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Stop! Do Not Join Direct Buy! Read How To Buy Cabinets Online And Save Money

Posted by admin on November 18th, 2009

How to Buy Cabinets Online

                Buying cabinets online can be easier and much less expensive than buying cabinets from a big box store or your local cabinet retailer. However, there are a few things you need to do or your project could end up in shambles! Here are the three key steps in the process to buy cabinets online: Measuring, Designing, Purchasing.

                The truth is the type of individual that undertakes the challenge of buying cabinets online, is often the best one for the job! They are the detail oriented, “do it yourself” type, that will often pay more attention to measuring, communicating in the design process, and double checking details, than many designers I have come across over  the years. Let’s get to it.

                Let’s begin with the measuring process.  Start with a rough drawing of the shape of your kitchen. You will want to note the measurements of all doors and windows, as well as opening in the walls (walkways or pass-through’s), appliances and any obstructions to the walls. Begin your measurements from the corner of your layout (or a fixed wall or wall end if you have a Galley Kitchen) and start from about 3 to 4 feet up from the floor. If the existing cabinets are still installed, measure from the easiest place to access the full wall dimensions (i.e. above the backsplash of the countertops). Always take care to note that your dimensions are from or to the outside of the door and window trim, and whether or not you intend to keep the existing trim (use this tip when measuring doors and windows as well).

Be sure to measure from floor to ceiling, and take notes of any soffit dimensions, as well as the location of the position of light switches and electrical outlets. When noting the position of the appliances in your kitchen, always measure from the corner or wall end to the center of the appliance, in addition to taking overall dimensions of the appliances. For more information on measuring, see “How to Measure Your Kitchen”.

                The next step is the design and cabinetry selection process. Searching for cabinets can seem overwhelming at times with all the choices in manufacturers, door styles, finish, and construction options that are available today! Here are a few things to consider that will help you make sense of it all and weed through the marketing hype. A cabinet’s construction, and consequently its price, is always broken down into a few different categories. Here are the factors to look for. Is it framed cabinetry like Cardell? Or Frameless (full access or Euro) like Ultracraft? Frameless tends to cost more as the boxes are constructed out of thicker material typically. Is it MDF (new and improved particle board) or is it plywood? Plywood typically costs more money. Is the door standard or full overlay construction? Full overlay doors typically cost more. Is the door solid wood or veneer? Solid wood doors cost more. What are the drawers and drawer hardware made of? Dove tail drawers with full extension drawers cost more.  What wood species is the door made of? Cherry is more than maple or oak. Are the cabinets assembled on delivery or not? You get the picture. Let’s assume you’ve read up and decided on these options and move forward with our discussion.

Whether you are simply putting back cabinets to virtually their existing location, or starting from scratch, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind during this phase even if you are a having a kitchen designer help you. The key here is to know what you are getting in your cabinets (i.e. are your shelves full depth or half? Is there going to be a center style between a double door cabinet? Etc) The designer you are working with should be able to answer these questions. Maybe you were at a friend’s house and noticed their beautiful new cabinets, or at a local big box store touching and feeling the displays when you decided to remodel. The point is not to assume your kitchen or features will be just like what you fell in love with, unless you ask! Getting your hands on your manufacturer of choice’ specification book can be a huge help! You can also see the latest “bells and whistles” and any other improvements to the interiors of the cabinets you may want to make. It will also be a huge tool if you are looking for ideas on how to arrange your layout as it has all the sizes of every cabinet made by the manufacturer. For more help on this topic, see “DIY Design Your Kitchen”.

This brings us to the final step of buying cabinets online. You have several options out there when considering who to purchase through. The key here, as in the previous steps, is communication. Make sure that the company you select has excellent designers that can answer your questions. Many online cabinet companies have little more than order takers or list seekers on the other end of the phone. Who you choose to buy cabinets online from, is as important as what you choose to buy. This is your new kitchen, the heart and soul of the home, don’t trust it to someone who treats it like a grocery list! In short, transparency is what you are looking for here. The better companies will be eager to supply you with the specifications book and price book and will give you the discount factor to calculate your own pricing, ask questions, and double check your order. Here’s one that I have referred several people to Icabinetrydirect . Some will even offer design service. There is absolutely no need to join a so called “direct buying” organization for a fee to get the same information you can get from a professional online cabinet company for free. Make sure to communicate clearly on delivery times, warranty, and ask for references from the manufacturer as well. Do these things and you can have a great experience buying cabinets online!

DIY GUY has been working in the home improvement, and kitchen and bath industry for 18 years.

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