Cabinets from a big box store may be cheaper, but they are not even close in the value of cabinets that are custom made. When you add together all of the benefits of custom cabinetry, you will understand why homeowners who choose custom cabinetry enjoy their decision every day.
Custom Cabinetry Benefits
Built to Last – Custom cabinets are created by skilled cabinet makers by hand and not on an assembly line. The use of quality materials create a finished product that’s a work of art. Custom cabinets are quality construction that’s built to last. Durability is very important. You want to avoid maintenance issues down the road. Thick and sturdy veneer core plywood cabinet boxes should be at least ½” on the sides and ¼” on the back, though ¾” and ½” are even better. Dovetail construction on all four corners of your drawer boxes enhance the look but also is built to last for years. Shelving inside the cabinets should be 3/4” thick plywood. Drawer guides should allow full extension of the drawer box with a soft closing mechanism allowing the drawer to gently glide and close.
Here are the key differences between custom and stock cabinetry construction:
- Custom cabinetry will be made from plywood while stock is made from particle board
- Custom Cabinetry joints are created with Dovetails, dowels, or pocket holes while stock is only glued, nailed, or stapled.
- Custom Cabinetry corner braces use wood glued blocks while stock is stapled plastic corners.
- Drawer slides for Custom Cabinetry are hidden under mount while stock tends to use side slide brackets.
Local Sourcing – If you are concerned about the origin of the wood used for your cabinets, then you immediately see the benefit of custom cabinetry. You have a much broader choice of wood for your project including using local or domestic hardwoods that reduce the impact on the environment.
Personal Selection – Stock cabinets may include so many different combinations of stock parts, but you are still limited by the product availability. Custom cabinets provide you with a personal customized selection of wood, style, finish, and hardware to address your goals and needs. Stock cabinetry is made in an assembly line in batches at different times and often results in non-matching materials and finishes. Custom cabinetry is made per order with hand selected woods and is all finished at the same time.
Built to Fit – Have an unusual kitchen layout or an unconventional floor plan? Stock cabinets are designed for stock kitchen sizes, so if you have a portion of a wall left over, you will need fillers in these areas. Fillers, while they have their place should be used sparingly as needed. Custom cabinets can be built to any size you specify, which makes all of your spaces usable, taking advantage of nearly every inch in your kitchen. Custom cabinets give you a fitted look unavailable with stock cabinetry.
The finish - Your cabinetry should include a catalyzed conversion varnish or special type lacquer. This is a clear-coat that protects the paint or stain and makes the cabinetry moisture and mar resistant. Twenty years down the road it will still feel the same. You should run your hand over the finish and a quality finish will feel like satin. With handcrafted custom cabinets, you won’t feel bumps or a gritty feeling due to several stages of hand sanding and a controlled finishing environment to eliminate any roughness.
Increase the value of your home - Custom cabinetry is one of the best investments you can make in your home. It increases the value of your home not only in dollars, but also in aesthetic and design appeal. Custom kitchen cabinets are worlds apart in finish applications, construction methods, space utilization, and design. A well designed and built kitchen will be money wisely invested. You will recoup 85-100+% of the value of a remodel.
Thanks for reading our blog, please contact us today for an estimate on your custom cabinetry project. Specialty designs, builds, and installations that you have been dreaming about!
B2 Home Solutions