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marlisepiliero

American Woodmark "Waypoint" Kitchen Cabinet Question

9 years ago

I've been doing a lot of research on kitchen cabinets and am a little confused regarding the American Woodmark brands.

I understand there are four brands within American Woodmark - "American Woodmark" sold at The Home Depot, "Shenandoah" sold at Lowes, "Timberlake," and "Waypoint." I understand Waypoint is sold through private dealers, but I'm trying to figure out whether they are the exact same product as the Home Depot and Lowes lines, or different in quality in some way. I don't really have a sense of the Timberlake line. Also, if anyone happens to have insight on price comparison (in general), that would be great too.

Also, if anyone happens to have insight on price comparison (in general) across the brands, that would be great too.

Comments (22)

  • 9 years ago

    I would love to know the answer to this as well

  • 9 years ago

    Any feedback? What did you choose? Good Luck :)

  • 8 years ago

    I am adding to this this thread as it approaches its first anniversary.

    I have been delving into the OP's interesting cabinet manufacturing question myself recently. As a residential remodeler, I have been relying on the Waypoint line the last couple of years. However, I have just ordered a kitchen in the American Woodmark line and will be able to directly compare the two lines in terms of construction and materials( Price comparison is too elastic for me to detail here.) I believe that once you upgrade the American Woodmark, Timberlake boxes and hardware, the only remaining difference to Waypoint is in the materials and construction of some of the doors( and, as Debbie pointed out back in June, perhaps some specialty items.) That is my hypothesis at least. I look forward to future comments posted here that shoot holes in this hypothesis. It has been difficult for me to gain clarity into the differences via sales professionals and dealers for obvious reasons.

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    That would be great.... I think you are on to something....

  • 8 years ago

    Any followup on this? I am currently considering Waypoint cabinets in a new construction but some comments on House posts have me reconsidering.


  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I am ordering cabinets to remodel my master bath. Builder recommending Waypoint . Looking at Home Depot at American Woodmark with all the upgrades and much less expensive! I‘m trying to understand if I’m going to get a lot of problems with American Woodmark? Reading all the reviews from folks who purchased from Home Depot with so many nightmares. Is there really a difference in the two products as far as quality ... made by the same parent company ??

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Waypoint and American Woodmark are still technically different lines... I do not know if they are made on the same assembly line or if they come out of different factories all together... that would be the important point.

    Also, what sort of issues are you hearing?? I find that often times the issue with cabinets out of the big box retailers is not always an issue from the cabinet company - it is often an error on the store's part. And most folks only post reviews when they are bad. So compound that by the larger percentage of shoppers in a big box and it can give a cabinet company a bad reputation.

    I personally have a vanity from American Woodmark - nothing fancy - its been 12 years and it looks great


    Good luck!

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    greenbranchbuilders - What'd you learn from that install between the two lines?

    Also, hello from Erie!

  • 7 years ago

    We went with the Waypoint cabinets in our new construction. Overall, I'd have to say the quality is just okay. There are imperfections in several places, like little dents or bumps in the wood or the finish, and a few doors that had small gaps in the seams. My installer works for a local custom cabinet company but did our install on the side, and he was able to cover those gaps. One of the cabinet doors had a big separation in the seams; we requested a replacement which came quickly, but had gaps in the same seams! The next replacement was fine. I also received a wrong cabinet and they were great about replacing it quickly.

    I did not find that the Home Depot cabinets were less expensive, which is why I went with the Waypoint. I knew I was looking for better, not best, quality cabinets, and the Waypoint seemed to be the less expensive of the cabinets in that price group. Since this was a new construction, I needed a lot of cabinets. I have a big kitchen and 3 bathrooms and the laundry room, so cost was definitely a factor.

    I also looked at both lines that are offered by Costco. If you are looking a higher end cabinets, they might be something to consider.

  • 7 years ago

    recently bought Waypoint quality was .

  • 7 years ago

    ?

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I purchased Waypoint since my contractor has dealt with them for years. Overall, I am unhappy with them. The stain/paint is not well done and I was told the raised panels probably shrunk. Great. There are cracks in the wood of the large corner cabinet. And storage is terrible. As someone else stated in their review, whatever size the drawer fronts are, figure on two to three inches less storage space. A 17-1/2 inch drawer front yields 14 inches of storage.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    On a cabinet with a face frame, the drawer box will always be about 3 1/2 " less than the drawerfront - the faceframe is about 1 1/2" on each side. That is just the construction of the cabinet and should not be considered a negative.

    If you wanted the wider drawer boxes, you need to go with a frameless cabinet, then it will only be about a 2" difference.

    For the center panels - if they are shrinking or moving then they are probably solid wood centers. When this happens, make sure to check the humidity level in the house. You probably need to have a humidifier running to get back to the right levels. This tends to happen alot in the winter months with the dry cold air and locked up inside with the heat going.

    Unfortunately I can't speak to the finish issues - maybe call the manufacturer direct?

    So sorry!

  • 5 years ago

    Has any installed Waypoint with small kids? How have they held up? I’m considering getting them but see a lot of mixed reviews. Not sure if it’s because of bad quality or people didn’t have a good contractor etc

  • 5 years ago

    any ballpark pricing for a 10x12 kitchen using waypoint ? cabinets Only? Rough design looks like attached picture.


  • 4 years ago

    I cannot caution strongly enough against using Waypoint. I just had (May 12, 2022) Waypoint cabinets installed in a kitchen remodel on the Eastern shore of Virginia because it was the company my contractor recommended. I don't know about the other brands you mention, but I have used both the cheapest stock cabinets at Lowes and Ikea cabinets in other past remodels. This time I had more money but it was WASTED. The Cheapety cheap stock cabinets at Lowe's are more functional and aside from the particle board, better made, as are the Ikea ones. The Waypoint ones had shelves I had to plane to fit, many many cracks and just general sloppiness. Also the bottom edged aren't finished so there is this odd stripy effect as you see the plywood plies. Truly horrific. The sales rep trotted out every one's favorite excuse --"people just don't want to work now." Well, not my problem. Maybe they should shut down if they can't find help. Please DO NOT use Waypoint.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    HU-335, Seeing the plywood's ply "stripes" is fairly common with mass produced cabinet lines....even higher end ones. That is not truly horrific.


    Waypoint is American Woodmark and is an entry level cabinet. You aren't going get a fine furniture look with this cabinet line. The factory flaws and damage? Now that's another thing. Quality control is important. But again, for the price point, these companies have to stamp these cabinets out fast. Time is money. Things that won't show like sloppy glue on the back of a cabinet? Ignore it. As long as the installed finished product looks good and functions well....that's what's important. Do you have pictures of your issues with them?

  • 3 years ago

    I see this was originally posted six years ago. Ironically, it is my question today! Appreciate anyone's feedback.

  • 2 years ago

    I am a new dealer of waypoint. So rule of thumb wood by nature expands and contracts so if you live in a climate sensitive state like NJ or NY for example try not to pick a mitred door. You will see the seams splitting more so than say a shaker door. Back to quality for the price that are American made with a lifetime warranty but they are far from perfect. No cabinet company is perfect, Its pretty much all the same stuff. It comes down to the installation. You really need a finish guy to install not just a "contractor" They do not care about caulking crown molding or leaving nail holes behind. With the drawers on these new soft close tracks I recommend setting the tracks in place so they cant move side to side. If you want good quality depending on where you live 21st Century has by far the BEST paint finish out there and the drawer mechanism is far superior top most other lines. You just can not go off the reviews for cabinets, it 95% comes down to who is installing and they 100% should be able to fix, touch up and modify anything in the field. https://www.kitchennbathdesigns.com/

  • 2 years ago

    I know this is an older thread but just want to throw my opinion out there for anyone still researching this. I had my waypoint cabinets installed in a new construction home back in January 2020. They are maple painted in the linen paint. Also have an island in maple truffle stain. I also put them in 2 bathrooms. The appraisal of our house was higher just because of these cabinets. It is now 4 years later and my cabinets still look perfect! Not a single issue. There are different materials and different options when using waypoint cabinets so I wonder what all of the negative reviews are using. Our experience has been wonderful and now we are finishing the basement and will be using them again in an additional bathroom and basement kitchenette.

  • 2 years ago

    Anne- I appreciate your comments, truly. I visited a showroom about one year ago, and as much as I love the maple rye color and look, the quality of the drawer mechanisms, and trim were extremely disappointing.... to the point that I am pricing custom work. and I'm not rich... but when I go over $20K, it has to last. And the back of the cabinet had a very flimsy cover and construction. I am glad that yours work well, but I had enough concern about the ones I viewed, to move on. And again, I loved the Waypoint colors!