Cabinets are an essential part of your kitchen. The average kitchen has 25-30 feet of space devoted to cabinets for storing cooking ware, dishes, cups, dry goods, and other essential supplies. Yet you probably haven’t given them much consideration unless it’s time to remodel or buy new ones. Let Installation Services of Brevard guide you in what you need to know about kitchen cabinets. Read more below!

There Are Three Main Types of Kitchen Cabinets

The three types of kitchen cabinets you can buy differ in their construction. They are stock cabinets, semi-custom cabinets, or custom cabinets:

• Stock Cabinets. Stock cabinets are mass-produced and sold in retail stores. They are usually pre-assembled for placement, though some require assembly. Stock cabinets are the cheapest and usually the quickest options, but they tend to be limited in terms of colors, styles, and material options.
• Semi-custom cabinets. Semi-custom cabinets are stock cabinets with personalizable details. You may be able to change the dimensions of the drawers or select a different finish for the cabinet. These are a mid-range option, as they are more expensive and take longer to deliver than stock cabinets but are cheaper and quicker than fully custom cabinets.
• Custom cabinets. Custom cabinets are built to order, including size, style, material, color, and finish. They feature a much more comprehensive range of options like floor-to-ceiling size and leaded-glass doors. Some are unique and can hold innovations like an appliance garage or a coffee machine. These features and the craftsmanship drive up the price and delivery times, but they also ensure that you get precisely the cabinets you want.

Know Your Cabinet Size

When considering kitchen cabinets, you should know your cabinets’ height, width, and depth. If you are considering installing a new set of cabinets, consider the design features of most stock cabinets and whether they fit your purposes. These include:

• Width. Most stock cabinets have a width of 12-36 inches. Base cabinets vary between 9 and 46 inches.
• Height. Wall cabinets are typically 12-42 inches high. Tall cabinets come in 84, 90, and 96 inches tall. Base cabinets can be 32-38 inches tall, including the countertop.
• Depth. Standard wall cabinets are usually 24 inches deep.

Framed or Frameless Style

Cabinet builds are either framed or frameless.

• Framed Cabinets. A framed cabinet has a box and face frame. The box of the cabinet refers to the cabinet’s interior. The face frame is the structure attached to the front of the box so it can handle doors and drawers. Since the face frame reinforces it, the box can be thinner and possibly fit into smaller spaces.
• Frameless Cabinets. A frameless cabinet usually has a thicker box with doors and drawers directly attached. The most durable cabinets are at least 1/2 inch thick or made from tougher materials, such as plywood. Given the lack of a face frame, it’s easier to reach the interior of a frameless cabinet. These cabinets are more contemporary and look better in modern kitchens.

Signs Of A Quality Cabinet

If you can closely inspect a cabinet, you can tell how well-made it is. Examine the following locations for these traits:

Drawers

• Are they made entirely out of wood?
• Do they slide smoothly on ball-bearing extensions?
• Are there dovetail joints to hold the drawer together?
• Is the bottom of the drawer solid wood slotted into grooves, or has it been stapled or glued?

Box and Doors

• Are the panels solid wood? Plywood panels are flimsy and may collapse under the weight of a countertop.
• Is the box the door connects to at least 1/2 inch thick on a frameless cabinet?
• Does the door open easily?
• Does the door swing open wide enough?
• Can you adjust the hinges?

Shelves

• Are the shelves at least 3/4 inch plywood? Thinner shelves or ones made of particleboard can sag under the weight of cabinet contents.

If you can confirm all of these features, then congratulations: you have found a quality cabinet. Custom cabinets are more likely to have these traits, but you can probably find some in stock cabinets.

Other Desirable Features

While not necessarily indicative of quality, there are some other features on kitchen cabinets that you might find desirable. As follows:

• An over-travel slide. An over-travel slide refers to a drawer that extends out past the front of the cabinet, allowing full access to the drawer.
• Drawer slide mounts. Center mounts on cabinets are designed for light loads of between 35-50 pounds. Side mounts can store heavier objects 75 pounds and above.
• Soft close. Some drawers and hinges have “soft close” features. This feature stops them from banging shut when closed, making them quieter and gentler on the cabinet’s components.

Budget

Before buying any kind or style of cabinet, consider your budget. You must measure the amount of space you expect to devote to cabinets in your kitchen since this will help you determine costs. Record the figure and keep it close. Stock cabinets cost about $100 per square foot, while custom cabinets can go for $500 per foot or more. Remember that customization options, special features, and high-quality materials will add to the price.

Contact Installation Services of Brevard

The number one thing to know about kitchen cabinets is that you should have yours purchased and installed by Installation Services of Brevard. We have a well-rounded expert team who are dedicated to customer satisfaction. You will know every detail of our service, and if you ever experience any problems with our products or services, then we will correct them. That is our pledge to every single one of our customers. So, don’t settle for just any cabinet company. Choose the one that cares. Choose Installation Services of Brevard.