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Six Things to Know
When Buying Cabinets
A List of Options to Consider when Buying
Kitchen Cabinets
By: Mark J. Donovan
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Kitchen cabinets are hugely expensive however they are a must in every kitchen.
There’s no getting around the fact that kitchen cabinets can make or break a
kitchen remodeling project, both in aesthetics and budget. Consequently when
buying kitchen cabinets there are a number of things you should consider in your
cabinet selection process to ensure you’re buying kitchen cabinets that truly
meet all your needs. Top considerations when buying cabinets include
refacing/replacing types, cabinet styles, finishes, and more. |
Summarized below is a list of the key items to think
about when buying cabinets.
Replacing or Refacing Kitchen Cabinets
When planning your kitchen remodel you need to determine
early on if you want to replace or reface the kitchen
cabinets. Replacing the cabinets outright is the most
expensive route, but it is the route most homeowners choose.
Refacing kitchen cabinets, on the other hand, can save you
some serious money. Refacing kitchen cabinets involves
leaving the kitchen cabinet frames in place, however
replacing all of the doors and drawers, along with their
associated hardware. In addition, veneers are also often
applied to the exterior cabinet frame surfaces.
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Framed or Frameless Faced Kitchen Cabinet Styles
Next you need to decide on whether to go with framed or
frameless face kitchen cabinets. The traditional kitchen
cabinet that most of us in the United States are familiar
with has a faced frame. With a faced frame cabinet, a frame
made out of solid wood is attached to the front of the
cabinet box. Cabinet doors are then made, and attached to
the front cabinet face, such that the solid wood face has an
exposed reveal.
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Frameless faced kitchen cabinets, typically seen in Europe,
have larger doors that attach to the sides of the cabinet
box. When closed the cabinet doors show no wood reveal from
the front view of the cabinet. The advantages of frameless
faced kitchen cabinets are that they are cheaper to build
and the openings into the cabinets are larger.
Wood Species
Another area of major concern when buying cabinets is what
species of wood to use. Pine and other soft woods can ding
easily, and after only a few years the cabinets can look
pretty beat up. Oak, Cherry, Maple and Ash cabinets on the
other hand are very hard however they are much more
expensive than Pine cabinets. Each type of wood species
stains differently, and each has its own unique natural
color, so make sure when shopping for cabinets to look at
the various color tones for each wood species. |
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Painted versus Stained Cabinets
If you buy hardwood cabinets then you should stain them. One
of the key reasons for buying hardwood cabinets, besides the
fact that they are very durable, is that their natural wood
provides an aesthetic beauty to the kitchen or room that
they are installed in. If on the other hand you’re using a
softer wood, such as Pine or Poplar, then you may indeed
want to paint the cabinets. The paint itself can help to
protect the wood from damage.
Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
When buying cabinets, it’s also important that you
choose quality kitchen cabinet hardware. Cabinet
hardware includes items such as door knobs, hinges,
and slide rails. Kitchen cabinet hardware takes a
beating just from the high volume of use they receive
over time. Also, cheap cabinet hardware can lead to
drawers not opening smoothly, which can lead to drawer
breakage and simple frustration trying to open and
close the drawers. |
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Kitchen Appliance Panels
Finally, when buying custom cabinets you can often order
front wood panel veneers to apply over your kitchen
appliances front surfaces. Applying wood panels over the
kitchen appliances can help to provide a beautiful and
uniform cabinet look in the kitchen. Ask the appliance store
salesperson whether or not wood veneer panels can indeed be
attached to the kitchen appliances you’re considering
purchasing and if so consider this cabinet option.
For more help on remodeling your kitchen, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Kitchen
Remodeling Bid Sheet.
The
Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet
will help ensure that your kitchen remodeling project goes smoothly and you get
the finished kitchen you are
looking for. In addition, it will help to ensure that your remodeled kitchen will be accomplished on time and on budget.
How to Finance your Kitchen Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related information on Kitchen Remodeling
Additional Kitchen Design Resources
Kitchen Faucets and Appliances from Amazon.com
Kitchen Remodeling Price Quotes For FREE,
No Obligation!
Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote
on kitchen remodeling from one of our prescreened and licensed kitchen
remodeling contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to
continue once you receive your kitchen remodeling price estimate.
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