the Cabinet Joint.com
the Cabinet Authority.com
But these two sell Conestoga cabinets.

Good service, but "eh" cabinets: Lilyann Cabinets

I've been ordering some preliminary samples from thecabinetauthority.com and find their finishes to be really nice. The painted finishes seem especially well done. Also, find Dave to be really responsive to requests and emails. I've narrowed it down to them or a local place that sells Shiloh cabs. Just depends on the price.

They are Chinese made and with all of the questions that go into that like the amount of lead in the finish and formaldehyde in the plywood. I wouldn't touch them with a 20 foot pole.

To answer the second part of your question, I used Scherr's, and found them to be very high quality. I specced 3/4" plywood, or you can get furniture board. They are fully custom.

Here is a link that might be useful: Scherr's door and RTA cabs

I don't think thecabinetauthority stuff is chinese, is it?

I think lwo was referring to the OP's www.thertastore.com reference re Chinese made. I've linked to Conestoga's website, which we used and with which we are quite pleased.

If you enter the following into your Google Search bar, you should find some more information/threads.

site:ths.gardenweb.com conestoga cabinets

This is a great way to search the garden web forums, so if you haven't already, try:

site:ths.gardenweb.com RTA cabinet

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Conestoga Wood

Conestoga's main manufacturing facility is located in Pennsylvania.

We're putting together our RTA cabinets from Barker in Oregon -- quite happy; they're well made, go together easily, everything is just right. They're prefinished maple plywood, strong and pretty. Barker will prefinish the wood doors (no stain), but don't paint. However, it's likely you could find a shop near you to get a 'professional' paint job. We're having a local person stain and finish our doors etc.; the final cost will still be very affordable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Barker RTA cabinets

We're putting together our RTA cabinets from Barker in Oregon -- quite happy; they're well made, go together easily, everything is just right. They're prefinished maple plywood, strong and pretty. Barker will prefinish the wood doors (no stain), but don't paint. However, it's likely you could find a shop near you to get a 'professional' paint job. We're having a local person stain and finish our doors etc.; the final cost will still be very affordable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Barker RTA cabinets

islandlife, I'd love to see your cabinets! Pictures? I'm considered Barkers vs. Scherrs.

As far as I know Conestoga makes DOORS, not cabinets.
Why RTA? Price?
The ones we sell I wouldn't put in my house. There is already too much stuff coming across on a big boat. Thanks so much Sam, you greedy $&%#!

We just received our cabinets are Conestoga on Monday, We got the full cabinet (boxes and doors) from them. great quality and price.

I'm just curious what the price difference is between RTA and semi custom or stock cabinetry. For those who have bought RTA, did you price your plan at a cabinet shop? I would love to know more about why people go this way. Thanks

We got quotes from home depot and Lowes. the home depot quote was 6500 for Martha Stewert Cabinets (which I haven't heard great things about but look great), and 9000 for cabinets at Lowes for I think Shenandoah.

By going through Conestoga I ended up getting plywood which is an upgrade, and blum hardware comes with all cabinets. they are a better quality compared to other cabinets I have seen. I also went with them because I got inset cabinets and there was no 10% upcharge.

The downside is you have to put the cabinets together, but once you know how its really easy. Really easy. Also we saved nearly 2K by painting them ourselves.

Heatherash8210, curious what did you end up paying for Conestoga? If you don't want to at least let us know if they were less then you quotes or somewhere in between. Thanks

Mamadada: I can give you one data point. My cabs (from Scherr's) were fully customized, down to the 1/16". I priced it against frameless custom cabinets from Crystal. Scherr's was about 3k less (14k vs. 17k). I should add that my price was kinda high because we upgraded essentially everything that could be upgraded (plywood boxes, hardwood veneer interiors/shelves, stacked cabs, custom stain, many expensive pullouts, undermount drawer rails, soft-close hinges, etc.)

Why do all wood RTA's? You have fallen in love with higher-end cabinetry but cannot afford it or you are also doing the install and all wood is a bit lighter than most mdf. Or, you need some customized pieces or want more choices in paint picks or stain picks or molding ect...and you can not afford all that with most cabinet companies so you have decided to put the boxes together yourself so you can afford a few extra bells and whistles. Or all the above!
If you wish to scratch all wood cabinets made in China or wood cabinets with dodgy finishing work your choices drop. But, you can get a lower quality already assembled cabinet for the same price as the nicer quality RTA's. Maybe the quality difference is not enough for you to do all the extra work by assembling them yourself and that's something you need to ask yourself.
I decided on Conestoga after reading so many positive reviews, my kitchen is only a year and a half old but my painted uppers are still perfect and my dark stained lowers are still perfect. The drawers are very well made and all the interiors are finished with catalyzed varnish, when you open your drawers or doors the interiors will make you smile just as much as the beautiful exterior. We ordered ours finished. I have also read good things about Scherrs but have no experience with them.
If the interior or all wood thing is not as important to you and you are "budget" minded you may want to go with Ikea as they have a pretty good reputation and will be a few grand cheaper (when compared with ordering "finished" RTA's such as Scherrs or Conestoga). Or go with the Ikea boxes and order your doors from Scherrs as they have all the Ikea box measurements. For the ultimate savings you could order Conestoga or Scherrs unfinished and do the painting and staining yourself. I chose not to do that because the factory finishes from Conestoga are extremely hardy compared to what I could do or wanted to do.

Where do you buy Conestoga Cabinets? I'm only finding sites that sell to contractors.

This Conestoga dealer sells to both US and Canada.

Here is a link that might be useful: Northwoods

I bought my Conestoga's from Cabinetmakerschoice.com and worked with Chad. Conestoga are American made and have locations all around the U.S. They have been supplying doors for high-end cabinet companies for many many years. Have a good plan ready with your sizes for pricing. They will give you the catalog online after contact.

As far as I can tell, IKEA cabinets are all MDF (or some kind of fiberboard), aren't they?

I have looked at several and couldn't see any made of wood or plywood.

Is that correct?

Yes, eleena, that is right. You cannot get plywood carcasses from Ikea.

Ikea cabinets are 3\4 inch particle board not MDF. Particle board is commonly favoured in the construction of frameless cabinetry.

So, you are saying that plywood is not good for frameless cabinets? In want ONLY frameless.

TX!

No, eleena, you made an incorrect inference from what caryscott wrote. Plywood is fine to use in frameless construction. Particle board is also an appropriate material to use in frameless construction.

Angie,

I read just a few minutes ago (but cannot remember, I think TKO is turning into dementia b/c of information overload) that particle board contracts and expands considerable less than plywood. Doesn't it sort of imply that it is "better"?

I actually know a company that makes SS countertops and they use ONLY particle boards b/c of said property.

I personally used to immensely dislike particle boards b/c of formadeldehydes and short life span. Perhaps, they have improved considerably?

Also, what do you think about installing IKEA shaker style cabinets in a more traditional home?

Would it work or look out place?

So, you are saying that plywood is not good for frameless cabinets?

and

...particle board contracts and expands considerable less than plywood. Doesn't it sort of imply that it is "better"?

First of all, if A is better than B, it does not follow that B is not good.

Secondly, you need to consider the application. The SS countertop application may require that property. Does it follow that frameless cabinets also require it? (As a side note, why wouldn't SS countertops use particle board? It is probably the cheapest material that meets the requirements they have.)

Yes, you are correct that particle board is more dimensionally stable than plywood (which is, in turn, more dimensionally stable than lumber). Dimensional stability is one attribute that is good for cabinetry construction in general, and for frameless cabs in particular. However, plywood's dimensional stability is plenty good enough for frameless cabinetry. A little more dimensional stability, while arguably "better," is of little additional utility in practice.

Plywood has other attributes that compare favorably to particle board. It is a lot lighter, and it stands up better to water. (Neither will survive a flood, but plywood can survive a quick soak that might kill particle board.)

They are both appropriate materials for frameless cabinets, with very slight relative advantages and disadvantages. You will have to weigh off the cost, weight, offgassing, stability, and water-resistant properties to decide. (I chose plywood.)

Thanks for the explanation!

I had not even been considering anything particle board - till this thread. :-)