7 Features of High-Quality Kitchen Cabinets

While stainless steel appliances and custom countertops elevate a kitchen, solid cabinetry is an essential part of a well-updated kitchen. Cheap materials and shoddy construction may save money in the short term, but they result in continual repairs and poor return on investment. To ensure that your kitchen has fine cabinetry, consider these features of high-quality kitchen cabinets.



1. Customization Options

Custom kitchen cabinets account for the unique needs of every home. While pre-built options are often cheaper in the short-term, custom cupboards last longer and require less maintenance and fewer repairs over time.

If fully-customized cabinetry exceeds your budget, consider modified cabinets from a kitchen cabinet designer. Modifications enable customers to manipulate the style, dimensions, and finishings of new cabinetry.

2. Factory Finishes 

Cabinets that are constructed in a factory and shipped to your home arrive completely finished and ready to install. One advantage to this is an extremely durable finish, especially on painted cabinets. The highest quality cabinets feature a baked on conversion varnish that is much more resistant to wear and tear than cabinets that are finished on site.

3. Long-Lasting Warranties 

Look for a lifetime warranty for optimal confidence in cabinet construction quality. Many cabinetry suppliers offer lifetime warranties on their products, ensuring that repairs and replacements come with no out-of-pocket costs even if the quality of construction is questionable.

Many homeowners feel that a short-term guarantee, such as a five-year warranty, is sufficient for those planning to move within the next few years. However, prospective buyers often ask for details on cabinet and appliance warranties. No matter how long you plan to stay in your home, a lifetime warranty for new cabinetry offers the best return on investment.

4. Strong Back Panels

Wooden back panels are an essential part of durable cabinetry. When back panels are incomplete, thin, or nonexistent, cabinets lose the support necessary to ensure long-term quality. Metal rails or “picture frame” rails are common shortcuts that eliminate cost but often lead to collapsing cabinets.

An all-wood back panel provides the sturdiest support for kitchen cupboards. This reinforcement is especially vital when remodeling kitchens, as cutting or drilling into an unsupported back panel can degrade cabinet integrity, adding to renovation expenses.

5. Dovetail Drawer Boxes

Low-quality drawer boxes are common choices for homeowners looking to save some money when updating their kitchens. It can be difficult to discern costly drawers from inexpensive ones without close inspection, making this monetary shortcut seemingly innocuous.

When drawer boxes are joined at the corners by staples or glue, they often fall apart over time. A dovetail pattern, or interlocking pattern, is crucial to creating a long-lasting drawer. The wooden corners add critical durability and stability to standard drawer boxes.

6. Soft-close Hardware 

To the unsuspecting homeowner, kitchen hardware such as hinges and glides contains little variety in style and structure. However, cheap hardware can lead to kitchen catastrophes. Cabinetry with inadequate hinges can cause cupboard doors to hang unevenly, close improperly, or fall off the cabinets entirely. The same is true of cheap drawer glides, which can stick or prevent drawers from moving smoothly.

Steel, soft-close hardware solves this problem by providing sturdier and safer construction. A high-quality kitchen cabinet supplier can help you find the best hardware for your setup.

7. Plywood Construction

Thanks to increased access to materials, kitchen renovations no longer require an all-wood design. Suppliers can now construct particleboard and even plastic cupboards that look remarkably similar to their authentic counterparts.

Cutting corners on cabinet materials, however, increases costs over time. Only natural plywood is built to accommodate the weight of kitchen appliances, exposure to erosive substances, and general wear-and-tear that accompanies regular kitchen use. Opting for an all-plywood construction from the start leads to fewer lifetime repairs and replacements and ensures a greater overall value.

Remodeling a kitchen costs a great deal of time and money. Whether you’re looking to sell your house or renovate your forever home, well-built cabinetry is one of the easiest ways to ensure your new kitchen becomes a worthy investment. For more information on how to create the kitchen of your dreams, contact the experts at Ceramic Tile Center.