Types of Kitchen Cabinets

When it comes to something like kitchen cabinets, it can be a complex project and pretty time consuming if you don’t do your homework first before you start buying. You need to understand the four basic types, the different kinds, the different grades and of course – materials! If you are getting new cabinets and you want someone to do your homework for you, read below for more information so you can make a more informed decision that works for you, your home and of course your wallet! And if you have read this article and are still confused you can always contact a kitchen remodeling contractor in NJ. New Jersey kitchen contractors are experts at cabinet design and can answer all of your kitchen design questions.

Different Types of Cabinets

The four different kinds of cabinets are:

Base – These cabinets tend to be 24 inches deep and 36 inches tall. These are the most basic and commonly used cabinets, but they can be used in combination with the other options below. The depth of these cabinets can be increased to 27 inches, but these are for custom and semi custom options. These also have a toe kick – the little piece of wood that runs along the bottom of the cabinets, along the floor. These also tend to be 4 inches.

Wall – The upper cabinets on these tend to be around 12 inches deep. But you can increase these to 17 inches if you get them custom made or semi custom made.

Tall Cabinets – These are really quite tall – about 83.5 inches tall to be precise. These will serve you well when it comes to things like storage space, floor to ceiling storage, a broom closet, a pantry and more.

Specialty Units – These are going to be the option you will want if you want to maximize the space you have and do it in an efficient manner because these cabinets will also include some of those creature comforts such as corner cabinets, sinks, cook tops, hutches, and more. These are great if you have a smaller kitchen but you still want all of your main features you would expect tot see in a kitchen.

Quality grades For Cabinets

When a company makes cabinets they tend to put them into one of four categories or grades. It’s important that when you are picking out cabinets, that you first decide on your budget because this is going to be the main criteria point that is either going to open up options for you, or dwindle those options down to ones you can afford. It’s also important to remember that just because something is affordable or inexpensive, doesn’t automatically mean its going to be bad quality. Many of the “inexpensive” options out there today are of sound quality, are durable, built well and they look pretty amazing. So don’t just knock one off of your list because you have more to spend and think thousands of dollars put into a cabinet automatically make it better than something more inexpensive. The four grades of cabinets are going to be under one of these:

RTA or Ready to Assemble: These can be bought from those home improvement store chains and they are placed in boxes. These are quite easy to build and you can do it all by yourself without hiring someone.

Stock: Like anything else that is considered stock, these are pre-sized and pre-made, the most basic options and features are available. These are going to be mass produced so they are going to all look the same. Sizes cannot be altered either, so they can only be bought as is. These are very inexpensive and most of the time they are created using particle board with wood laminates. But, you can

find stock cabinets that are made from real wood, you just have to look around. Either way, these cabinets, real wood, another material or laminate and particleboard still cannot be re-sized. They are sold as is.

Semi-Custom Cabinets

These will give you a broader selection, in styles, materials and sizes. Generally speaking there are those default sizes, materials and styles, but many of the models will have various materials, colors and styles to choose from and then you can adjust them in terms of sizes where necessary. They allow you to have some changes, but not a lot. For that you would need the next option:

Custom Cabinets

These are essentially 100% custom. If you want light wood painted lime green with 37 inches in height and 2 deep, you can have it. If you want steel cabinets, wood, PVC, etc you can have it. You can choose everything from style, colors, finishes, materials and of course accessories. These custom cabinets allow you to have a made to order product that suits your needs, your style and the personality of your home. They will allow you to create a one of a kind space that no one else in the world has.