High-quality cabinets: What to look for and where to find them

Whether you are remodeling your kitchen or bathroom or selecting materials for a new construction, you’re on the hunt for high-quality cabinets at an affordable price. But, what makes some cabinets better than others? How do you go about deciding what cabinets to get?

High-quality cabinets are those made from better materials, featuring better workmanship, and are packaged with better warranties than run-of-the-mill cabinets. In this article, our team here at Superior Stone & Cabinet, will walk you through the cabinet buying process. We’ll discuss what the hallmarks of good cabinets are, and where to go about shopping for them.

If you live here in the Phoenix metro, we’re your best choice for better cabinets. For a free in-home estimate, give us a call. Or, if you want to see our cabinets in-person, stop by our 60,000 sq/ft showroom.

Wood options

Cheap cabinets tend to feature particle board or MDF. This material just isn’t that durable or strong—it’s not made to last as much as it is to save the manufacturer money. We recommend you pass on cabinets made from either in favor of those made from either plywood or real wood. Obviously, real wood cabinetry could get expensive, so plywood is a nice middle ground. It’s much more strong and durable than particle board.

Either way, you’ll want your cabinet to have solid hardwood face frames. This is where cabinets endure the most stress and usage, so it’s important that these frames are built to last.

Our recommendation:

Opt for either plywood or real wood over other substitutes.

Hardware options

Another difference that sets high-quality cabinets apart from the others are the hardware features. Soft-close, adjustable hinges can stand up to frequent use without causing the doors to come loose or look uneven. They are also quieter, which means you shouldn’t have to listen to cabinet doors slamming. That also reduces the stress on the aforementioned face frames.

Undermount soft-close glides also allow for smooth, silent movement when you open and close the drawers. The hinges and slide should hold up to frequent use with minimal maintenance, which means they may last for the lifetime of the cabinets with only an occasional need for adjustment.

Our recommendation:

Install soft-close glides. They’re worth the cost since they reduce the wear-and-tear on your cabinet face frames.

Construction options

Different cabinets are constructed differently. I-beam cabinet construction creates a supportive base for lower cabinets that can prevent warping over time. You should not have to worry about the weight of your stored items or other cabinets weakening or bending your base cabinets.

You should also look for hardwood dovetail joints in the drawer boxes, which is what you can expect at Superior Stone & Cabinet. This classic furniture-making technique ensures strong, well-made drawers that can hold up to constant use without falling apart.

Our recommendation:

Talk to the design expert you’re working with about the construction of the cabinets and the features that are designed to help them last the test of time.

Don’t settle for less than high-quality cabinets

Of course, the look of a cabinet is also important to homeowners, which is why Superior Stone & Cabinet offers a wide variety of styles, colors, and materials. Contact us today for a cabinet buying guide or to schedule a free in-house estimate for high-quality cabinets for your home.