What Are the Characteristics of High-Quality Kitchen Cabinets?

Is your kitchen cabinet displaying sagging with a crooked door with scratches? If so, then the cabinetry may not be of the best quality and soon it will need a replacement. To avoid unnecessary spending, it’s always wise to invest in high-quality cabinets that can be functional and look aesthetically pleasing. When you’re purchasing such furniture pieces, check the characteristics mentioned below in this blog-post to determine if they are likely to last.

1. All-plywood construction

Kitchen cabinets are usually made of plywood and particleboard. The best quality cabinetry generally features full plywood sides and backs that can stay in place during the delivery and installation process.  Made of several layers of wood, cabinets are sturdy enough to hold the weight of the heavy countertop.  Particleboard, on the other hand, is an affordable alternative but it may not resist damage from moisture. It is made by pressing wood particles together with glue at a high temperature. However, it may not be prone to damages caused due to moisture or impacts.

Expert Tip
If you’re noticing that the cabinet shelves are sagging, then that is often a sign of weak particleboard construction.

2. Soft-close hinges

Hinges are one of the most important components of a kitchen cabinet as it is impossible to open or close a cabinet door without them. Soft-close hinges are the best type featuring six ways including in-out, left-right and up-down. Moreover, these hinges can be adjusted when the cabinet doors contracts and expands during seasonal changes. A top-quality cabinet will consist of these hinges compared to the other types that may provide four-way adjustability for this reason. Also, they can cause uneven, loose, stiff or malfunctioning doors.

3. Full height back panels

The installation and strength of the cabinet depends on its back construction. Good quality cabinetry uses heavy full-back panel made of plywood. There can be some kitchen cabinet manufacturers that use picture-frame construction including metal hang rails, thin panels and brackets. They are less expensive compared to all-plywood construction. It might result in falling cabinets which can lead to serious accidents. So, it’s best to avoid such flaws and invest in something that is safe and sound like cabinets with a plywood back.

Modern kitchen cabinets

4. Melamine interior

The interiors of the cabinet are an important part of its construction as it consists of the shelves or drawers to store all the essentials of the kitchen. This means they should be easy to clean, non-porous and tough to withstand any kind of damage like staining, and wear and tear over the years of use. Melamine is one of the most preferred interior surfaces as it is usually available in light colours and can be attached to particleboard, wood veneers and plywood without much effort. Furthermore, it is durable, stain, water and fire resistant and can be cleaned with strong household solutions, unlike other smooth laminate surfaces.

5. Face frames

There are two types of cabinets available and they are framed and frameless. Framed cabinets display a solid hardware frame that usually stays attached to the front of the cabinet box. This consists of the drawer glides and door hinges as well. And in case of frameless cabinets, the doors are fixed directly to the cabinet box sides. Keep reading below to understand these two types in detail.

  • Framed Cabinets

The face frames of framed cabinets provide solid hardware bases for drawer glides and hinges making them stronger. They offer stability during installation and shipping processes. There are three styles of framed cabinetry available based on the amount of frame revealed and they are a full overlay, partial overlay and inset. Choose any one of them as they all are hardy and can last for years.

Framed kitchen cabinets

  • Frameless cabinets

As the name suggests, these cabinets lack face frames on the front of the cabinet boxes. These cabinets are usually full overlay exposing approx. 1/8 – inches around cabinet doors and drawer fronts. They also feature thicker side panels compared to framed cabinets supporting the door hinges and drawer glides. The installation costs of these cabinets are higher as any misplacement may be visible decreasing its appearance.

Frameless kitchen cabinets

6. I-beam

I-beams are a crucial part of cabinet making as they tend to secure the upper sides of base cabinets. They provide durability and keeps the cabinets in a square shape during the installation and shipping. There are other alternatives such as triangular corner gussets and braces that are cost-friendly. But as they are fastened to the cabinet sides, they might not provide strength to the cabinetry. Also, they can warp and bend due to moisture over time.

7. Custom Modifications

The custom modification will be one of the prominent attributes when you opt for top-quality kitchen cabinets. They are tailored uniquely to cater to the users’ needs and kitchen space. Hence, you can choose from a wide range of styles, sizes and colours. Moreover, you can add speciality features based on your specifications. However, they are costlier than the readymade ones.

Consider all these characteristics whenever you’re planning to buy kitchen cabinets and avoid getting disappointed in the future. If you’re planning to buy one for your home, then you can check our exclusive collection and pick your favourite. If you’re unsure of your selection, get in touch with our experts as they are always there to guide you until you’re happy and satisfied with your purchase!

 

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