If you are designing a kitchen or bathroom, cabinetry will be needed. Custom cabinets offer a world of possibilities because of the perfect fit, and ability to match your vision down to the smallest detail. Custom cabinets also provide the option to pick which materials go into your cabinets. MDF and Combi-core plywood can be substituted for Baltic birch. However, there are some reasons why you might not want to choose custom cabinets for your kitchen or bathroom.
1. High End Custom Cabinets Come with a High Cost
Custom cabinets tend to be more expensive than stock or semi-custom cabinets. Usually, the cabinet maker is the one building and installing custom cabinets, making this a highly skilled trade. Stock cabinets are made in a factory with lower quality materials making this a lower skill trade. Custom cabinets also have a longer install time because the actual cabinets need to be scribed to the wall instead of fillers being scribed to the wall in stock cabinetry.
2. Longer Lead Times
Custom cabinets in even the most efficient shops take longer than stocks cabinets. The process includes talking through a vision with a client, measuring the space, drafting a 3D model, getting confirmation on the design, building the cabinets, painting the cabinets, and finally installing the custom cabinets. Custom cabinets can take up to 12 weeks from start to finish. Customers with a tight deadline may want to think about stock cabinets.
3. The Intricacy of the Process
Designing custom cabinets can be a daunting process if you aren’t working with the right company. There are hundreds of decisions to make; inset or frameless, what type of hinges to use, pulls and handles and more. A good custom cabinet company can help you with these decisions and make a lot of the decisions for you. For people who prefer a more hands off approach, stock cabinets may be a better solution.
Although custom cabinets give a client the ability to make a completely unique design with the top of the line materials, it may not be for everyone. Relatively high cost, long lead times, and many decisions to make can cause someone to rethink getting custom cabinets. Stock cabinets offer a quick and affordable solution to a kitchen or bathroom remodel.