Kitchen cabinet quality questions

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hi,

We had new kitchen cabinets delivered from a store that has been selling kitchen cabinets (only) back to the 70's. I will be the installer. Upon inspecting each cabinet, we've found issues with scratches and dings, etc. that the seller says is no problem to get replaced.

We believe them to be middle-of-the-line framed cabinets. They are constructed of veneer over plywood with Blum hardware. All are standard sizes and no custom building.

The cabinet boxes themselves have internal fit issues. It looks like the dado for the tops and bottoms is cut wider than the panels that slide into them. So when they assembled them, the corners are not square or tight. When looking inside the cabinets, the corner joints are uneven and there are large gaps.

The seller claims that all framed cabinets they sell across all price points have this issue and that it's an industry standard. I can't make doors, but I can make cabinet boxes and mine would not have this problem.

I find these claims hard to believe. Which is it? Is it typical for framed boxes to be assembled sloppily and with internal gaps/uneven gaps or are well-made standard (not custom) cabinets assembled without gaps?

Thank you!

Featured Answer

Travis Johnson

3 years ago

Getting quality skill sets is now a worldwide problem, so the seller is not wrong. I also agree that you know what you are doing on case construction and can do a better job. I know i can as well, and in fact would never buy cabinets because i can build better ones than whatever is available to buy.

And while i dont know you, I think you are more than capable of making your own fronts. i bought a cabinet door router bit set for $100 and it quickly paid for itself. I did have the half inch router though…

with the right router bit set, I think the casework is harder to make than the fronts. The way the buts are machined the panels and styles fit themselves together.

Can you take back your cabinets, keep the money and make your own cheaper and better?

I really think most home woodworkers can make their own cabinet fronts and casework; they just need encouragement and confidence.

You got this!

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Comments (10)

millworkman
3 years ago
I see nothing out of the ordinary in those picture's and see nothing that I would consider as "large gaps".
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PRO
DeWayne
3 years ago
Looks pretty good for RTA stuff.
Steve Y
Original Author
3 years ago
@Travis Johnson - I don't have the time or the ability to create a professional finish, so I can't take it on.

@ DeWayne - strange that you think they are RTA. They are not. They are boxed from the manufacturer, and delivered by the seller.
PRO
DeWayne
3 years ago
What brand are they?
Steve Y
Original Author
3 years ago
Fabuwood
PRO
DeWayne
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Yep, RTA is accurate. Fabuwood is low quality RTA imports that they assemble here. Low end stock quality, but with a medium end semi custom price. https://www.importgenius.com/importers/fabuwood-cabinetry-corp
Steve Y thanked DeWayne
Steve Y
Original Author
3 years ago
We were told the fronts were made in Viet Nam and the cabinets are made in Brooklyn. I see they are in Jersey City.

Forget the RTA part. If they were a brand like Shrock or similar, would they be that badly assembled or would there be tight joints?
PRO
DeWayne
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Schrock doesn't look like that at all is the point. Schrock is a pretty good company, with far tighter tolerances. Those are entry level RTA. With a great amount of money spent on marketing.
Steve Y thanked DeWayne
Steve Y
Original Author
3 years ago
We didn't even give a budget when we shopped. We liked the style of the doors and that was the only brand quite like that. We were never told they are RTA, just what I said about the boxes being made in Brooklyn.

Last week the CS rep came out to our home to see all the issues and he claimed he went around the showroom prior and every brand is built like that. Some of the brands they have are:

Schrock
Aristokraft
Greenfield
Omega

We weren't buying that story. That's why I'm asking here. I suppose I have to go to some other dealers and see for myself.

Even the dovetails where the face frame attaches to the box look like too loose a fit even though they are solid. I will have to check some cabinets for overall squareness, which now scares me.

If you have any other thoughts, it would be appreciated.

Thank you DeWayne!