A Guide to Kitchen Cabinets

The Basics Of New Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are often obtainable in limited colors and sizes and require the client to be responsible for assembly.

Stock

Kitchen cabinets come in standard dimensions, often in three-inch increments, and in chosen door colors and styles. Cataloged before being put up for sale, cabinets of this kind can often be bought off the shelf or just within a few days and more often than not, considered as the most practically priced cabinets that are put together by companies. Kitchen cabinets usually come with accessories that are available for installation in the job site.

Built-to-Order/Semi-Custom

Kitchen cabinetries are manufactured in a wide array of sizes, styles, and finishes that are considered standard. Each kitchen is semi-custom made or built-to-order within the accepted specifications and comes with optional adjustments and/or a variety of factory fixed accessories for modifying the kitchen.

Custom

Cabinets are built to particular and requested measurements. Cabinets that are considered customized usually have an extensive time for production, as well as a wide assortment of construction and pricing standards.

Types of Cabinet Construction

Kitchen cabinets may be framed or frameless. The first type refers to boxes with a frame around the hedges in front, as well as hinges attached to the frame and door. The second type, on the other hand, has no frames at all. The hinges are also attached to the door and the end or side panels.

Types of Cabinet Doors

Cabinet doors come in different shapes: recessed panel, raised panel, routed, and slab. Differences are because of the various ways by which the panel was placed in the door frame or strengthened to retain stability of dimensions at times when there are changes in levels of humidity.

Recessed panel doors are often with picture frames. They also have mortise or miter and tenon joints. Flat panels are secured inside the frames. Again, panels can be plain or ornate.

Raised panel doors have frames that are made with various boards held in place. The raised or elevated panel is constructed usually out of several pieces of lumber that are put together by means of adhesive, cut with proper dimensions and then, shaped with a desired profile. These elevated panels may also have thin wooden coatings held fast to plywood or another material.

Routed doors are made of medium density fiberboard or some kind of material shaped or routed to create a facade of raised or recessed panels covered or painted with the maker's choice of lamination.

Slab doors are flat with no recessed or raised profile. A wooden slab door is usually made of a number of pieces of solid lumber put together by means of adhesive, then, cut to a particular dimension. Laminated ones are constructed out of a one of a kind material, then, laminated. Doors of the slab type are often plain edged or highly detailed.

With some background information on which type of kitchen cabinets are available in the market, you will be on your way to making an informed decision.