Kitchen Cabinets: Stock or Custom for DIY Home Improvement?

Deciding whether to use stock or custom cabinets may be a decision based largely on budget but other factors such as kitchen size, finish styles, and functionality should be taken into account as well. Stock or in-stock cabinets are generally open frame cabinets made of engineered wood products and finished with melamine or veneers to give the look of real painted or stained wood. These kits are actually pieces pre-cut and drilled that require assembly and drawers are often steel-sided. Despite the lower quality materials, melamine and veneers do offer the added benefits of being easy to clean and often harder to scratch or dent than real wood. The style list may be limited but the benefits of lower cost and ready access (Home Improvement stores have them onsite) are key for the DIYer. Stock cabinets come only in standardized sizes so careful planning is a must. If doing it yourself care must be taken to ensure assembled cabinets are tight and square or they will not fit together or hang plumb on the wall causing problems on installation.

Custom cabinets are built to measured and designed specifications. Any kitchen imaginable can be created, any type of wood requested, any finish style achieved. The downside is a 12 week lead-time and a higher price. Custom cabinetry allows homeowners to match cabinetry color and style to existing features in the house. If a non-standard height or depth cabinet is desired or commercial or antique (nonstandard) appliances used then custom cabinets offer the flexibility to make those adjustments. If doing it yourself the extra time required may be a problem but installation should run smoothly as the cabinets are built to suit.

A third choice is semi-custom or semi-stock. This middle-of-the road option requires some lead-time (about 6 weeks) and offers the similar standardized sizes of the stock cabinets but with greater finish options and the flexibility of adding needed custom pieces. Semi-stock offers both framed and unframed cabinets often using engineered wood for the "boxes" and veneered or real wood for doors and drawer fronts. Drawers often feature real wood sides and dovetailed corners for the custom look. Cost is higher than stock but high-end semi-stock can quickly approach the cost range of custom cabinets. DIYers should note that extra filler and finish pieces are often needed and these pieces should be labeled and explained for accurate installation.