How to Know If Your Kitchen Cabinets Are Quality

Purchasing high-quality kitchen cabinets can significantly increase your home’s resale value. You’ll also enjoy a more efficient and functional kitchen that will last for years. You’ll know your cabinets are quality if they look and feel strong, and if you can spot problems like drooping doors or rattling drawers before they become an issue. Low-quality cabinetry may begin to show signs of wear and tear within five to ten years, which means you’ll need to spend more money on repairs or replacements.

Quality cabinetry is made from furniture-grade plywood or solid wood. The plywood helps them keep their shape during transportation, installation and in-situ, and resist moisture and other damage better than particle board or medium density fiberboard (MDF).

In the drawer boxes, look for dovetail joints instead of staples or notched butt joints, which are weaker construction methods. The drawers are the highest-traffic areas of a cabinet, so you want to ensure they hold up to heavy use.

Cabinet hinges are another sign of quality. The quality of the hinge will determine how easy it is to open and close your cabinet’s doors. You’ll want to choose a hinge with a soft-close mechanism that reduces noise and friction and will keep your doors from being slammed shut or sagging.

When you’re shopping for cabinetry, make sure it comes with a lifetime limited warranty. This type of warranty covers any defect in the material or workmanship during your ownership of the cabinets. Most manufacturers will offer one, five or ten-year warranties on their products.