Tips > Kitchen Sections

Cabinet Shopping – Quality Standards
Free Cabinet Estimating Formula

(Download print-friendly version of this article.)

1. Catalyzed conversion varnish finish inside and out (the reason to buy manufactured cabinets).
2. Butt doors on all two door cabinets up to at least 36" wide (budget cabinets use a center divider, called a center stile, as part of the cabinet structure and to hold up skimpy shelves).
3. 3/4" shelves in 65 lb. particleboard or plywood with a vinyl or wood veneer (such particleboard is actually less likely to warp than plywood, though plywood is an acceptable alternative).
   Or, when buying a frameless cabinet product:
   Minimum 3/4" melamine covered 65 lb particleboard construction on all horizontal members, and 5/8" (3/4" is better but heavier for installers) on all vertical members.
4. Adjustable shelves at minimum every 1 1/2" in all wall and base cabinets.
   • Optional or standard full depth shelves in base cabinets.
   • Optional rollout shelves with same spec as drawers.
5. Minimum 5/8" thick solid wood drawers with dadoed or dovetail construction and a captive bottom.
   Or, metal or wood drawers as above on a frameless product.
   Measure the interior size of drawers; substandard ones skimp on the depth and front to rear dimension.
6. Minimum 100 lb. capacity side or bottom-mount drawer slides, 2 each drawer. Full-extension slides available as an option (not necessary except with special accessories).
7. Solid hardwood or semi-hardwood drawers finished with a catalyzed conversion varnish on all surfaces.
8. Cabinet interiors finished on all surfaces with a catalyzed conversion varnish or heavy vinyl wrap for a wipe clean interior (no shelf paper needed on either).
9. Customization available as needed: angled cabinets, custom width, height and depth, extended stiles (like an attached filler) at minimum.
10. Lifetime warranty on all hinges, drawer slides, and other mechanical components.
11. A manufacturer that will be around to honor its warranty. (This is hard for you to discern.)

You should not buy a cabinet that does not meet or exceed all of the above standards for your permanent home.

Where to find cabinet makers

There are a number of companies that make cabinets that meet or exceed these standards. None of the manufacturers are in California; all are in the Midwest.

The three companies that I regularly recommend as good values are:

• Crystal Cabinet Works, www.ccworks.com
• Wood-mode, www.wood-mode.com.
• Woodharbor, www.woodharbor.com.

I also highly recommend one local custom company, Segale Brothers Wood Products. They use catalyzed varnish finishes, where most other local guys use lacquer finishes. Segale also offers fine quality cabinet refacing services for those of you who do not need to replace. They refaced the cabinets in my Mom's kitchen many years ago and they lasted perfectly until she moved to assisted living. Quite a feat, because I often see failed refacing jobs in clients' homes. They also do closet and garage systems and office and entertainment cabinetry.

• Segale Brothers Wood Products, www.segalebros.com

Dealers with discount programs

There are two dealers, in our area, who give my clients exceptional discounts because I have written the order using the manufacturer's catalog. Obviously you have to pay me for that, but there is still substantial savings, and continuity, which is an advantage. You can do it that way or simply take them copies of the plans you already have and they will price it out and give you their regular discount. They are both reputable dealers.
I tell my clients to be as trouble-free as possible to earn their best discounts (being trouble-free means not using too much of the dealer's time).

• Floorcraft of Burlingame & San Francisco: Linda Clark (650) 344-1304 Crystal & Woodharbor
• Gilman Screens & Kitchens, Foster City: Joanne Stage (650) 286-0433 or Burlingame: Kathy Smith (650) 340-2890 Woodmode
• PLEASE call for an appointment with the designer listed above. Others in the firm may not be as good.

Saving tips

1. Choose oak or hickory instead of maple or cherry.
2. Choose a simple door and drawerfront style. Elaborate=Expensive.
3. Choose a standard stain. Paints, glazes, antiquing and distressing cost more.
4. Opt for fewer cabinets in larger sizes in your design.
   More Cabinets=Higher Cost.
5. Spend your money on rollout shelves and a few other accessories, not rosettes and fluted columns.
6. Go with standard overlay doors and hinges rather than full-overlay in face frame type cabinets.
   (Note: Full-overlay doors only open to 110 degrees. This is often a surprise to people accustomed to their cabinet doors swinging all the way open. The hinges also break more often, so order extras).

For the real budget project, the stock line I recommend is Diamond, which is a broad well-made West-coast line. Floorcraft of Burlingame & San Francisco carries Diamond. Linda Clark (650) 344-1304.

Free Cabinet Estimating Formula:

1. Print out our Cabinetry Standards PDF file and use the Generic Cabinet Quotation Form included. Make copies for each product you like. Have the dealer price, in the style and wood and finish you like, a W3642, a B36 with two rollout shelves, and a 3D18 with a cutlery divider. Be sure they include tax and freight, delivered to your home.
2. Subtract the Job Site Delivery charges. Divide the result by three.
3. Count the individual cabinets in your floorplan (In my plans, the dashed lines under the counter indicate a break between cabinets), or elevations when you have them. A typical kitchen in our area has 15 cabinets, so you can use that figure temporarily until you have a solid one.
4. Count each tall (pantry, oven, etc.) cabinet as two cabinets (because they cost that much).
5. Multiply the number of cabinets by the result above, then add back the Job Site Delivery charges.
   

This will give you a ROUGH idea what your cabinets might cost using this line, and how these cabinets compare in cost and value with the others you like.
You will also be getting an “apples to apples” comparison because the dealer is not selecting the cabinets to price.

Remember to discuss with us any cabinet lines you fall in love with that are not listed above. WARNING! There are some cabinetry lines that look and price well, however the companies do not come through with the product as promised. You want to avoid them at all costs.