Cabinet Basics
Determining Quality - Part 1


When it comes time purchase kitchen or bath cabinets, resist the urge to buy cabinetry based solely on the appearance of the cabinet door.

A cabinet, no matter how expensive or economical, is just a box ... and the quality of the cabinet lies in the construction of the box, not the door.

When it comes to cabinetry, you usually get what you pay for. High-end cabinets are nearly always high quality, low cost cabinets are not.

Most cabinet manufacturers offer several different levels of cabinet prices based on quality. No matter what your budget, purchase the highest quality cabinets you can afford.

Remember: the terms stock, semi-custom & custom refer to production methods only, and are not indicative of quality.

Kitchen storage is usually composed of a series of individual boxes, joined together side-by-side. Boxes that sit on the floor (base cabinets) are covered with a counter top, and may have all drawers, doors, shelves, pull-outs or a combination of these. Sink bases almost always have doors, but no shelves or drawers, leaving the interior space open for the sink and plumbing.

Boxes that hang on the wall, are called wall cabinets, and offer storage above counter tops and appliances. Most contain shelves, and some may hold drawers or other specialty accessories. Full-height (floor to ceiling) cabinets provide tall storage.

Support Panels
The panels (sides) that make up the box, must have enough strength and structural integrity to keep the box from falling apart. In the base cabinet, the side panels support the full weight of the cabinet on the floor in framed cabinets. Frameless cabinets sit on a separate plinth (base) to raise them off the floor.

Wall cabinet side panels form the shape of the box but it is the back and nail rail that support the majority of the weight of the cabinet.

It may surprise you to learn that solid wood is rarely used for cabinet panels. This is because solid wood tends to warp when moisture levels change frequently, as is the case in kitchens and bathrooms.

Engineered wood, particle board, furniture-grade flakeboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood are more stable than solid wood, and are used in the majority of cabinets produced today.

All have excellent reputations for durability and screw-holding power, particularly plywood. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) can be formed into door and drawer heads and other decorative features. Furniture-grade flakeboard offers a stronger alternative than the less expensive particleboard. All will provide years of satisfactory service, provided they have been properly installed.

Today's particle board is manufactured to be high density, low in formaldehyde and can be used for cabinet interiors as long as all exposed parts are covered (with melamine, vinyl, veneer, etc.) Furniture-grade flakeboard offers a stronger alternative than particleboard, which you'll pay the least for. Cabinets with uncovered particle board interiors are more easily damaged before installation, and so must be handled more carefully.

The thickness of the material chosen will affect the cost and the quality of the cabinet and will vary from 3/8" to 3/4". To prevent bowing or sagging in wider cabinets, 3/4" (or thicker) shelving is used. Light colored interiors make items inside easy to see.

In many cases, the cabinet box is constructed largely of vinyl-coated particleboard. This method has the advantage of being economical, but also very rigid and not subject to warping or splitting with age, but if the resin used in the manufacturing process is not water-resistant, then prolonged exposure to humidity and moisture can cause it to fail. It's important to keep it clean and dry and to repair any plumbing leaks immediately should they occur.

Side Panels
The side panels should be at least 1/2" thick, and may be up to 3/4" thick. A panel thinner than 1/2" should raise serious questions about the quality of the cabinet.

The finished cabinet will have a covering of laminate, melamine, vinyl, thermofoil, paint, polyester, or wood veneer applied to both side panels. (see: Finish Materials for detailed information.)

Top / Bottom Panels
Not every cabinet uses both top and bottom panels. Wall cabinets use both, base cabinets do not. Base cabinets rarely have a top panel, since a counter top is generally used on top of the cabinet. Face-frame cabinets rarely have an outside top panel.

Top and bottom panels are usually constructed from the same material and thickness as the side panels. The side facing the inside of the cabinet will match that of the side panels, but the exterior can be finished using a lesser material because it won't be seen.

Back Panels
Back panels give the entire cabinet box extra strength and stability, ensuring the squareness of the cabinet.

They also cover the wall in the back of cabinets, preventing small items from slipping behind the cabinet. The back panel may be set into a rabbet or a dado to ensure stability. Glue and mechanical fasteners are employed to secure the panel in place.

Some cabinets omit the back panel, others may have a back panel that ends several inches from the top of the cabinet. Typically, the back panels on face-framed cabinets are thinner than the side panels, usually 1/4" thick.

Toekick Board
The toekick is a recessed area at the front of the cabinet, near the floor. This allows person to stand close to the work counter.

The toeboard, or toekick cover, is a piece of particleboard or plywood that is attached between the side panels along the front of the cabinet. The toeboard adds support to the cabinet floor, as well as help mouse proof the cabinet.

This area of the cabinet is meant to be covered after the cabinets are installed. The toekick board is added after the flooring in laid. It may be painted a dark color or may be a matching woodgrain. A long strip of cabinet matching material applied in this area will give the individual cabinets a seamless, unified look.

The next area to look for quality is the construction style.

See Also:

An Introduction to Cabinetry Stock, Semi-Custom, Custom Cabinet Quality - Part 1 Quality Cabinetry - Part 2 Cabinet Door Styles - Part 1 Cabinet Door Specialty Styles Cabinet Door Types Cabinet Hardware		Solid Wood Cabinetry Cabinet Materials/Finishes Engineered Wood Cabinet Wood Finishes Cabinet Basics - Wood Veneer Bathroom Vanities
related pages: Cabinet Allowances, Budgets, Costs Kitchen Allowances, Budgets, Costs - Part 1 Kitchen Allowances, Budgets, Costs - Part 2

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