What to Know About Kitchen Cabinet Construction
When building or renovating a kitchen, the cabinets are going to take up a large part of the work. Most kitchens have more cabinets than any other items in a kitchen, and being sure you choose the ones with the style, durability, and design right for you should be at the forefront of your mind.
While materials might be the first thing you decide on when it comes to custom cabinets, there are far more things to think of than that. The hardware and level of artisanship also play a part in ensuring your kitchen becomes the thing of dreams.
Even though most people use cabinets every day, that doesn’t mean that they are something people often think about. However, knowing the things to be aware of when it comes to their construction will ensure you make the best decisions for your home.
Why Custom Cabinets Are the Best Choice
As mentioned, materials, hardware, and artisanship are the things that count when choosing a quality cabinet. Even if a cabinet looks great, that doesn’t mean that it can stand up to what custom offerings can. In many cases, even the best pre-fabricated cabinets are going to use materials and processes that lead to a lower-quality item.
Some of the materials to watch out for here are MDF, lightweight pressboard, and inexpensive hinges and slides. Even if a cabinet looks high quality, it’s essential to do some digging to find out if it can really stand up to years of use. Below we’ll look at some of the factors to look at to determine whether you’re looking at quality cabinets or something subpar.
Type of Materials Used
When you break things down to the most basic definition, a cabinet is a wooden box that is connected to the walls and floors of your home. However, that doesn’t mean that the materials used to make them isn’t essential. It’s also worth remembering that the materials used for the box and the door may not always be the same.
Custom cabinets that have the best quality are typically going to have a high-grade plywood box and use a selection of woods for the doors, cabinet face frames, and drawer fronts. Some of the most durable and high-quality woods to choose from include zebrawood, alder, white oak, mahogany, walnut, and maple. Some cabinets are made of completely solid wood.
Construction Options for Custom Cabinets
There are several ways that cabinets can be constructed, and some of them do better with wear and tear or the passing of time better than others. For instance, when you choose pre-fabricated cabinets, they are typically joined together using staples and glue. Both of these things can fall apart quickly and lead to the need for repair or replacement.
When it comes to quality custom cabinets, there are better methods of construction. Dovetail joints are considered one of the best choices when joining boards at right angles, like with drawer boxes. The ends of two boards have V-shaped notches that fit together, and when they are tight, they are incredibly durable and reliable.
Parts of Custom Cabinets and What They Do
While knowing every in and out of cabinets isn’t needed for a renovation or a new home, it can be helpful to understand each component of the cabinet and what it does. This will give you the information you need to decode cabinet data so you know exactly what you are going to get.
Face Frame – The face frame is the front area of the cabinet and is traditionally made of solid hardwood. The purpose of the face frame is to conceal the edges of the unit and provide areas where the cabinet door and its hardware can be installed.
Framing Bead – While custom cabinets are designed to be functional, they also have design accents included on them. Many kitchen cabinets have a framing bead. This is located on the inside edge of the door frame and adds a bit of elegance to the cabinet.
Overlay – The overlay isn’t a specific part of the cabinet, but it is a term that should be known when renovating a kitchen. This refers to how the cabinet’s door sits on the frame. This can be standard with a door slightly larger than the opening, full with much larger openings, or inset, which has a smaller opening.
Rail – The rail is one of the pieces of the frame made of wood. It’s a horizontal selection of wood. Rails are found on both the bottom and the top of a cabinet door.
Stile – The stile is similar to the rail, but it is a vertical piece of wood. Rather than being on the top and bottom of the cabinet door, the stiles are located on the right and left side of them.
There are also hardware items that go into custom cabinets and drawers. Hinges are one of the most important since they let you easily open and close, but they can come in a variety of qualities. The hinges should be made of durable metal, feature soft closures, allow adjustments, and be concealed.
Drawer glides are also crucial since silverware is often heavy, and you want something that can support it. Make sure these can hold a large amount of weight, are made of durable metal, and close softly.
Get Access to the Best Custom Cabinets Near You
Now that you know everything you need to know about cabinet construction, you probably want to know where to get high-quality cabinets. You can find excellent custom cabinets from the professionals at Knotty Nuff Wood. We offer customizable cabinets for kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of your home.
If you’re ready to get started with cabinets that can transform your entire home, all you have to do is get in touch with us. We’d be happy to help you through the journey to create a home that you love every inch of.
Contact Knotty Nuff Wood today with any of your Custom Cabinet and Woodworking needs!