What to Look for in a Cabinet Contractor

If you're looking for a cabinet contractor, you may be confused as to what you should be looking for. After all, they all have examples of their artistry and to the uninitiated, it can be difficult to see what might set one apart from another. You can rely on reviews and such, but let's face it, this isn't the most popular "genre" of service oriented business. Therefore, unless you live in a fairly large metropolitan area, you might have a hard time to find enough reviews to count as a decent sample size. Better to make your own judgments based on some important criteria. Here's what you should be looking for.

Warranty

This is undoubtedly the most important thing to look for in a cabinet contractor. What you're looking for is a lifetime warranty on all the work. But it isn't enough for them to simply tell you that it's a lifetime warranty. You need to see the paperwork and confirm it for yourself. In some areas, a seven year warranty is enough to call it "lifetime". But that really isn't the same, is it? If you think a seven year guarantee is enough, so much the better, but at least know what you're signing up for.

Longevity

When looking for a contractor—cabinet or otherwise—longevity is essential. More than any review, this will tell you a lot about what they are about. A business doesn't stay profitable and successful for very long by doing subpar work. The only exception might be those contractors who do work for extremely low prices, but that's another story altogether. Typically, if a company has been in business for quite a few years, they are doing something right.

Specialization

You'll almost certainly get a better deal for better work if you go to a specialized cabinet contractor as opposed to someone who is simply a general carpenter. If you're making your living off designing and installing cabinets, chances are you've developed into something of an expert. You're paying for that expertise. A general carpenter may know how to build a set of cabinets, but it's unlikely that anyone would refer to them as an "expert" in that particular field. Chances are, however, that you'll pay just as much, if not more.

Price

Price is always a factor when looking for a contractor. Avoid those companies that are undercharging for their services. There's nothing wrong with getting a great deal, but don't confuse a great deal with buying cheap work. You'll regret the latter.