Choosing a Kitchen Cabinet Material: A Simple Guide

If you are ready to start a home remodeling project that involves your kitchen cabinets, you have some big choices to make. You will enjoy the project because you can personalize your kitchen while choosing materials that you want. But, before you simply settle on any material, it is important to understand the types of kitchen cabinet materials available. Let’s take a look at them now.

Material 1: Hickory Wood

Hickory wood kitchen cabinets are typically stock cabinets and many people do not choose them when having custom cabinets made. Hickory is a hardwood, which means it will hold up over time and the wood itself is somewhat light to medium in colour with blond hues. This type of cabinet wood can be easily stained as well.

Material 2: Pine Wood

Pine wood is beautiful in the kitchen, but it is not one of the most common choices because it is considered a soft wood. What this means for you and your kitchen is that if something knocks into your kitchen cabinets hard enough, it can dent them. The pine wood comes with natural knots and grains throughout it, which makes it a pretty choice.

Material 3: White Oak and Red Oak

White oak and red oak are two of the most commonly chosen kitchen cabinet materials. You have likely seen one of these in homes and even in businesses. These woods are used for stock and custom cabinetry all of the time. The red oak is medium in colour and has hues of red throughout it. It is inexpensive and durable. White oak is also durable and it is actually a bit stronger than the red oak. The colour of white oak is a bit darker than the red with gold hues instead of red hues.

Material 4: Cherry Wood

If you have seen a kitchen filled with cherry wood, you know how beautiful it can be. Cherry wood is considered a hardwood, which means it is durable and can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. Often referred to as an elegant wood because of the image it creates in your home, this wood is a dark reddish brown in colour and will add flare to any kitchen.

Material 5: Birch Wood

Birch wood is an inexpensive option that is often found in stock cabinets, but can be used for custom cabinets as well. Many people enjoy having birch wood in their kitchen because it can easily be stained or coloured to mimic cherry wood and other more expensive options. If birch wood is not stained, it appears as a lighter coloured wood, but darker than maple. It has golden hues throughout it as well.

When it comes time to redo your kitchen cabinets, it is important that you choose a material that you feel will work best in your home. Before you settle on any one particular material, check to ensure that it is resistant to heat, water, and other factors that may affect it in your kitchen.

If you have an upcoming project to redo your kitchen cabinets, rely on the professionals at Kitchen & Bath.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING KITCHEN CABINET MATERIALS FOR YOUR KITCHEN RENOVATION

There are many factors to consider when shopping for cabinetry for your kitchen renovation. If the task of selecting the right kitchen cabinets materials for your kitchen renovation sounds daunting, that’s because it definitely is, so if you are anything less than 100% confident in your choice, finish and layout, you would do well to consult a design team or interior decorator that can offer a portfolio of work to help you make a decision you will be happy with that won’t destroy your budget.

DETAILS

It is important to perform a little research on the types of materials the cabinets are made of so you can select an option that will meet your requirements. Higher quality cabinets are made with several steps in the process of sanding, sealing and staining, which means they are very labor intensive. Laminate finishes are much cheaper but do not tend to hold up as well. Other small but extremely important details include taking critical measurements and meticulously reviewing the ordering process so as pieces and parts will fit together accurately. Failure to do this could result in re-ordering, which means delays to several steps that must come after the cabinets are installed.

STORAGE

This is another area where the homeowner must consider the functionality of their kitchen and decide how much cabinet space they will need. The difference in price can be quite a bit, so if you are someone who doesn’t have a lot of dishes and gadgets and tends to avoid cooking, you might consider smaller cabinets of less sturdy materials. The family of four that has little ones who like to play in the kitchen will probably benefit from larger cabinets of plywood.

HARDWARE

The homeowner can really spend quite a bit on hardware if they have expensive tastes. Adjustable hardware lets you customize the fit so that they seal just right and soft close drawers have really become the standard. Depending on the amount of cabinets you have, you can expect to spend between $300-500 on hinges alone so make sure you have been to the hardware and fully tested the ones you like.

TRENDS

Over the years trends tend to change quite a bit and the kitchen cabinet materials and styles of home cabinetry are no exception. These days folks typically choose cabinets that extend to the ceiling to maximize storage, and another growing trend is floor-to-ceiling wall style cabinets. Materials have seen a departure from particleboard and a preference for plywood, which is a much more substantial material that holds up to moisture better than chipboard.

PRICE

Here you will need to take a good, hard look at your finances. Everyone would love custom made cabinetry, but the cost is prohibitive to many people so they need to look at all options. Stock cabinets of the most reasonably priced furnishings you can find followed by semi-custom and full custom made cabinets. The more custom the cabinets are the greater the expense and lead time needed to build them. The prices are typically billed per linear foot and range from $60/foot to as much as $1200/foot depending on what you want – better get out the checkbook.

THE SIZE

Do you want a single cabinet or double cabinet? The size of the cabinet should be relative to the size of the kitchen. You should also decide whether you need shelves or drawers.

You should use every space effectively for preservation of its intended use. Do not put too many kitchen cabinets as this will look unappealing and over the top. Consider the symmetry of the entire kitchen space. For large kitchens, consider installing a center island instead of discount kitchen cabinets.

DOOR MOUNTING

Door mounting options include regular lay over where the face of the frame can be seen around the door, full over lay where the doors are pulled closely together to hide the base of the cabinet, and inset where the doors fit flush inside the frame. The choice should be based on space considerations and the rest of the design.

THE SINK

When replacing cabinets under the sink, make sure they are the correct fit. They need to match the colour and design as the countertop as well. If you have an under-mounted sink, it’s in your best interest to choose cabinets that are made out of water-resistant kitchen cabinet materials such as quartz. Many experts recommend choosing the countertop first and then building around it.

CONSULTATION SERVICES

If you don’t have a lot of knowledge or experience with kitchen renovations, it might save you money and time in the long run if you consult with professionals. Let an interior designer come in and look around your kitchen to evaluate your needs. Where should the cabinets be installed? What size should they be? What colour and material? How should they be installed? What about the countertop and sink? What kind of doors should the cabinets have? All of these questions need to be answered before you even begin shopping for kitchen cabinets.

WHAT TO ASK YOUR KITCHEN CABINET MAKER

What wood will you use for the cabinetry?

With strong grains and the ability to stain it anyway, the most obvious choice of solid wood for making kitchen cabinets is oak. But there are options galore. Hickory, Birch, Cherry, Maple, Ash and Pine are other options. There are also exotic woods like wormy chestnut and cypress which are not normally used. Some cabinet makers may also use a variety of kitchen cabinet materials to make the cabinet. The frames maybe made of solid wood but the cabinet boxes may be made of plywood. Ensure that you ask these details. If you are getting custom cabinetry made, then avoid the use of MDF.

Will the wood be checked for moisture content?

Excessive moisture in the wooden cabinetry can cause warping which significantly reduces the lifespan of the cabinets. It also prevents certain finishes and stains from adhering to the wood. Ensure that the cabinet maker checks the wood for its moisture levels.

Will the doors and drawers be outsourced?

Many cabinet makers make the cabinet frames themselves but outsource the doors and drawer fronts. This may not make much of a difference to the end result for some people. Others however, consider this to be a compromise on quality. Mass produced doors and drawer fronts just does not have the same quality or finish as a custom made cabinet. So, if you are extremely choosy about the finish, ask your cabinet maker this beforehand.

What hardware will be used in the cabinets?

The interior hardware used in the cabinets affects the functionality. So ensure that you know what type of hardware is used.

Will it have a warranty and what will be covered?

Most reliable cabinet makers will offer a warranty on their work. Ensure that you have a thorough understanding of this. Get this in writing if need be.

When will the work be completed?

It is important that the cabinet maker gives you an estimated timeframe to complete the work. While a minor extension is acceptable, you should ensure that you stay on track with your time and budget.

Does the price include the cost of installation?

Once again, most respectable cabinetmakers will give you a detailed breakdown of the price quote. If you haven’t received it, then ask whether the quote includes the price of installing the cabinets.

These are some of the common but important questions that will give you information about the type of cabinets that will be made. Once you are satisfied with the answers, you are all set to commence your kitchen remodel project.

WHY WOULD YOU CONSIDER UPDATING OR CHANGING YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS

SPACE ISSUES

You may not have enough space in your current cabinets, updating them could give you the space you need. This also includes a new layout of the cabinets that include things like sliding shelves and spice wracks on the inside of the doors. Drawers with double slides for things like silverware so you only have one drawer in use for that instead of taking up two drawers.

DAMAGE

Damage can occur in several ways, one of the main damages you need to check for annually is water damage that leads to mold. If you find mold it is truly time to update those cabinets before the mold spreads to other parts of your kitchen and causes health issues. Other damages can be that the stain or paint has become thin in spots due to cleaning over the years. Maybe you were moving a piece of furniture or something heavy and bumped into a cabinet making a deep scratch or gouge.

SELLING

If you are planning on selling, updated cabinets can raise the price you will get for your home. After all we all tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen with family and friends. Cooks want the area to be useful for cooking as well with ample storage space. The first area people who are buying truly inspect is the kitchen. They are looking to see – does it have enough storage, is it big enough to cook, bake, and entertain in. The next area they look hard at is the bathroom.

YOUR TASTE HAS CHANGED

The cabinets or even kitchen cabinet materials you chose long ago no longer appeal to you. The cabinets were there when you bought the house and simply are not in your taste. They may be too dark, not decorative enough, or just don’t fit the overall theme of the kitchen since you painted, put new appliances in, changed the countertops etc. then it is time to update your cabinets.

TOTAL KITCHEN REMODEL

You have decided to change the layout of your kitchen entirely which includes moving the cabinets to a different location or adding more cabinets in situations where you don’t have enough cabinets and or countertops to begin with. Now is the time to update the cabinets, especially if you are adding more cabinets, the style you have may not be available anymore.