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Buying
Kitchen Cabinets |
A guide
Buying kitchen cabinets can be a confusing task. There are so many
options various price ranges. It usually takes two or three days
of intensive shopping to understand what’s available.
Generally speaking, with kitchen cabinets you get what you pay
for. This means that higher prices usually translate into better
quality. When you go shopping for kitchen cabinets there are some
things you can do to make sure you are getting a higher grade product.
Open the doors to make sure the joints and hinges are tight. Opening
and closing the doors should be easy if the doors are properly
aligned and the hinges and joints properly installed. Lean on the
cabinet slightly to check for stability, which in the end means
durability.
Look at the doors as well as the entire cabinet surface. All the
exposed edges of plywood or composition board have to be finished,
filled, sanded or edge banded – everything has to look neat.
All exterior nail holes or staple holes must be filled. Look at
the base cabinets (the ones directly above the floor); you want
to have toe space of at least two inches deep and three inches
high.
Open the cabinet and look inside. The shelves should be sturdy
and straight. Put a little pressure on them to make sure they don’t
bend or fall off. Open and close the drawers. They should slide
easily and roll back into place every time. Inspect roll-out trays
and other accessories in the same way.
Look at the finish. Check for discolorations, bubbles, or scratches.
It should look clean and uniform.
Look for a sticker that says it is certified by the KCMA – the
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer Association. They put cabinets through
a battery of tests to determine whether they meet certain basic
standards. If this sticker is displayed you can feel secure that
your cabinet is well built.
In any case, it is always a good idea to consult your designer
or contractor. |
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