Attention to Detail with Kitchen Cabinet Construction

With all the different manufacturers of cabinetry, there are a few things to consider when selecting your cabinets for a kitchen remodel.  I’d like to focus this topic to some recent plumbing service work that we completed in Camp Hill, PA - on a 5 year old home with basic builder grade cabinets.  What does plumbing have to do with cabinet construction and selections? (Well… when your kid grinds up a spoon in the garbage disposal, causing the unit to crack and leak inside the cabinet, you may have a problem…)(Oops)

Cabinet box construction will typically offer 3 choices:

• Furniture Board: Cheap particle board laminated with a paper backing on all sides.  Drawer boxes also be constructed of furniture board and stapled together.  This option may not be a good decision if you have a very active kitchen.
• Plywood Sides: A great option for added strength and exposed end cabinets that could be bumped or scratched.  The bottom of the cabinet will be furniture board.
• Full Plywood Box: All sides of the cabinet will be finished plywood.  This will be the best option for strength and durability.  When installing granite or quartz countertops you definitely want to have cabinetry that will support the added weight.

Here are some other options you will find during selections:

• Solid wood drawer boxes with dovetail joints.
• Full extension drawer guides - This allows the full drawer box to be opened outside of the cabinet.
• Slow close hinges for doors and drawers. (It’s only money…)
• Matching door panels to mount on exposed side panels.

Your budget may not allow you to spend the extra money on upgrade box construction and features but I always make it a point to recommend a Full Plywood Box for your sink base cabinet or any other cabinet that houses plumbing fixtures.  Any leaking or moisture on furniture board will immediately absorb through the paper causing staining, separation and the particle board will expand.  If you’re building a home, keep in mind that most builders try to stick to their “Cookie Cutter” design and do not bring these options to question since there are hundreds of selections throughout the whole home.  When remodeling, be sure to look at your existing cabinet’s condition and base your selections that will promote a definite improvement over the facility. 

The bottom of this cabinet did not endure a gushing leak but as you will see in the attached photos, there are some water stains on the paper.  The bottom has become bumpy from the particle board expanding.  Some of the water ran to the side of the cabinet where the dado groove is cut to assemble the side and bottom together.  The side has noticeably become damaged.  The paper is lifting and flaking at the bottom corner.

 Although the leak was stopped by replacing the garbage disposal, the damaged cabinet will remain until the time comes for a new kitchen remodel.  Ordering a new cabinet will most likely not match because of the variance in stain batches.  The whole cabinet would need cut out, sink removed and the drain pipe would need moved inside the wall to be able to slide a new cabinet into place.  Obviously the homeowner agreed to take care of that when they’re ready for a new kitchen in a couple years (with better cabinet construction).  This leak definitely raised some awareness for our new clients when the time comes to plan a new kitchen.  Feel free to contact us for more information on kitchen planning, design and installation.