The differences between solid wood custom cabinets and cheaper cabinet alternatives are striking. However, many homeowners have never experienced true custom cabinets. Consequently, they may be unaware of the huge impact that upgraded cabinetry can have on the look, functionality, and value of a home.
The cabinetry often serves as the primary determinant of the style, quality, and budget of a remodel, particularly in a kitchen. Cabinets deliver the “Wow!” factor and clearly differentiate a stunning custom remodel from an average or below-average project. A contractor’s cabinet knowledge and capabilities likely indicate his or her approach to the entire remodeling effort. Therefore, if you’re considering a major remodel, here are a few helpful things to know about custom cabinets.
Cabinets Designed Just for Your Home
Many contractors use the term “custom” far too loosely. Custom should mean, and you should expect, cabinets designed with only one house in mind – yours. However, cabinet companies produce pre-fab or semi-customized cabinets in high volume, with predetermined options for dimensions. Installers must use fillers and spacers to make the cabinets appear to fit your home. These gimmicks actually waste space and create awkward-looking gaps between cabinet sections.
In contrast, skilled craftsmen measure custom cabinets specifically for your home prior to construction. Expert cabinet designers first listen carefully to your storage capacity and accessibility needs. For a kitchen remodel, they will design cabinets to accommodate your preferred appliances and various kitchen goods. The cabinets in a bathroom remodel must allow space for the chosen sinks and faucets as well as linens and other personal effects. Experienced cabinet designers optimize every inch of space for functionality. Well-designed custom cabinets feature symmetry for aesthetic appeal. Fillers and spacers are not necessary. And, you have a wide array of choices for wood species, cabinet style, decorative trim, and stain or paint color.
Special Features of Custom Cabinetry
Custom cabinets offer numerous special features. Pre-fab or semi-custom cabinets may offer some of the same features. However, size and placement options will be limited.
One of the most popular cabinet features in a kitchen remodel is a pantry cabinet with pullout drawers. Pantry cabinets with solid wood custom doors are more attractive than traditional walk-in pantry closets. Perhaps more importantly, they offer greater storage capacity when you eliminate the framing and drywall space associated with pantry closets. Pullout drawers typically have a depth of 21″ compared to pantry closet shelves that are 12-16″ deep. You can find stored items more easily when rolling out the drawers and looking down upon them compared to shifting things around on fixed shelves.
Other custom cabinetry features that homeowners love include soft-close drawer guides, adjustable shelves and vertical shelves. Lower corner cabinets with bi-fold doors eliminate dead space. Upper corner cabinets on a 45-degree angle improve storage capacity and accessibility. Pullout trash cans and pullout spice racks are also very popular elements of modern custom cabinetry for the same reasons.
Quality Craftsmanship and Materials
Highly skilled carpenters build top-quality custom cabinets with precise computerized machines using solid wood. Pre-fab cabinets commonly utilize cheap wood substitutes, such as MDF (medium-density fibreboard), particleboard or melamine. These materials simply do not have the same beauty or durability as real wood and cannot be refinished in the future. In other words, as with many things in life, you get what you pay for.
Solid wood custom cabinets are stunning and fit the designated space perfectly. Master cabinet builders are true artists who take great pride in their craft. They work closely with designers to develop unique cabinet solutions for each homeowner. These cabinet experts carefully review manufacturer specifications for selected appliances and hardware. They ensure all cabinet doors and drawers can open fully without hitting something. Every last detail is checked prior to construction to avoid unwanted surprises.
Highly Skilled Cabinet Finishing
Custom cabinet makers stain and paint cabinets in a controlled manufacturing environment with specialized equipment. Proper custom cabinet finishing requires the execution of numerous steps under the right conditions. The skilled craftsmen performing those steps must possess advanced knowledge of various wood species, primers, stains, and paints. Their expertise produces a smooth, consistent cabinet finish. Brush marks, dust particles, and other imperfections should not be visible. The superior finish quality resembles that of high-end furniture pieces. The finish distinguishes custom cabinets from cheaper alternatives as much as any other feature.
Improved Home Value
Custom cabinets not only increase the visual appeal and personalized functionality of your home but likely its value as well. A home with customized solid wood cabinets stands out amongst neighborhood comparables with pre-fab or builder-grade cabinets. For most home buyers, custom cabinetry represents a major upgrade compared to their current residence. The beauty, maximized storage and durability are easily recognizable, so they typically will pay up for those benefits. So, you can not only enjoy the benefits of customized cabinets for yourself for many years but also reasonably expect to recoup a meaningful share of the investment down the road.
Consult with the TriFection Experts
At TriFection, we have a full team of expert custom cabinet designers, builders, finishers, and installers. We are one of the few general contractors who design and build custom cabinets in-house. Our cabinet production facility is located in the Spring Branch area of Houston. And, for all of our remodeling projects, we incorporate only the best-quality cabinetry and nothing less.
We begin our consultation effort by listening carefully to the homeowner’s objectives for cabinet style, functionality, and budget. We thoughtfully develop creative solutions, which we illustrate for clients with advanced computer renderings and elevations. Our team ultimately will deliver custom cabinets perfectly designed to meet all of your cooking, entertainment, and storage needs. Contact TriFection today at 281-548-2436 and learn how we can transform your home!
