Prefabricated vs. Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Replacement kitchen cabinets can either be prefabricated or custom built. Each has its own set of pros and cons that should be weighed before making a choice. In this blog, Handyman Connection® of Lexington-Nicholasville shares the pros and cons of prefabricated and custom kitchen cabinets.

Build Time

Typically, kitchen cabinets are built ahead of time and are assembled onsite. Unless there’s a high demand for a particular cabinet design, prefabricated kitchen cabinets generally get shipped out from the factory once the order is received. Custom kitchen cabinets require time to build, which may take longer if the design is more intricate.

Material

Prefabricated kitchen cabinets are built using oriented strand board (OSB), plywood or some other kind of pressed wood product. These cabinets are surprisingly durable and can last for several years with proper care. The outer surface is usually veneer, but they can also be painted. Custom cabinets, on the other hand, offer a wider choice of materials, including solid wood. When choosing this option, make sure the wood is properly treated to avoid warping from moisture and temperature changes.

Customization

Custom cabinets are, as the name indicates, fully customizable. This is ideal if you have an irregular kitchen floor plan or if you want to make use of areas like kitchen corners. Custom cabinets are also great if you wish to have ornamentation on the cabinet door. While prefabricated kitchen cabinets are available in various styles, the kitchen wall has to be close to the cabinet size.

Finishes

Prefabricated kitchen cabinets typically come with factory-applied finishes, and some manufacturers provide warranty coverage against cracking, blistering and peeling. Others come with unfinished surfaces that give you the option to paint or stain their surface as needed. Since custom cabinets are built from scratch, you have full flexibility on what finish that you want.

Handyman Connection of Lexington-Nicholasville is your leading provider of handyman services, including remodeling and carpentry. Give us a call at (859) 274-4477, or fill out our contact form.