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Kitchen Cabinet Choices deborah 07-28-2006
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Posted by on July 28, 2006, 5:07 pm
Finally going to re-do my kitchen, but the choices and information is
overwhelming. I'm trying to avoid dealing with Home Depot and Lowes.
>From what I'm reading in the forums they have a poor record. Although I
might still get a ballpark curiosity quote from them.

I've had one quote from Sears so far for $13K, would have been $12k if
we went to contract that day for a 9x11 galley kitchen, corian counter,
no fancy cabs . I'm glad we didn't sign up. It was our first visit, and
we knew nothing. Not saying they're bad, I just have lots more
questions now then I did that night.

In any event, as I'm trying to work with local companies, my problem is
comparing apples to apples with the different lines they carry. Some do
carry the KraftMaid and Merrilat. Others have Aristocraft, Brandom,
CustomCraft, UltraCraft, Shiloh, and Medallion. I don't know any thing
about these lines (not that I know anything about the others either),
or how to compare them. I can't seem to locate anything on most of
them. Also if, a company doesn't carry the standard big guns like
KraftMaid etc., does that mean anything?

I just want a decent cabinet, not top of the line. The kids are grown,
so no-one is running into them, slamming or swinging from them. And the
way I see it, my cheap builder-supplied ones have held up fine for 10
years (they're just ugly as heck), so anything I get should be a lot
better. But I still don't want to get poor quality.

Can anyone help me in comparing the quotes when they come in, and
quality, what to look for etc. And if I do get a quote from Lowes or
HD, any suggestions on their products to compare with.

Also, after reading some comments, I decided to get a quote from a
local custom-cabinet guy next week. From what I understand it may not
be as expensive as I thought it would be. But, besides knowing he is
listed with NKBA--which is how I found him-- I know nothing about his
work. There is no show room to go in and push and pull drawers, see
work etc. Any advice on this avenue would be much appreciated. I don't
know many people who have re-done their kitchen using anyone but Lowe's
and HD so I'm searching without recommendations.

Deborah


Posted by Andrew Barss on July 28, 2006, 5:43 pm
deborah@webguild.com wrote:

: In any event, as I'm trying to work with local companies, my problem is
: comparing apples to apples with the different lines they carry. Some do
: carry the KraftMaid and Merrilat. Others have Aristocraft, Brandom,
: CustomCraft, UltraCraft, Shiloh, and Medallion. I don't know any thing
: about these lines (not that I know anything about the others either),
: or how to compare them. I can't seem to locate anything on most of
: them. Also if, a company doesn't carry the standard big guns like
: KraftMaid etc., does that mean anything?

Ask what the warranty is against warpage and other problems that can
beset cabinets. Cabinets aren't very complicated. There's a box
part, which is what you put dishes etc. into, and a face
part, which is what you see when the cabinets are closed. And drawers,
if you want those. Each of these is built pretty simply. Question:
do you want to rip everything out and replace it, or
just redo the fronts, which can be a lot cheaper?


: I just want a decent cabinet, not top of the line. The kids are grown, : so
no-one is running into them, slamming or swinging from them.
And the : way I see it, my cheap builder-supplied ones
have held up fine for 10 : years (they're just ugly as heck),


And in 10 years you might want a different style anyway, so I
think your decision to go midrange is a good one. (I think
that's true for a lot of things, including furniture).



:so anything I get should be a lot
:better. But I still don't want to get poor quality.

: Can anyone help me in comparing the quotes when they come in, and
: quality, what to look for etc.


Here's a few:

a) what are the cabinets made of? Plywood is very good, chipboard
is more fragile and more prone to water damage.

b) What are the faceframes and doors made from? If they're painted or
laminated it doesn't matter much, if they're exposed wood
it does.

c) What grade of hardware, especially hinges and drawer
slides, do they use? Both should look substantial. Drawers should be
supported by fairly beefy supports -- really thin ones tend to bind and break
over time.

d) Are the drawers dovetailed, or nailed/stampled? The former is much more
solid and durable.

A lot will depend on the style you choose. Laminated cabinets, sort
of minimalist in style, will be very durable. Fancier ones, with moldings,
you need to care more about the component types (real wood, MDF,
plywood, chipboard, etc.).


        -- Andy Barss


Posted by Felony Bob on July 28, 2006, 5:52 pm
> Finally going to re-do my kitchen, but the choices and information is
> overwhelming. I'm trying to avoid dealing with Home Depot and Lowes.
>>From what I'm reading in the forums they have a poor record. Although I
> might still get a ballpark curiosity quote from them.
>
> I've had one quote from Sears so far for $13K, would have been $12k if
> we went to contract that day for a 9x11 galley kitchen, corian counter,
> no fancy cabs . I'm glad we didn't sign up. It was our first visit, and
> we knew nothing. Not saying they're bad, I just have lots more
> questions now then I did that night.
>
> In any event, as I'm trying to work with local companies, my problem is
> comparing apples to apples with the different lines they carry. Some do
> carry the KraftMaid and Merrilat. Others have Aristocraft, Brandom,
> CustomCraft, UltraCraft, Shiloh, and Medallion. I don't know any thing
> about these lines (not that I know anything about the others either),
> or how to compare them. I can't seem to locate anything on most of
> them. Also if, a company doesn't carry the standard big guns like
> KraftMaid etc., does that mean anything?
>
> I just want a decent cabinet, not top of the line. The kids are grown,
> so no-one is running into them, slamming or swinging from them. And the
> way I see it, my cheap builder-supplied ones have held up fine for 10
> years (they're just ugly as heck), so anything I get should be a lot
> better. But I still don't want to get poor quality.
>
> Can anyone help me in comparing the quotes when they come in, and
> quality, what to look for etc. And if I do get a quote from Lowes or
> HD, any suggestions on their products to compare with.
>
> Also, after reading some comments, I decided to get a quote from a
> local custom-cabinet guy next week. From what I understand it may not
> be as expensive as I thought it would be. But, besides knowing he is
> listed with NKBA--which is how I found him-- I know nothing about his
> work. There is no show room to go in and push and pull drawers, see
> work etc. Any advice on this avenue would be much appreciated. I don't
> know many people who have re-done their kitchen using anyone but Lowe's
> and HD so I'm searching without recommendations.
>
> Deborah
>

The "today only" $12k pricing will be good if you decide to call them back--
in fact, offer them $10.5 and they'll counter with $11. Take that-- if
they'll agree to throw in a few of the ups/extras they tried to talk you
into for an additions $2k ;-)

Bob



Posted by Percival P. Cassidy on July 28, 2006, 6:26 pm
On 07/28/06 05:07 pm deborah@webguild.com wrote:

> Finally going to re-do my kitchen, but the choices and information is
> overwhelming. I'm trying to avoid dealing with Home Depot and Lowes.
>>From what I'm reading in the forums they have a poor record. Although I
> might still get a ballpark curiosity quote from them.

We did the kitchen in our previous house with Mill's Pride units (with
solid maple doors) from HD, and they lasted well for the three years
before we moved. They have the advantages of (1) being frameless and (2)
of having steel drawer sides, both of which contribute to more efficient
use of space. I assembled and installed everything myself. A friend had
her kitchen done at about the same time by a "professional"; the job
cost way more than ours and the cabinets didn't look nearly as good --
but I have no way of comparing their durability.

Perce

Posted by on July 28, 2006, 9:50 pm
Yet another reason to never ever ever ever do business with Sears, they
are the slimiest of the slime. People I know were quoted $8000 to put
new cabinet faces on 20 ilnear feet of cabinetry. They could have
replaced the cabinets twice for that much.

Sears sucks.


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