stock & custom wood cabinets
Cabinets contribute to forest destruction, whenever made with wood from forests with non-sustainable management. Prefer cabinets with FSC-certified wood.
Materials
What your cabinets are made of is important. Wood, sawdust, bamboo or straw are good alternatives to pressed wood materials (particle board, MDF…). Pressed wood materials shouldn't involve formaldehyde-based resins - a cause of cancer and respiratory disorders.
Qualified Cabinets
Cabinets with the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) seal offer an extended guarantee of quality.
The KCMA has established a set of quality standards and tests covering the hinges, doors, corner bracing, finishing details, etc. If a manufacturer wants the KCMA certification, it has to subject their cabinets to the KCMA tests…
KCMA also provide the Environmental Stewardship Program certification, attesting a sound environmental management and forest sustainable practices.
See, for more information: Cabinet Manufacturers
Manufacturers
Reputable manufacturers will back their cabinets - either custom or stock - with solid warranties. But look also for manufacturers offering cabinets based on environmental practices.
Cabinet Quality
A good starting point when checking quality, is the cabinet drawers. See how they extend and how they are constructed. See details in inner surfaces, the fitting of the pieces, how well drawers glide and the quality of the runners. If they are of poor quality, beware.
The cabinet doors are another good element to infer about the quality of cabinets. The edges, the hinges, the way they fit and act are major hallmarks of quality (or poor quality). Finish layers are also a good indicator of quality.
Professional support & Advising
Larger manufacturers and stores (Home Depot, IKEA, Lowe’s... ) use computer-generated solutions to design cabinets, and have representatives and installers to discuss options and plans, or to install the cabinets. Discuss with them the arrangements and solutions for your specific case.
Cabinet warranty
Five years limited warranties are very common. But some manufacturers offer 10 years, or even 25 years, or a limited lifetime warranty.
The same manufacturer may offer different warranties for different products with different qualities.
See also: