Page 5 - Cabinetry-Comparison

Learn more about quality construction.
What to watch out for
Cabinetry from Shop A
Cabinetry from Shop B
Face Frames Solid 3/4" hardwood joined with concealed screws and glue. Rails and stiles are
dadoed to receive end panels, tops and bottoms.
How are the face frames attached to the cabinet box? Some cabinetmakers cut costs by just nailing the face frame to the side panels, instead of using durable, time tested woodwork joinery.
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End Panels
Options Options Options
3/4" Hardwood Plywood Veneer Core- Unfinished
3/4" Hardwood Plywood Veneer Core– Finished Furniture End
3/4" Hardwood Plywood Veneer Core– Flush* & Finished
3/4" Hardwood Plywood Veneer Core- Finished
Particle board isn’t very strong, and it doesn’t take finish evenly.
Some cabinetmakers create cabinet
exteriors with a mix of wood and melamine components. Be aware that melamine doesn’t age like the wood components will, and eventually your kitchen will be two different colors.
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Tops 1/2" Hardwood Plywood Veneer Core Bottoms 1/2" Hardwood Plywood Veneer Core
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Back Panels
Options Options Options
Nominal 1/4" Hardwood Plywood 3/8" Beaded Back
3/4" Flush Back
3/4" Finished Paneled Back
Some cabinetmakers cut costs by eliminating the back panel. When you open the cabinet door, you will see the wall.
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Interiors
Options Options
Natural Birch Melamine Stained Matching Veneer Natural Maple Veneer
Unfinished particle board will absorb moisture and bubble.
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Shelves Base Shelves
Options
Wall Shelves
3/4" thick Hardwood Plywood
Two-thirds depth, adjustable Full depth, adjustable
Full depth, adjustable
Shelves that are only 5/8" thick are likely to bow.
Shelves that are not adjustable will limit how you can arrange the contents of your cabinets.
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This is the best drawer in the industry! This is the best roll tray in the industry!
Drawers
Options
Roll Trays
Options
Glides
4-sided box, 5/8” hardwood, dovetail joinery Walnut drawer box
4-sided box, 5/8” hardwood, dovetail joinery Walnut roll tray
Full extension (you can reach everything in the drawer)
Undermount (they are concealed, they won’t collect debris, and the drawer box can be wider)
Soft close (no more chipped dishes) is STANDARD
Some cabinetmakers cut costs by building their drawers with particle board or soft wood. They pin the drawer sides to the front and back. A drawer made with these materials and the pinning method WILL NOT stand up to the daily abuse kitchens drawers are put through. Insist on rugged material and dovetail joinery. Some cabinetmakers cut costs by not protecting the glides from the finish
process, so the glides are speckled with
the cabinet color.
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Hinges Six-way adjustable
Soft close is STANDARD
Cabinetry will shrink and expand with the changing seasons. If you can’t adjust your hinges to accommodate seasonal changes, your doors won’t close properly.
Soft close doors close themselves quietly. Combined with soft close glides on drawers, it reduces the noise in a kitchen, where most household action takes place.
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* Why would you want flush ends? When the side of the cabinet is visible, designers specify “flush” for a smooth finished appearance. Flush ends also make it easy to correctly install moulding. How are flush ends created? StarMark Cabinetry builds flush ends by manufacturing the side panel to be flush with the face frame. Some cabinetmakers don’t have the skill to create smooth joinery between the face frame and the end panel.