If you’re renovating on a budget, finding less-expensive but not “cheap” cabinets can be a bit difficult. In the average kitchen remodel, cabinetry is the biggest expense, consuming up to half of the budget. Cabinets come in three main types: custom, semi-stock, and stock. With each of these, variables such as wood type and quality of construction can affect price. It’s possible to find quality even at low prices, if you’re aware of what to look for.
Due to the housing boom of a few years ago and builders’ demands for cheaper materials, many cabinetry manufacturers began looking overseas for ways to make less-expensive products. All cabinets sold in the US must conform to KCMA (Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association) standards, and as a result, overseas plants were required to use higher-quality, more durable materials.
Up until the new manufacturing requirements were set, Discount Cabinets were made of particle board or fibreboard, and were held together with dowels or staples. Many of the cheapest cabinets of the time had veneers which would buckle or warp in the presence of too much moisture; because of their inferior construction and components, they just didn’t measure up to cabinets made in the United States.
With the new KCMA-compliant improvements, Discount Cabinets are being built with plywood sides and wooden doors, with cam locks holding everything together. It’s inaccurate to call a discount cabinet “cheap”; with improvements in function and form, they’re now being imported and sold at about 1/3 the cost of an American-made cabinet. Now, even big-box home improvement stores are selling private-label cabinets in ready-to-use or disassembled form.
Despite all the benefits of buying discount cabinetry, there are some drawbacks to consider. Most cabinet makers only carry a limited selection of finishes and styles, making them a poor choice for renovators and those looking for design flexibility. To get the lowest price on these cabinets, they must be bought in ready-to-assemble form—meaning extra time and labor for you.
With the new cam lock system, most cabinets only require a screwdriver for assembly. Before paying full retail for your new kitchen cabinets, consider your choices in ready-to-assemble or discount cabinetry; because of improvements in materials and manufacturing, it’s possible to get the quality you want at a price you can afford.
