When it comes time to renovate your kitchen, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is what kind of cabinets to install. There are three main types of cabinets on the market today: prefabricated, semi-custom, and custom. Here's a breakdown of the key differences between each type of cabinet so that you can make an informed decision about which is right for your kitchen renovation.
Prefabricated Cabinets
Prefabricated cabinets are exactly what they sound like: cabinets made in a factory and then shipped to your home in a ready-to-install state. One of the main advantages of prefabricated cabinets is that they are relatively inexpensive. So if you're on a tight budget, prefabricated cabinets are definitely the way to go.
Another advantage of prefabricated cabinets is that they are typically quicker and easier to install than semi-custom or custom cabinets because they are made to standard sizes. Prefab cabinets do not require any on-site customization. All you have to do is screw them into place, and you're good to go.
The main downside of prefabricated cabinets is their limited style and design options. So if you want your kitchen to look different than anyone else's, prefabricated cabinets are probably not the way to go.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
Semi-custom cabinets lie somewhere in between prefabricated and custom cabinets in terms of price, style, and installation difficulty. Semi-custom cabinets are made to standard sizes but offer more style options than prefabricated cabinets, meaning you can usually find semi-custom cabinets in a variety of woods, finishes, colors, and door styles to suit your taste.
While semi-custom cabinets offer more style options than prefabricated cabinets, they still don't offer the same level of customization as custom cabinetry. If you're looking for a happy medium between style and price, semi-custom cabinetry may be right for you.
Custom Cabinets
If you want your kitchen to have a truly unique look, custom cabinetry is your best choice. Custom cabinetry offers infinite possibilities in terms of style, materials, and finishes. You can design your dream kitchen with custom cabinetry.
Of course, all this customization comes at a price—literally. Custom cabinetry is by far the most expensive option on the market today. In addition to being expensive, custom cabinetry takes longer to manufacture and install than either prefabricated or semi-custom cabinetry due to the fact that it must be built on-site from scratch by dedicated craftspeople.
If you are planning a remodel, consider each type of kitchen cabinet, weighing price, design options, and installation time, to narrow down which type of cabinet is right for your kitchen renovation.
Contact a kitchen cabinet retailer to learn more.
