Kitchen Cabinet Options
Cabinets can be budget busters. Whether you choose stock, semi-stock, or custom cabinets for your next kitchen or bath project, here's what to expect when you walk into the showroom.

stock pre-assembled cabinets for customers who simply desire basic kitchen or bathroom storage. These no-frills cabinets typically feature engineered wood construction with a melamine finish and steel-sided drawers. Choices, in terms of style and finish are few, but if price is the primary consideration, this is the most economical way to go. Since less packaging is required for ready-to-assemble cabinets, it costs less for the manufacturer to ship the product. This savings is passed down to the customer. Depending on the store, professional installation remains as an option if needed.

Semi-stock cabinets are the perfect solution when a more personalized space is desired. Showroom or department displays give the customer the opportunity to visualize how a specific style might look in an actual kitchen. Staff designers work with the customer to come up with a design plan tailored to meet the customer's needs and pocketbook. Higher price points include a higher quality of workmanship and materials than those available in in-stock units, as well as a greater selection of decorative features like wine racks, plate racks, and transitional corner cabinets. Add-on accessories like valances, crown molding, sliding shelves and drawers are also available options. Styles range from retro to contemporary and the customer can choose from many complementary finishes. Engineered wood or plywood compose the sides, while doors and the cabinet face are crafted from solid wood-usually oak, maple, cherry, or hickory-or from plywood to which a layer of rigid

thermo foil or wood veneer has been applied. Open or framed styles are available; drawers are constructed from solid wood and are dovetail or dowel assembled. Like their in-stock counterparts, semi-stock cabinets are built to industry specs. Three quarters of an inch is the standard thickness for cabinet sides built in the U.S. Base cabinets are 34-1/2-inches high and 24-inches deep. Wall cabinets, except those above a range hood or refrigerator, are 30-inches high and 12-inches deep. Some manufacturers will customize a semi-stock cabinet, by giving the buyer the ability to decrease the depth of a base or wall cabinet. Widths must be sized in increments of three inches-anywhere from six to 48 inches. In situations where cabinets won't fit the measurement of a given wall, trim work or filler is used to make up the difference. Semi-stock cabinets typically require between four to six weeks for delivery.