How to Find the Best Kitchen Cabinetry Deals Online
Finding the best quality kitchen cabinets online for the best price
Are you looking for cabinets for your home and just don't know which cabinets are the best suited for your home and budget?
Let's face it cabinetry especially kitchen cabinets can be a major expense and undertaking. The first place to start is setting a budget for what you want or can afford for your cabinets. And deciding whether you will install the cabinets or let someone else do it for you will help determine your budget.
Next find a company brand that is KCMA (Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association)certified. Cabinet manufacturers that display the bona- fided KCMA certification seal on their cabinets are recognized in the marketplace as having a quality product. These cabinets are able to perform after a rigorous list of tests that reflect years of average household use. Cabinet manufacturers that belong to this association are in the USA and Canada.
Another decision that will affect how much money you spend on your cabinetry is what type of cabinets you want. They are referred to as stock, semi-custom and custom.
Stock cabinets are found at your local store and are ready for you to take home with you that day.
Semi-custom cabinets are cabinets that can be modified to fit your needs and taste.
Custom cabinets are normally purchased through a local dealer that comes out and measures the areas for the cabinets and builds them according to your specifications.
Now the wood that is used for cabinets varies a great deal and may make your choice more difficult if you don't know the difference in species.
Birch is the least expensive choice for cabinet materials and is most commonly used for stock cabinets. It is usually quite pale and may vary as far as being porous. Therefore, if you chose stain for it the color may not be uniform.
Alder is a recent addition to cabinet material that has a little grain and is very pale and takes stains easily.
Cherry wood is a very smooth, uniform grain that can be stained many different colors and looks elegant.
Ebony wood is almost black with a distinct black grain giving an exotic look. It is quite expensive.
Hickory wood is very hard wood that holds up good. It's straight grain goes with a country kitchen.
Maple wood comes in as number one choice for many kitchen cabinets at this time. Its smooth, fine grain really takes color good.
Mahogany fits in with formal kitchens and is becoming popular with its dark, straight grain.
Oak wood has been the most popular choice for cabinets which is very durable. It has a coarse texture that is more evident with a dark stain and is lessened with lighter stain colors. It doesn't expand as much as other woods when exposed to humidity.
Pine wood for cabinets is a less expensive choice. It accepts stain well and is light-colored with a distinct grain. It may come with a few character knots that is less suited to formal kitchens.
Walnut wood is very dark but not as dark as ebony with an open grain that is very apparent. Walnut is available for custom cabinet makers or can be applied on unfinished cabinets by home owners.
Cabinet Door Choices:
Slab - most common look where the door is smooth and covers the complete front.
Raised panel - the wood frame is glued over the top of the door.
Recessed panel - the panel is fitted behind the frame portion of the door and is more of a country style.
One word of caution, if you purchase cabinets and other products that are built outside the USA, such as China there could be lead in the paint and other health related risk concerns with these products. Some countries don't enforce strict guidelines for paint and other materials used during the manufacturing process as the USA.