Since cabinetry is such a large portion of the kitchen budget, how do I evaluate cabinet quality?
The cabinets are the most significant product cost item in the budget; therefore, it is important to spend some time on this topic. There are many factors that determine the quality of a cabinet. Some of these factors are important to everyone, others are important only to the most critical shopper. There is a base level of quality and then there are extras which you will have to evaluate in terms of your budget and your desired results. Box construction: Cabinets are manufactured by two distinct methods. There are European style cabinets (also called “frameless” or “32mm”) and there are “face-frame” cabinets. Traditionally American-made cabinets employ a wood face-frame to which plywood or particleboard sides are attached and doors hinged. These cabinets are open on the top and have a thin back for appearances only. They derive their strength from the frame. A variation on frame construction is the “inset”. This is where the door and drawer is set within the face frame. In “European s
