Plywood: The highest quality kitchen cabinets are made of cabinet-grade multi-layer plywood. Plywood cabinets are strong, easier to install and considerably lighter in weight than MDF or particleboard cabinets. While more expensive, plywood cabinets are a good choice if you expect to own the house for a long period.
Cabinet Quality Grades. Cabinets are grouped into four grades based on quality of construction: ready-to-assemble (RTA), stock, semi-custom and custom. Decide up front on the amount of money to be invested in cabinetry and then browse cabinetry lines and options within your budget.
Solid wood cabinets are considered to be one of the most durable and high-quality options for kitchen cabinets. They are made entirely of solid wood, which gives them a natural, warm, and classic look.
5 of the best woods for kitchen cabinets are pine, oak, hickory, cherry, and maple. The differences are in their quality, look, and cost.
Maple tends to be more expensive than all other types of wood used for Kitchen Cabinets. Oak finishes tend to be about on par with their counterparts due to high demand, however, there can still be variations between different oak finishes so keep this in mind when deciding if oak is right for you or not!
Hickory is the most durable domestic wood. Hickory is the one of the strongest domestic wood species you can invest in because of its hardness and strength. It typically is more expensive because it is considered a higher-end wood species.
Custom cabinets are the most expensive and the price varies according to the style and design you choose. As the name indicates, custom cabinets are built to your specifications and you can add as many embellishments and accents as you want, assuming you want to pay for it.
What Are Builder Grade Cabinets Made Of? A typical builder-grade cabinet is made of an inexpensive wood product, such as particleboard or a cheaper plywood. Many come ready-to-assemble (RTA), meaning they are delivered to you in a flat box to save on shipping costs.
Shaker-Style Cabinets
Known for their simple design and recessed-panel doors, Shaker cabinets have been in style for more than 100 years. Shaker cabinets are popular in farmhouse kitchens, but they also work with a variety of home decor styles.
Cabinets come in five different grades: construction, builders, semi-custom, custom, designer, or luxury grade. We are going to focus on the first three as they are the most common in industrial builds, home building, and remodeling.
Inspect the Finish and Hardware
The finish should be consistent, with no bubbles or ripples. The hardware should also be of good quality, with a smooth finish and no sharp edges. Finally, check to see if the cabinet is made from solid wood or particle board; solid wood will last longer and is more durable.
All Wood cabinets feature an all-plywood construction, and soft close door and drawer hardware is standard. We offer 16 door styles and finishes, with a complete line of accessories. Let us help you save on a brand new kitchen and bath.
What they see (and we all drool over in kitchen envy) are pre-finished, ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets… …the kinds of cabinets iCabinets supplies nationwide. What you may not know is the reason why RTA cabinets are the preferred choice for HGTV and DIY shows on TV (and probably for your kitchen renovation too).
Building materials, from windows and faucets to doors and cabinets, come in four grades. From lowest to highest, they are: 1) builder; 2) quality; 3) custom; and 4) ultra-custom.
Of the three materials, Plywood is the best option for cheap kitchen cabinets. While you can still get nice MDF or particleboard cabinets, we would say to look for plywood. Our least expensive cabinets are plywood boxes with solid wood doors. They are quality construction for a cheap price.
The most widely used kinds for cabinet boxes are constructed from medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, particleboard with melamine and sometimes stainless steel. MDF is a high-grade composite material made from recycled wood fibers and resin.
Use lighter colors.
A light color on the walls and cabinets instantly brightens a space making it look larger and in turn, more expensive. Light colors reflect light and hide a multitude of sins, including those scratches, dings and dents in your old cabinets.
Shaker Doors
The most timeless kitchen cabinet door style is also a staple in transitional kitchen design: the shaker door.
Shaker-style cabinetry is a timeless design that fits any budget, whether it's small or unlimited.
All plywood construction boxes (APC)
Nearly every cabinet manufacture constructs their cabinet boxes using (MDF) Medium-Density Fiberboard or particle board. With KraftMaid Vantage, your cabinet boxes will be significantly more durable, stronger, sturdier and less likely to receive water damage.
Steer clear of stainless steel and chrome hardware. They show fingerprints and water spots and are harder to clean. Oil-rubbed bronze, satin bronze, polished nickel, brushed nickel and white hardware are the cream of the crop as far as easy maintenance goes. Choose the look that best suits the style of your kitchen.
Simple styles of kitchen cabinets, such as traditional Shaker, sleek contemporary or flat panel are far easier to clean and keep clean. Opt for a stain or paint that has a glaze. This fills in any wood grain cracks and corners that attract dust.