Types and Grades of Cabinets
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The main types of cabinets are base, wall, tall, and utility. Base and wall cabinets store dishware, drinkware, pots and pans. Tall cabinets store dry goods. Utility cabinets maximize kitchen space.
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There are three cabinet grades: stock, semi-custom, and custom. Stock cabinets are affordable, pre-made in standard sizes with limited style and finish options. Custom cabinets are expensive with pieces made to your specifications so you can customize style and materials.
Overview of Cabinet Grades
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Quick overview of cabinet grades. Cabinets come in five grades: construction, builders, semi-custom, custom, designer, or luxury. We focus on the first three as they are most common.
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Construction grade cabinets use cheaper materials like MDF or particleboard. Builder grade is the typical stock cabinet made with plywood but constructed quickly for mass production and doesn’t last as long. Semi-custom are the best quality a contractor can buy if not custom building.
Material and Quality Variations
- There are so many cabinet options – materials, door styles, finishes. Grades relate to manufacturing approach. Stock cabinets are pre-sized, basic and economical. Semi-custom fall mid-range in price with better quality construction and size adjustments. Custom cabinets are made-to-order with versatility in style, materials and accessories.
Builder-Grade Cabinets Information
- Builder-grade cabinets, typically made of particle board with plywood backing, would often have doors of particle board with a plastic or wood veneer. They are affordable, mass-produced stock cabinets that don’t last as long. However, semi-custom cabinets are a better quality option a contractor can buy instead of custom-building. They are made with real wood, hardwood plywood or high-density wood products. While size and style options are still limited with semi-custom, the cabinets do allow some adjustments and are mid-range priced with enhanced construction and materials versus stock cabinets. Going local or using a custom cabinetmaker is recommended for sturdy frameless cabinets with quality joinery instead of staples and hot glue.