A big expense in remodeling your kitchen is replacing the cabinets. A great money saver is to buy discount kitchen cabinets. These may be cheaper but they are not necessarily of lower quality. You just need to know the types of kitchen cabinets available and the construction processes to get the best deals.
Types of kitchen cabinets
Storage kitchen cabinets
- The majority of discount kitchen cabinets are of this type.
- They come in standard shapes and sizes so take your measurements carefully to make sure they fit where you want them to go. If necessary, consult a sales outlet to ensure that your choice fits into the kitchen.
- These cabinets are usually only available in a limited number of styles.
- As they are stock items, they are shipped quickly.
- Available with limited style options, they are easy to compare and inspect before you buy them.
- It is often possible to save more by buying them unfinished and doing the painting or staining yourself.
Semi custom kitchen cabinets
- These are the most popular types of kitchen cabinets.
- These are based on a number of standard styles and finishes – more than those available with stock cabinets – so you have more options to choose from.
- Usually made of better quality materials than stock cabinets, they are made to order to match your kitchen.
- These are more expensive than stock cabinets.
Custom kitchen cabinets
- These are not available at a discount unless the manufacturer has surplus from another order.
- These are the best in terms of quality, using the best quality materials and finishes.
- Since they are designed specifically for your kitchenare available in the widest range of design options.
- Besides being the most expensive, the shipping time is also usually the longest.
Finding discount kitchen cabinets
1. Remember that the simplest designs are always the cheapest.
2. The Internet is a great option not only for online stores but also for major stores and retailers whose websites will contain details of models and prices. TheRTAStore.com is one such website that offers discount kitchen cabinets online (sponsored link).
3. In addition to looking for suppliers, the Internet also has many price comparison sites, many of which include product reviews so that you can learn about the product first from the user experience and not only from advertising.
4. Media advertising is another source of information. Keep your eyes open for TV, magazine and newspaper ads for discount kitchen cabinets and kitchen furniture sales. Check the Yellow Pages.
5. Factory outlets are a good option as you are buying at factory prices without any additional retail costs.
6. Factory stores often offer ready-to-assemble cabinets that are cheaper than ready-to-assemble. A great option if you are comfortable doing the assembly yourself.
7. Kitchen cabinets used as demonstration models or floors in stores are sold at a discount. Since they are meant to impress the buyer they look good, but check for signs of wear before buying them.
8. Keep your eyes open for discontinued lines and designs. These are perfectly fine, but being old designs are sold at lower prices than current models.
9. Damaged or “second hand” items are sold at greatly reduced rates. These do not have manufacturing defects that a good manufacturer will catch and reject during quality inspection, but are usually items with handling or shipping damage. This damage takes the form of surface scratches and minor chipping and is often not noticed except on a detailed inspection or it can be on the back of the cabinet where it is never seen. Examine them carefully before you buy.
10. Be ready to negotiate. Discount kitchen cabinets have flexible prices and these vary from store to store. Tell a retailer with a better offer than another store and see what they offer next.
11. Spring is when many people remodel their homes. Since this is a period of high competition, discounts and special offers are often available. Again, don’t hesitate to negotiate.
12. A common mistake many people make is to ignore the impact of shipping costs on the final price of kitchen cabinets. The closer the supplier is to you, the lower the shipping cost.
