various stock lines)
Cabinets are pre-made in standard sizes that increase in 3" increments from 9"-48" and cannot be modified. Basic accessories are available such as, open shelving, glass mullion doors, wine racks, roll trays, garbage bins, lazy susans and breadboards are available and most are installed on the job.
Short order time.
Semi-Custom
Mid-price range
Offers a large variety of door styles, woods, stains, colors and glazes. Fronts are all solid woods and white or colors such as green, red and blue, finishes are offered as a stain over a MDF door or on solid birch wood.
Standard construction is wood dovetailed drawer boxes and plywood sides. Hinges used are usually a knife, which opens all the way or concealed, drawer glides are either epoxy side-mounted or metal undermount. The finish is hand wiped with 2 sanding processes for a furniture finish.
Cabinets are offered in a wider range of heights and depths with some modifications possible. There are many accessories available and they are factory installed.
Ordering time is about 4-6 weeks (made-to-order).
Custom
High-price range
Offers an unlimited selection of styles, woods, stains and colors. Design possibilities are endless.
Standard construction is a thicker wood dovetailed drawer box and plywood sides. Numerous hinge choices are available such as; concealed, knife & inset, which are available in different finishes. Drawer glides are usually a full-extension ball bearing as a side mount or under mount. The finish is sprayed and sanded once, hand wiped and sanded three times and then waxed for a flawless clear satin finish.
Some custom high-end frameless lines, such as Poggenpohl, use a laminate box construction, laminate doors or stainless steel to build high quality contemporary cabinets.
All size modifications are available. If it is possible to build and it is structurally sound the manufacture will build it. All accessories are factory installed.
Order time is about 6-12 weeks.
