Like many young adults, I paid more attention to the Presidential elections this year than ever before. One of the revelations that I had during the process is that no matter what either candidate said, particularly during the debates, the media could “spin” the dialog to have a thousand different meanings. What was especially amazing was the fact that this information came from the “spin rooms”, so basically by labeling these rooms as such they were admitting that the information that they were conveying had been filtered and “adjusted” to convey any point that they wanted to make…usually with very little association to the original context. Maybe it’s just me, but I found myself wondering on many occasions exactly why I was even paying the media any attention at all.
Here are some of my…..ummm, opinions about “CUSTOM” cabinetry. There are basically three options to consumers:
Custom Factory Built: (my preference 90% of the time)
Advantages:
o The very best quality finishes available, particularly when it comes to painted finishes, due to the larger factories’ ability to procure the best finishing equipment.
o Scheduling – Because these factories operate on very regulated schedules, our ability to deliver product on time with fewer “surprises” is greatly improved.
o Talent Pool – With many wood-workers, finish specialist, and other craftspeople, these factories can produce almost anything I can draw while maximizing quality and efficiency.
o If a part becomes damaged, you can rest assured that there is someone behind the scenes that can match and replace that part perfectly, even decades later. (Warranty!!!!)
Disadvantages:
o Sometimes perceived as lower quality because the cabinetry is often produced on an assembly line (I don’t agree with this)
o Price point – sometimes higher than the alternatives (sometimes true, but you certainly get what you pay for)
o A perception that problems on the jobsite take longer to fix. This is really more about the quality of the installers putting the cabinetry in verses that actual quality of the cabinetry.
2. Custom Local Shop:
Advantages:
o Sometimes faster production cycle (sometimes not – depending on the workload at any given time)
o Sometimes a 10-12% cost savings (for certain lower traffic areas this may be an option that allows you to put your resources in factory cabinetry where there will be a greater chance of product or finish failure)
o Excellent local craftsmen – I work with several local woodworkers that would give Norm a run for his money….availability sometimes is a problem though
Disadvantages:
o Sometimes unreliable when it comes to delivery schedule and product quality (having a bad day Mr. Woodworker?)
o Less buying power often results in inferior construction or material selections to stay competitive
o It’s up to YOU (or me, if I’m your designer) to make sure the craftsman CLEARLY understands your design intentions so that you don’t end up with something that only resembles your drawing.
o Finish – Stains….a good local guy can do a good stain on a good day, Paint – very iffy, glazed or artistic finishes – forget about it, hire your own faux finisher.
3. Jobsite built Cabinetry:
Advantages:
o Usually most cost effective option for Custom cabinetry
o Ummmm…. I can’t think of anything else
o I just added this line to make it look more fair
Disadvantages:
o Just trust me, you don’t wanna go down that road unless it’s something like a pantry or other secondary area that you just want something fast and inexpensive & don’t care about the quality that much.
I think it’s pretty obvious which of these options that I am partial to, but I am open to any discussions or debate concerning the three. These are my opinions based on my experience with cabinetry manufacturers over the past decade. Of course there are exceptions to every run….but I would put money on most of these opinions.
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