How To Build Kitchen Cabinets
August 8, 2011 Leave a Comment
I have worked as a “Kitchen Designer” for Home Depot for a couple of years, and let ME tell YOU that there are many cabinet options on the market that won’t make you break the bank!
First of all, let me introduce you to a product I learned about;
RTA Cabinetry – Ready to assemble, all wood, with a large variety of door styles and wood options to choose from. Try this link to get a look at some of the considerations you need to evaluate.
http://www.rtacabinethub.com/ready-to-assemble-kitchen.html
Prices are based on the type of wood the cabinets are made from, and some of the usual candidates are:
Maple – a medium light color wood, very smooth with an even grain. Many people love the fact that Maples color is consistent, that is because maples mineral absorption is not very visible, however there is some, and it will affect stain absorption.
Ballpark for a 10’x10’ area of RTA maple cabinets – around $2,000 (only the cabinets, not installation)
Oak – a light color wood, well known and loved for its BOLD swirling grain, it is a classic in Americana Style. Very strong, it can have color variations within planks which will affect stain absorption. Many people love this characteristic, feeling it adds a rustic charm.
Ballpark for a 10’x10’ area of RTA Oak cabinets – around $1,500
Hickory – This one is MY VERY FAVORITE! The hardest of the hardwoods, its color variations go from the palest of tans, to the darkest of cocoa browns. With swirling, arched, and sometimes combined patterns, people like me who love the random beauty will frequently opt for a clear or very lightly tinted stain.
Ballpark for a 10’x10’ area of RTA Hickory cabinets – around $ 2,000
Cherry – Mid tone in color, warm, with reddish tints. Cherry richens and darkens over time, and its’ even graining makes it a great choice with a wide and elegant array of colors.
Ballpark for a 10’x10’ area of RTA Cherry cabinets – around $2,000
RTA cabinets are also available at:
Notice I stated only “ballpark” figures. Cabinets are not all the same, and a basic hanging wall cabinet is less costly than a base (on the floor) cabinet, a corner cabinet (wall or floor) and so on.
Another factor to consider in deciding which direction to go with your dream of a new kitchen cabinet project is:
Installation – This is not a project for a beginner. Even an intermediate! Installing cabinets is a precise art. It involves quite a bit of physical strength. Really consider having a professional handle this job. The angles of the home, (they have CHANGED! Homes “settle” into the ground as they age, there is no such thing as a plumb line in an older home)
Want another ballpark? Figure you will spend as much on the installation as you do on your new cabinets.
So, figure for new cabinets in a 10’x10’ space, you will spend about $5,000 if you have a Pro install for you.
More than you want to spend? My next article, “Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets” may be the home run for YOU!
Written by Claudia