Unfinished kitchen cabinets versus finished cabinets

Many homeowners are attracted to the option of buying unfinished kitchen cabinets to save money and enjoy greater flexibility. By contrast, finished kitchen cabinets are much costlier because all the work is done on them.

Cost:

High quality unfinished kitchen cabinets could cost the homeowner approximately $3,000-$5,000 depending on how much of the work is already done. Adding matching countertops increases the cost further.

However, homeowners who have done some amount of research know that the other option is to opt for semi-custom unfinished cabinets (which cost almost double that figure) and custom kitchen cabinets (which is almost four times the cost).

Quality:

One must understand that stock cabinets in the kitchen are factory made. They are sold ready to install. Therefore, there is always some doubt about their quality. A close inspection of the components could reveal the quality of the cabinet. Nevertheless custom built cabinets are the priciest options in the market. In comparison, unfinished kitchen cabinets offer homeowners a chance to buy better quality. There is greater flexibility with added features in hardware, size and face frame.

Flexibility in design:

Another benefit of unfinished kitchen cabinets is that these may be selected at random to fit into a particular space in the kitchen. It is hard to find custom cabinets that fit the kitchen exactly. Unfinished kitchen cabinets offer you a chance to fill in those awkward in-between spaces in the kitchen.

Designer kitchen:

Finally, if you have the nature and the talent to transform half finished pieces of furniture into works of art, here’s your chance. When it comes to choosing wood stains, colors and hardware, the sky really is the limit. By choosing unfinished kitchen cabinets and giving them the kind of finish you envisage, you can really build yourself a designer kitchen – something that is almost impossible with readymade finished cabinets.

The above reasons account for the huge popularity of unfinished kitchen cabinets.

But it is hard to get the biggest bang for your buck if you shop for unfinished kitchen cabinets without knowing what to look for.
At the outset, there are two things to remember:

The quality of the cabinets may not be justly reflected in its price.

All unfinished kitchen cabinets are not alike

It is important to understand that there are different kinds of unfinished kitchen cabinets. Frameless cabinets are cabinets without frame. The doors cover the entire width of the box and are attached by hinges that disappear once the doors are closed. Kitchen cabinets with frames are more traditional as they have narrow strips with a center stile which is where the doors meet when they are closed. Although the difference between the two is predominantly in looks, frameless cabinets are easier to use as they have larger storage space. On the other hand, frames improve durability.

Other factors to look for when buying unfinished kitchen cabinets are:

Buy high quality wood instead of particle board

Look for coating that protects against water damage

Look for doors made of real wood