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Making the Most of Cabinetry

Learn the ins and outs of buying cabinets

By Thomas Langford
When buying cabinets, you have a wide range of choices, from custom cabinetry to discount kitchen cabinets. A quick cabinetry industry overview shows a similar range regarding cabinet manufacturers. A number of large manufacturers try to appeal to the masses with discount cabinetry and stock products. But about half of the nation's cabinet makers are small custom operations, with sales of less than 5 million dollars a year and fewer than 100 employees.

Whether you're a developer looking to place a large order of kitchen cabinetry for a line of new homes or a business owner looking for wooden cabinetry for a small space, you want to be sure you are making the most of cabinetry you select. So start by deciding if you want:

1. Custom cabinetry made to your specifications;

2. Stock cabinets that are already built and ready to be installed;

3. Or earth-friendly cabinets that meet environmental standards.

 

Find custom cabinetry manufacturers

Custom cabinetry manufacturers build custom cabinets specifically for you. The cabinets are made only after your order is placed, and they are made to your exact specifications. A custom cabinet will cost you more than other types of cabinets and often take months to arrive at the installation site, but many feel custom cabinetry is worth the price and wait.
Try: Craftspeople at Heritage Custom Cabinetry use traditional woodworking techniques to create custom cabinets in a range of styles. The company's designers work hard to create the exact look you want. Cabinet Innovations is a designer and manufacturer of custom kitchen cabinets, bookcases, entertainment centers and wet bars. All finished cabinets are made from 100% American products.

Find manufacturers of stock cabinets

Stock cabinets are premade in standard sizes, styles and materials. But what you lose in choice, you gain in price. Stock cabinets are often quite a bit cheaper than custom cabinets. Additionally, they are normally stored in a manufacturer's warehouse and can be delivered in about a week.
Try: Kitchen Kompact is a cabinet manufacturer that has a large line of stock cabinetry. The company's cabinets are designed to make the best use of a space to create optimum storage capacity. Wellborn Forest Products offers three product lines with 74 door styles, three types of wood and a range of finish selections.

Find a green cabinetry maker

A trend gaining popularity in the cabinet industry is cabinets that are built from environmentally friendly materials. These so-called "green cabinets" are manufactured with environmental sustainability in mind.
Try: Canyon Creek Cabinet Company has been using green manufacturing techniques since 1990. The company sells products made from sustainable wood species, has reduced natural gas and electricity use in its plant, and has reduced the amount of polluting compounds in its finishes. Omega Cabinetry also makes environmental stewardship a priority by working to use sustainable products, reduce air pollution and conserve energy.

 

  • Before purchasing cabinets, be sure to check into the manufacturer's warranty. Also, ask if touch-up products and repair materials are easily available.

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