Stock cabinets have come a long way over the last several years. You can now get many wood species (e.g. cherry, hickory), door styles, finishes (e.g. glazes), construction design (full overlay) and construction features (e.g. under mount drawer glides, full depth drawers, 6-way hinges, etc.) found only in custom cabinets previously. As a matter of fact some stock manufacturers now modify cabinets (decrease or increase depth), which was unheard of until recently. Some stock manufacturers even argue their quality is more consistent than custom manufacturers because the manufacturing process is more automated and therefore less susceptible to human error. Also, the stock manufacturers have significantly increased the number of standard sizes and applications, moldings and accessories now available. All of this is good news for you the consumer, especially if you are on an average budget but still want special features.

Semi-custom and full-custom manufacturers today must compete by offering far more than several years ago. Since the average labor cost is more per kitchen they must offer more style, selection, options, construction features and quality to justify their higher prices. Some definitely do. Below is a limited list of what to look for in semi and custom manufactured product that may justify a higher price to you:

1. Exclusive door styles...usually many unique doors not available from stock manufacturers.

2. Unique colors and glazes...some manufacturers will custom match colors you supply to them, will apply finishes "high gloss" to "low gloss" and manufacture customized samples to your specifications to make sure it meets your requirements.

3. Exotic or limited availability wood species or laminates. The choices seem endless.

4. Special dimensions...semi-custom cabinetmakers will modify products beyond what stock manufacturers offer...full-custom manufacturers often say, "if you can draw it, we can make it."

5. Special construction features...such as inset door construction or 3/4" full plywood sides. These can get very pricey. Only you can decide if you want/need these features.

6. Finish...the one feature to look for in cabinetry that is extremely important is the quality and durability of the finish. The long-term beauty of any home furniture is significantly decreased if the finish wears off. In this area the quality usually does go up with the price. Be cautious of small "custom" manufacturers' finishes the most. Do they compromise the durability of their finish because they don't use EPA certified equipment necessary to apply the best and most durable finish? Check with the owners of any brand of cabinet you are considering. Have they had their cabinets installed for at least 5 years? If so, does the finish look as good as the day they were installed?

Design – No matter how low the price, no matter how well built the cabinets, your new kitchen and bath is not a good value if it is poorly designed. Good design requires the proper knowledge of function and flow along with safety and building standards. In addition, the proper design must be aesthetically pleasing with the proper application of materials, styles, colors, etc. Capitol strives to uphold all industry standards and provide our designers with continuing educational opportunities in kitchen and bath design.

Product Quality – There are many quality products available today from numerous reputable manufacturers. The products we have selected for our showrooms are there because they represent outstanding quality at that specific price point. Not all products at the same price point are of equal quality. Please ask our designer to show you the differences.

Cost – Cost by itself should never be the only determining factor when purchasing a kitchen or bath. It is important, balanced with design and product quality, when evaluating overall value. Don’t be influenced by big discounts from list price. Many manufacturers purposely inflate their list prices to give false impressions of big savings. The only price you should ever consider is the bottom line cost to you after the discount has been taken. Also, when is a sale really a sale? Only when the savings is a limited time difference between the special price and what the company really charges the majority of the time. If a company offers a special sale price all year long then there is no real savings.

If you weigh design, product quality and actual cost as three equally important factors in your buying decision you have a much better chance at long term satisfaction with your project.