Everything You Need to Know About Cabinets
Cabinets are the basis of the structure and style of your kitchen. If you are remodeling or building your kitchen, selecting cabinets can be a daunting task. There are so many options from the core to the finish to the face style that it is easy to get overwhelmed. Your cabinet manufacturer will be able to help, but we’ve answered a few questions here to help you feel more confident and prepared before you start. To help us shed some light on this topic, we interviewed Nate King with Insight Interiors, a Salt Lake City based company that produces beautiful work.
BASICS
Let’s start with the basics. Most kitchens will have base cabinets and upper cabinets. Base cabinets are installed on the floor and their standard depth is 24 inches. Upper cabinets are the wall cabinets, and have a standard depth of 12 inches. Occasionally designers will opt for open shelving to replace the upper cabinets.
THE CORE
Most people are only concerned with the final outcome of the cabinets, but starting with the right core will ensure that you are getting the cabinets you want. The most common cores are MDF (medium-density fiberboard) and plywood. MDF is made up of fine wood fibers held together in a resin. Plywood is made up of thin sheets of wood glued together. Plywood is stronger than MDF, but it is also susceptible to expansion and contraction with temperature changes, and is more expensive than MDF.
We asked Nate, WHAT TYPE OF CORE DO YOU USE?
NATE: “We use performance MDF substrates most often in commercial applications. The pro of these substrates is how uniform the material is and its ability to resist expansion and contraction, making it a great choice in dry or humid climates. These substrates resist warping and have a uniform finish. One of the cons of traditional MDF was its potential to absorb water in wet environments. Now we use high-performance, water-resistant substrates that are similar in appearance to MDF.”
STOCK VS. CUSTOM
The term “stock cabinets” refers to cabinets offered in standard sizes and styles. Stock cabinets will meet the needs of most kitchens, but if you want design freedom or specialty storage options, you can choose to pay for custom cabinets.
We asked Nate, “DO YOU USE MORE STOCK CABINETS OR CUSTOM CABINETS?
NATE: “We don't use any stock cabinets. We specialize in high-end custom cabinetry.”
FACE STYLE
The face style of your cabinets will be one of the biggest determining factors of the overall look and style of your kitchen. During the past several years, the most popular cabinet styles have been simple and sleek, but there are several options that are more ornate. The cathedral style is a very traditional look, while bead-board lends itself to a casual, rustic style.
We asked Nate: WHAT CABINET FACE TYPE DO YOU SEE AS POPULAR RIGHT NOW?
NATE: “Shaker, Rounded Shaker, and Flat Panel.”
PAINT GRADE VS STAIN GRADE
Paint grade wood is generally a lower quality wood than stain grade wood because paint can hide a lot of imperfections, whereas wood stain is meant to enhance the grain and natural beauty of the wood. However, painted cabinets can still cost more than stained cabinets because of the amount of paint needed and the time it takes to paint.
When it comes to natural wood cabinets, oak is commonly used because it is known for its durability. White oak has surged in popularity recently because of its more neutral tone when compared to red oak. Red oak has a golden hue and is the culprit of the “honey oak” cabinets that everyone is painting over. Your cabinet manufacturer will likely have many more wood species than oak to choose from. Knotty alder is used to achieve a rustic style, and walnut is known for its traditional beauty. Keep in mind that wood darkens as it ages, so you will end up with gradually darker cabinets in 15 years.
We asked Nate: DO YOU EVER USE STAIN-GRADE CABINETS COMMERCIALLY, OR IS IT STRICTLY PAINT-GRADE?
NATE: “Yes, we produce beautiful stain-grade cabinets for high-end commercial applications. They hold up well when finished correctly with a catalyzed polyurethane clear coat.”
FINISHES
The finish coat on either painted or stained cabinets is a protective layer to make the product more scratch resistant and hold up over time. There are oil-based, water-based, and polyurethane options, but your cabinet manufacturer will likely have their own preferred method of finishing their work.
We asked Nate: WHAT TYPE OF FINISH DO YOU USE AND WHY?
NATE: “ We use high-performance catalyzed polyurethane paint and clearcoat for all of our painted finishes. These finishes dry and harden quickly and hold up to heavy use for many years. Latex finishes don't last as well because they're too soft. Oil-based finishes take too long to cure.”
With these basics under your belt, you can feel armed with the tools you need to make the best decision for your home.
XOXO,
Holly