4 Secrets to Buying Cheap Kitchen Cabinets
1. Go Independent
The best way to get cheap kitchen cabinets is to choose an independent cabinet store that doesn’t merely carry brand names. Do you want to pay brand name prices for the same cabinet? Chances are, many independent cabinet stores are can get you a great price, sometimes as little as 20% the price of Kraftsmaid or Mill’s Pride cabinets. You can, many times, haggle at these stores and get close to their wholesale price, so definitely try to get a better deal.
2. Know Your Quality
The main thing to look for is the cabinet box. Although Kraftsmaid offers 100% wood cabinets at an high cost, most cabinets have the wood frame and door, while the rest of the box is 1/2″ plywood (aka “5-ply”). Avoid getting MDF, a type of compressed wood backing for the cabinets, since these can sag after a while.
Some cabinets come from China, but the wood is still top quality because it’s gathered from their respective countries and is shipped to China for manufacturing. Many of these cabinet factories keep up-to-date on the latest innovations by Kraftsmaid, such as soft-close or fully extend-able drawers. Be sure to check them out and see what things they use, such as their new hinges or dove tails.
3. Ask for a Discount
Discount kitchen cabinets are usually shipped in containers and require assembly. The cabinet stores will assemble them before they sell or install them, but some stores will give you a discount if they sell you the cabinet before assembly. An experienced contractor can put these cabinets together.
4. Find These Stores
Look at the classifieds, the Yellow Pages, or a local advertising paper. “The Advertiser” is a popular advertising journal in San Francisco.
If you aren’t sure of the kitchen you want, head over to our gallery to learn about cabinet styles and other accessories you can get.
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Comments
Comment from Alex Png
Time: May 13, 2007, 6:00 am
In Malaysia kitchen cabinet makers are mushrooming everywhere and everyone promises low prices, great finishing and ontime installation. But I’ve been cheated before and it really stings whenever I see a nice kitchen in a home and wistfully think I could have a better kitchen. The previous contractors that did my kitchen up kept on charging me for additional stuff like ducting, plumbing and said some really stupid things like pipes not being properly aligned by the housing developer. What hog wash!
I’ve learnt to rely on word of mouth and if you happen to be in a friend’s house and see a kitchen you like, best to ask for referrals from a friend. Then you’ll get a good referral, also ask about things like pricing and how far your can push the contractor during bargaining. Do ask for freebies and best to qualify if plumbing and ducting for your kitchen hood and hob will incur more charges. Learned my lesson there!
Anyway, if a Malaysian so happens to be reading this blog, I’ll like to recommend the company that made my kitchen cabinet, they’re J.S. Cabinets Industry and located in Gombak, but has a lot of branches all over. They’re pretty honest and workmanship is quite top class. Their web site is http://www.jscabinets.com.my, do check it out!
Comment from Lionel Young
Time: May 14, 2007, 4:50 am
Alex, I definitely agree referrals from friends are a great way to find quality contractors. You can see their work first hand in your friend’s kitchen, and you don’t have to shop around, assuming your friend did their legwork.
Comment from Flora
Time: August 22, 2007, 4:26 pm
I just redid my kitchen and am still searching online about kitchen remodeling. I was excited to find advice that was exactly what I did! I certainly felt smart and at the same time it validated my excitement about my way of getting my new kitchen!
I like independant companies that manufactures in China using top quality wood. Their cabs are all-wood as opposed to ply. The cabs I got have soft close doors that are a pleasure. You get it discounted because you are buying direct unassembled cabs. I had my contractor put them together but I could have done it myself had I been braver.
I spent so much time surfing online until I found this site with top quality and lowest priced cabs. I almost bought cabs that would have made my kitchen cost just about double so I want to pass on my savings and success.
Comment from Lionel Young
Time: August 29, 2007, 8:01 am
Thanks Flora!
The quality has definitely improved regarding kitchen cabinets from China. You can see the craftsmanship improve over these past few years.
I hope you enjoy your new kitchen!
Comment from redtricycle
Time: September 7, 2007, 3:14 pm
the store I went to was pretty upfront about their quality
they had mdf, but those were the cheap brands and it’s just another option if you’re on a budget or if you’re remodeling for a rental
Comment from Best Refrigerators
Time: July 2, 2008, 9:36 pm
Thanks for the tips, I’m redoing my kitchen this summer and will have use these tips.
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