Are Stock Kitchen Cabinets a Viable Option?
By Gabby HymanRefacingCabinet.com Columnist
Today's stock kitchen cabinets are often referred to as "builders-grade" cabinets. That's a step up from the nickname they once held: "bare bones" cabinets. Compared with custom kitchen cabinets, they have notable limitations. But they come in a greater variety of colors, materials, and configurations than ever before. You should evaluate your needs--décor, budgetary, style, and functional--before making a final decision.
Appraisals of stock kitchen cabinets often varies dramatically by the source. For instance, ABC News reports that stock kitchen cabinets now come with features like organizers and accessories often found only in custom kitchen sets. However, they are often limited in styles, colors, and configurations, created with with the notion that one size fits all kitchens.
Stock Kitchen Cabinets: Considering Your Options
You need to measure your kitchen carefully to see whether your current configuration can be matched with stock kitchen cabinet replacements. Available stock kitchen cabinets widths, according to Do It Yourself, start as narrow as 9'' and run as wide as 48", sold as sets in 3-inch increments. Filler strips are used to help a stock kitchen cabinets fit into your existing kitchen space.
You'll really want to look over a range of materials, too. Stock kitchen cabinets come from basic wood grades all the way up to premium grade. But some drawer sets and cabinet boxes can be slapped together out of wobbly particle board.
Look around and you'll find some extras that previously were not available in pre-fab sets. For example, you'll discover stock cabinets offering options for glass doors, special finishes, and glazes. Even if you're not evaluating custom cabinets, you can do well to consult with a kitchen contractor to learn about the range of stock kitchen cabinets out there.
Sources
http://cfc.wjla.com/aroundthehome/affarticle.cfm?id=342
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/cabinetcomparison
http://www.kitchens.com/products/cabinets/types/stock.aspx
About The Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.
