About cabinets

1. Better cabinets are made of paint- or stain-grade plywood or wood. Look for them to be made of plywood that’s ¾-inch thick. 2. Some cabinets are made of medium-density fiberboard, also called MDF, which is held together with wax and resin glue. Vick urges homeowners to stay away from cabinets made with this. 3. Factory-made cabinets will usually have a tougher, more durable finish. Look for cabinets with a catalyzed, conversion varnish topcoat, said Peggy McGowen, founder of Kitchen & Bath Concepts at the Design Center of Houston. “That’s a really hard topcoat that makes the finish very, very durable. You could pour nail polish remover on it and it doesn’t buckle it,” she said. 4. While contemporary or even modern kitchens are on the rise, most are still traditional or transitional style. The most popular cabinet front in kitchens and baths is Shaker style, which is also called flat-front cabinets, said McGowen. 5. One measure of quality in factorymade or pre-made cabinets is the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association Seal of Approval. Cabinets will have a blue or green sticker in them, signifying that they’ve met stringent industry standards as measured by the KCMA. 6. If hiring a cabinetmaker or contractor, check their work by visiting their showroom or a jobsite under construction, or ask for client references. 7. Consider using a kitchen specialist when planning your new or remodeled kitchen. They’ll have ideas you may not think of and will have access to things not on the retail market. They also will take care of details that will save you the aggravation of figuring out contractor issues yourself.