Buying and installing cabinets is the most expensive part of kitchen remodeling. So, to keep costs low, you should know which factors affect kitchen cabinet costs so you can choose Timberlake cabinets wisely. So, here are those factors.

Things That Can Drive Up The Cost Of Kitchen Cabinets

Choosing Solid Wood

Kitchen cabinets can be made from various materials, and the most expensive option is solid wood. As wood has many species, the cost may depend on the species you pick, but most or all are more expensive than other cabinet materials.

Solid wood offers unmatched aesthetics and a luxury appeal, but it’s very expensive and also high maintenance. So, if you choose a plywood box with solid wood doors, the cost will be very high. Plus, you will also have to spend time and money caring for solid wood in a humid area such as the kitchen.

To keep the costs low, you can choose these options:

• Excellent durability and value for money: All plywood cabinets (box and doors)
• Slightly less durable and less costly than the above: Plywood box and MDF doors
• Medium-tier durability and low cost: All MDF cabinets
• Very low cost: MDF box and particleboard doors

Frameless Cabinet Construction

If you choose frameless cabinet construction, your kitchen cabinets will cost more than framed cabinets. Frameless cabinets are also known as modern or European style cabinets. They don’t have a visible frame. All you see are cabinet doors and drawers that offer a modern appearance. However, they are difficult to construct, install, and maintain, which makes them costlier.

Another surprising fact, in spite of the higher cost of frameless cabinets, is that they are considered less durable than their framed counterparts. So, if you require affordable and durable cabinets (as long as construction is concerned), pick framed cabinets. They are common in traditional kitchens, but they are also used in contemporary spaces as well. Make sure to choose the right style, color, and finish to complement the overall theme of the kitchen, be it traditional or modern.

Selecting Custom Cabinets

There are three main types of kitchen cabinets with respect to customization: stock, semi-custom, and custom. The cost increases drastically as you go from stock to semi-custom or from semi-custom to custom cabinets.

• Stock cabinets: They are pre-made in standard sizes and configurations. They are with the lowest price tag and are also the fastest to arrive at your doorstep.
• Semi-custom cabinets: They offer a middle ground between stock and custom cabinets. You can change the size, depth, and height of the cabinets. Moreover, they are also made of higher-quality materials like plywood and MDF. But there are still limitations to the customizations.
• Custom cabinets: They are made from scratch to your kitchen’s requirements and the way you want the cabinets to look. They are the costliest types of cabinets.

Getting Full Overlay Cabinet Doors

Full overlay cabinet doors cover the frame of the cabinets completely and make them look like they don’t have a frame or there is a very thin frame visible. They are used for contemporary and transitional kitchens. However, they also cost more than partial overlay cabinets, where the doors cover the frame partially, so a slightly smaller door is used that cuts costs.

Therefore, if you want to save money even if you’re building or remodeling a modern kitchen, partial overlay cabinets are better. But you have to make other smart choices as well, such as choosing plywood or MDF as the material, using framed cabinets, and considering stock or semi-custom cabinets.

Choosing An Expensive Cabinet Door Style

The cabinet door style dictates how the cabinets look overall. Many people splurge on this aspect. However, some other people like a cheaper door style but a costlier and more durable material.

Some costly cabinet door styles are:

• Inset cabinets: Inset cabinet doors are very costly because they demand the entire cabinet construction to be in a certain way. Otherwise, you can’t install them. In this style, the cabinet door sits flush with the frame, creating a clean appearance that is slightly similar to frameless cabinets. However, inset cabinets are still different. They look very rustic and traditional, in comparison to frameless cabinets’ modern aesthetics.
• Glass front and mullion doors: Glass front and mullion doors need a sturdy frame that can support the installed, so they are costly and also delicate, due to the glass.
• Louvered cabinets: They have wood or plywood slats that are angled over one another to create a rustic and detailed look. They require more material and time to assemble.
• Raised panel doors: They have a central panel that is raised and require extra time and material to construct and assemble. Common types are arch and cathedral door styles.

As the design of the cabinet doors has only a little impact on the durability and functionality of cabinets, you can also choose practical and affordable door styles like flat panel or basic shaker style doors. They are very popular yet cost-effective. Take a look at ProCraft cabinets MD for various materials and door styles.

Choosing More Drawers

Many people prefer drawers under the countertops instead of regular cabinets. Although they are more practical in kitchens, they are costlier. According to estimates, kitchen drawers made of the same material, style, and finish as the cabinets may cost 30% to 40% more than cabinets.

If you want to have drawers in place of lower cabinets, you can cut costs on other things like the construction, customizations, finishes, hardware, etc.

Expensive Finishes

Cabinet finishes are of many types, and they have various costs. Some finishes can be very expensive, like acrylic matte finishes, hand-weathered or distressed finishes, lacquer, exotic natural wood veneers, custom-color paint, multi-layer baked urethane paint, wire-brushed wood stains, clear hardwood stains, etc. So, if you choose any of them, the cost of cabinets will spike even though they don’t offer anything other than better looks.

If you want to keep the costs low, you should choose low-cost finishes, such as laminate, thermofoil, basic wood stains, factory-applied stock paint, or paint-ready MDF that you can paint yourself.

Tall Cabinets

If you want to pick tall cabinets or cabinets that go up to the ceiling, they will cost more because you’re paying for more material, design, finish, and installation labor. To keep things affordable, you can just pick from standard heights and widths.

Integrated Appliances

Integrated appliances in kitchens offer a smooth and clean appearance because the appliances look like they are a part of the cabinet design and theme. But they also add more cost to your cabinet installation because you will need more finished material that will be used around the front of the appliances.

Advanced Or High-End Cabinet Hardware

Cabinet hardware can increase costs as well if you pick advanced or premium hardware, such as electric lift systems, premium pull-out pantry systems, advanced corner systems, appliance lift mechanisms, motorized trash bin pull-outs, high-end handles or knobs, etc.

Conclusion

The biggest factors that can drive up the cabinet costs are solid wood, frameless construction, custom cabinets, full overlay cabinets, and premium finishes. For cost-effective cabinets, avoid these features and consult a Timberlake cabinets dealer MD for help.