9 Questions To Ask Your Cabinet Maker
Organise + design your Reno with these resources
So you're finally renovating or designing your new kitchen or home storage...
Making decisions and choosing finishes is a daunting task in itself, let alone knowing cabinetry terms, what inclusions to ask for and what you want versus what you need. But don’t sweat, we've put together nine important questions to ask your cabinetmaker to help make your journey a little less bumpy. #letsgo
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Kitchen Cabinetry
1. Does My Cabinetry Include Soft Close Hinges And Drawers?
Soft Close refers to your soft close hinges for doors and runners for drawers. Soft close hardware features dampers that cause the cabinetry to close gently and quietly, preventing doors, drawers, or cabinets from slamming shut. This feature is commonly found in cabinetry, furniture, and some interior doors.
Opting for soft close hardware results in smooth, silent closing of your cabinetry every time. No matter how hard you try, you cannot slam shut a soft close hinge or drawer - it will always slow down just before it’s fully closed and shut silently. Soft-close hardware can be used in cabinetry throughout your home and will add to the overall cost of your cabinetry bill — but it’s absolutely worth it! We wouldn't be without it in any design, and know from experience, once anyone has experienced soft-close in a home, they never go back! Make sure you ask your cabinetmaker if soft-close hinges and drawers are included in your kitchen quote.
2. What Type Of Handle Does My Cabinetry Include?
Your cabinet maker will generally offer a range of handles at varying price points, and unless you have specified a particular style, your quote usually includes an allowance per handle. There are countless styles, sizes and colours to choose from, or you might opt for finger pull handles - where a recess is created or cut into cabinetry and the cabinet is opened by pulling the actual cabinet front.
Finger pull handles result in a clean, seamless design, however, may not be as practical for users with arthritis, joint pain reduced hand strength and mobility, or heavy cabinet doors or appliances. You can even opt for a combination of handles and finger-pull cabinets in one space — we often do! Just be sure to choose handles ensuring they’re suitable for the end user and look for a design that best suits the vision and style for your space.
Z+S Tip • If you’ve already purchased your handles or have a key style in mind, share the details with your cabinet maker so they can include it in your quote.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Kitchen With Cabinet Handles
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Kitchen With Soft Close Hinges + Drawers
3. What Colour Is My Cabinetry?
It may sound like a silly question, but there’s definitely more than one shade of white, and every other colour for that matter… and your cabinet maker's interpretation of white, may be different from yours. If you are choosing a pre-finished 2 Pac board, laminate or veneer, make sure you check the sample against other colours in your home - to make sure they’re a good match.
If opting for a custom 2 Pac kitchen or cabinets (cupboards factory painted to your specified colour), you can choose pretty much any paint colour under the sun. And if you’re planning white, be aware that a cabinet maker's "standard white" may be different and could clash with the white you have painted on the walls in your kitchen. Matching your kitchen cabinets to your wall paint will ensure a seamless look and feel.
Z+S Tip • A colour’s appearance will vary when painted on different materials or surfaces - so don’t be alarmed if the same colour looks slightly different on your cabinetry than it does on your walls - although it should have the same underlying colour tones. You will also need to consider whether you want a gloss, satin or matt finish to any 2 Pac cabinetry - and ensure you specify this to your cabinet maker to avoid any surprises!
4. What's The Wear And Tear Of My Cabinetry Finish?
You’ve finally settled on a cabinetry colour and finish that you love, but does it suit your lifestyle and household? If you’re looking for durability, solid timber and laminates are your best bet - generally taking more than just a knock to scratch or dent. 2 Pac is less forgiving, but still reasonably hardy, as long as it’s applied by a quality, experienced supplier. Veneers are generally the least resistant to scratching, however, their look and feel are difficult to rival.
You may find using a combination of finishes works best and opt for laminates in high-traffic areas and more premium, less wearable finishes where they’re out of reach of little ones. Just be sure to do your homework to choose a solution that stands up to your household and lifestyle.
Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Kitchen
Zephyr and Stone • Scandi 2 Pac Kitchen
5. Cabinetry Heights + Finishes
Your cabinet maker will generally adhere to standard kitchen heights, but rest assured there is a range of standards - so checking the big-ticket dimensions is a worthwhile exercise! Especially -
• Kitchen Benchtop heights.
• Walkways.
• The height of overhead kitchen cupboards.
• The height of tall kitchen cabinetry and how the top will be finished to the ceiling - is there a bulkhead, or gap or does cabinetry run straight up to the ceiling?
If you're not sure what you want, get your tape measure out and check your current kitchen measurements to make sure your new heights are right for you. We would recommend downloading our Kitchen Measurements Cheat Sheet which includes every height and spacing you’ll need to NAIL your new kitchen design.
6. What Space Is Allowed For My Fridge?
If you haven't got a particular fridge in mind, you may want to leave an opening that will fit the majority of current fridges on the market. Make sure you ask about width, height and depth to cover all your bases! Some of the newest fridges are super deep, and you don't want to end up with your fridge sitting out in your walkway and compromising your kitchen design. Freestanding fridges generally need to sit ahead of your cabinetry due to the swing of the door, so if you’re working with a small kitchen design, an integrated fridge may be the better solution. Our Kitchen Measurements Cheat Sheet includes all the fridge measurements, spacing and tips you’ll need to maximise your new kitchen design.
Zephyr and Stone • Melbourne Luxe Kitchen
Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Kitchen
7. What Bench Top Is Included?
Are you using natural stone, porcelain, a quartz composite, concrete, laminate or timber? Check what has been allowed for in your quote, as well as the thickness and finish, including the edging if you're opting for a stone surface. If you're going for an extra thick bench, ask your cabinet maker if the stone is being laminated (two pieces glued together) or mitred (two pieces cut at a 45-degree angle and glued to form a mitred edge).
Z+S Tip • Read more on the most common option for Benchtop Materials, their benefits and downsides.
8. Does My Quote Include Internal Storage Solutions?
If you're not the DIY type, ask your cabinet maker to include at least basic accessories like an integrated bin in your quote. Also, check that any cutlery drawers include trays to neatly store cutlery. There are countless internal drawer and cupboard organisation solutions that will increase the functionality and use of your new space - and the best time to specify these is during the design of your kitchen cabinetry - so storage can be manufactured to suit. So make sure you ask what’s included and what options are available, to maximise your new kitchen design functionality and investment.
Zephyr and Stone • Coral House Kitchen
Zephyr and Stone • Coral House Kitchen
9. Does My Quote Include Installation?
It’s important to ask specific questions about what’s included in your kitchen design quote - especially when it comes to installation. For instance, does pricing include the supply of kitchen appliances and installation? And what about any lighting? Confirming everything is vital to obtain an accurate quote and avoid blowing your budget with costly surprises.
If your cabinet maker is managing your whole kitchen design project, they’ll generally organise and manage plumbing, electrical, kitchen tiling and benchtops, plus rubbish removal and a final clean up. Confirming these details upfront will help avoid nasty surprises or disputes arising.
Z+S Tip: You can use a Renovation Calculator to plan your design budget and track quotes and costs throughout your kitchen design project.
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Kitchen With Finger Pull Handles
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