If you’re getting sick of your old, worn-out kitchen cabinets and are currently looking around for new ones, then it’s important to know some of the characteristics that surround the best kitchen cabinets. Not all kitchen cabinet construction is of the same quality and caliber. You want to be spending your hard-earned money on cabinets that are not only functional but that are pleasing to the eye. Keep a keen cabinet-ready eye out for some of the following things when you’re ready to select the best kitchen cabinets that money can buy.
Constructed From Plywood
Kitchen cabinet construction typically consists of particleboard and plywood. The highest caliber cabinet products will have plywood on the sides and back, which will be stable for the entire cabinet delivery and installation. Cabinets are crafted with many layers of wood, and they are designed to be able to endure the weight from a relatively heavy countertop. For the cabinets built from particleboard, the same thing might not be able to be said. Particleboard is a cheaper way to construct cabinets, but it’s not as good as defending against moisture as solid wood. Particleboard is crafted by wood particles being pressed together with glue and then using high temperature to meld it all together.
If you have cabinets that are made from particleboard and begin to notice the shelves sagging a bit, that’s a tell-tale sign that the particleboard is weak.
Soft-Close Hinges
One of the essential parts of any cabinet is the hinges. Without hinges, cabinet doors wouldn’t be able to open. The best types of hinges for kitchen cabinet construction are soft-close hinges. A nice thing about soft-close hinges is that when temperatures fluctuate from season to season, the cabinet doors will contract and expand. There is more movement with soft-close hinges, and many of the highest quality cabinets on the market are built with these hinges installed.
Soft-close hinges have six ways of adjustability: in and out, left and right, and up and down. Most of the other cabinets are crafted with only four-way adjustability on the hinges. As a result, sometimes the doors may become loose or stiff.
Back Panels At Full Height
The overall strength of the best kitchen cabinets relies primarily on how the back of them is constructed. You’ll notice that kitchen cabinets that are built with plywood for the entire back panel are typically the sturdiest and strongest cabinets. Sometimes cabinet manufacturers will use what is known as picture frame construction. This method consists of using metal hang rails and brackets. In comparison to plywood constructed cabinets, they are a lot cheaper.
One downside of these cheaper picture frame cabinets is that there is a possibility they will fall. Investing in cabinets with a full plywood build is the way to go to prevent such things from happening.
Interior Of The Cabinets
When looking at the overall construction of cabinets, their interior is just as important as the exterior because they have to hold all of the objects you store inside them. You’ll want a melamine interior that is simple to clean but also strong enough to prevent any type of stains from occurring for the duration of time that the cabinets are in place. Melamine for cabinets is available in a wide array of different colors and can be applied to particleboard fairly easily. Melamine is a resistant stain against things like water and other kitchen solvents that are used on it.
Cabinet Face Frames
The two different variations of cabinets on the market are frameless and framed cabinets. With framed cabinets, the hardware is attached to the front of the cabinet. The hardware included will be the glides on the drawer and the hinges on the door. With frameless cabinets, the doors on the cabinets are fixed in place on the cabinet box’s sides.
Framed Cabinets
The hardware on framed cabinets is in place so that they will be stronger and more durable over time. Throughout the delivery and installation process, the hardware is what makes them more stable. The three different types of framed cabinetry are inset, partial overlay, and full overlay. All of the three different types are very sturdy and will last you for years to come.
Frameless Cabinets
Frameless cabinets don’t have a face from on the front. There is typically a full overlay that will expose around 1/8 of an inch surrounding the doors of the cabinet and fronts of the drawers. In comparison to the framed cabinets, frameless cabinets will have thicker side panels. Frameless cabinets come with higher installation costs because if they are not appropriately placed in any way, the appearance can be negatively reduced.
Cabinet I-Beam
The I-beam in kitchen cabinet construction is what supports the upper part of base cabinets. The I-beam creates durability in cabinets, and they are responsible for ensuring the cabinet will keep its shaping throughout the shipping and installation process. A couple of other options, such as triangular corner gussets or braces, can be used instead of I-beams, but they don’t lend the same amount of durability that I-beams do. Over time, they have a tendency to buckle out of shape because of moisture. Sometimes people will choose these other options because they are a little cheaper.
Customization With Cabinets
When you’re looking for the best kitchen cabinets, customization is one of the main things people consider. People have a certain taste and style in what they envision for their home, and if they aren’t able to customize cabinets in a way that will help fulfill their vision, they won’t be satisfied. If you are seeking high kitchen cabinets with unique design features, being able to modify them to just how you want is what will secure a purchase. It’s important to note that custom-made cabinets will be more expensive than pre-built ones.
When you’re ready to purchase your next kitchen cabinets, keep all of these factors in mind to prevent any future disappointment. Cabinets are an expensive investment that you will be opening and closing every day, so it’s good to ensure your due diligence throughout the planning process to be content with your decision once they are all installed and ready to be used.
