As you drive from Sewall’s Point through Hobe Sound, Jupiter, and eventually Palm Beach you will see plenty of contractors selling cabinetry and renovation services. While their trucks call out these services, it is less evident what type of cabinetry services they actually provide. Services differ greatly in materials and cabinet types so unless you’ve worked with a contractor skilled in custom woodworking you may not even know there are different options available. It is important to understand the differences as this will dictate the options available to meet the needs of your project.
Types of Services
From a very high level, the three primary services available and related attributes are as follows:
Prefabricated
Semi-Custom Cabinets
- Quality ranges but still lower than custom
- Customizable options including wood type, finish, and certain dimensions
- Cost ranges and is dependent upon customization
- Basic cabinetry sizes with some “add-on” pieces for unique areas
Custom Cabinets
- Highest quality as every piece is built from scratch
- Every aspect is fully customizable
- Cost ranges and is dependent upon customization
- Built to naturally fit any space
Prefabricated Cabinets
These cabinets are lower cost as they are pre-built and found by the masses in home renovation stores (i.e. Home Depot, Ikea, Lowe’s, and other popular DIY stores). They are also sold by contractors and often branded as “custom” since you can pick the layout that you want the contractor to install. The cabinets are modular, meaning pieces can be rearranged to provide different layouts but they have very little customization when it comes to options. If the manufacturer doesn’t provide the size, type, color, or wood that you desire then you are out of luck and need to find a different manufacturer.
The lower cost of these cabinets make them ideal for DIY homeowners or those homeowners looking to renovate their kitchen, nook area, pantry, etc. while sticking to a tight budget. If the design/sizing fits the area you need and the housing architecture supports the finished look then these types of cabinets can be a great low cost option.
When to choose prefabricated:
- Your kitchen or cabinet space has standard cabinet sizes.
- Working within a small budget.
- The house architecture/design flow matches the look/feel of prefabricated cabinets (often times this is homes under $300K).
Semi-Custom Cabinets
These cabinets are a hybrid of prefabricated and custom cabinets. The majority of components are manufactured at scale to help reduce costs but allow for slight custom finishing elements to add that “custom” feel to your renovation. Often times, the bulk of the cabinets are made from low cost materials and finished with a thin layer of higher quality material to appear that they are made from real wood. This thin layer of customization allows for unique and tailored finishes that set them apart from pre-fabricated cabinets.
With semi-custom cabinets, the amount of customization often depends on the manufacturer, the relationship the installer has with the manufacturer, and the skillset of the installer. The manufacturer will allow certain elements to be customized by default. These elements include items like standard sizing (i.e. drawer sizes, door fronts, etc), the depth of both cabinets and drawers, and finishes (i.e. material, color, hardware, etc.). After these elements are considered, depending on the relationship the installer has with the manufacturer, they can request further customization such as slightly altered pieces for unique spaces. If the manufacturer is unwilling to match a piece to a unique space, it will be up to the installer’s capabilities to create a custom piece from wood provided by the manufacturer.
When to choose semi-custom:
- Kitchen or cabinet space has standard cabinet sizes.
- Keeping cabinet structure but want to reface for a “brand new” look and feel.
- Want a custom feel or higher quality look but working within a small to medium budget.
Custom Cabinets
Custom cabinets allow for complete control over all aspects of the cabinets. You can customize everything from the type of wood used to the finishing details on the edges, corners, and other intricate details. The cost can vary significantly and is often dictated by the amount of customization required.
The main objective of utilizing custom cabinetry is to allow for the natural design and flow of the houses structural architecture to be complemented by a custom design fit specifically for the houses need. It allows the flexibility for design elements to be built directly into the cabinets to incorporate storage for specialty items.
Due to the complexities, the number one consideration when exploring this path is to determine the skillset of the carpenter. Often times contractors will hire unskilled carpenters which leads to prolonged projects less than desirable finished product. A skilled carpenter should be able to complete the majority of work offsite so the installation is quick and exact. Make sure to review the portfolio of the carpenter who will be installing your custom cabinets and also check references from other customers.
When to consider custom cabinets:
- Specific vision you want to bring to life.
- Gutting your entire kitchen or space where the new cabinets will be installed.
- Starting from scratch.
- Want a design that no one else can replicate.
- Trying to match the high end architectural design seen throughout the rest of the house.
- Need custom elements for storage, display, or other desires.
- House is worth more than $500 – $750K.
About East Coast Cabinetry & Millwork
East Coast Cabinetry & Millwork is South Florida’s premier Custom Woodworking and Cabinetry Specialist. Their extensive portfolio includes projects for some of the most sought after homes throughout Sewall’s Point, Sailfish Point, Last Tree, Hutchinson Island, Jupiter Island, Palm Beach Island, and across South Florida. They take pride in having a state of the art facility where everything is done in house. This allows for complete control over every aspect of the project. With 30+ years experience, East Coast Cabinetry & Millwork is known for quality craftsmanship, fast turnaround, and exceptional service.
