There are a lot of good, honest people building custom cabinets throughout North America. Unfortunately, there are plenty of the bad ones, too. We'll help you identify red flags and make sure you're working with one of the good ones!
(Photo credit: Chris Loves Julia)
1. Are There Clear Signs Of Professionalism?
We want to see excellent Google reviews (no less than 4.7 stars), a Houzz profile, Yelp... anything public that is open to honest customer reviews. Additionally, when you call, who answers? How do they answer? "Y'ello... ... ..." or "thank you for calling Quality Cabinets and Trim, my name is ___, how may I help you?".
Do they have a clear process in place for estimating, establishing timelines, clear communication? If you set appointments, do they show up on time? Are they respectful of your time and curious about your project (as opposed to considering it an inconvenience). None of the above is difficult, or expensive. It's a matter of priorities: do you feel that their customer's' experience is a priority to them?
2. Do They Keep A Clean Facility?
If they don't think it's important to keep their own "home" clean, why would you expect them to treat your's any differently? It isn't important to have a 5000+ SF facility with state-of-the-art equipment, there are plenty of 1 and 2-person shops doing excellent work. But it is important to see that cleanliness and organization are front-of-mind in everything they do.
3. What Is Their Process For Approving Door and Finish Samples?
As we've discussed before, getting the perfect finish is a very important part of the process and sometimes overlooked. When considering different shops, ask do they have, or are willing to produce, finish samples of the colors/stains you're wanting?
Do they have a showroom or samples of past projects? It's by no means necessary to have a beautiful showroom, but a good cabinetmaker will want aligned expectations from the beginning with his or her clients. They will see the importance of getting everyone on the same page with regard to wood grain, finish type, door style, and any other detail specific to your project. We used to say in my shop "hope is not a strategy".
Let's not hope everything turns out the way we're expecting, let's make sure of it.
4. Do They Use Professional Grade Cabinet Coatings?
Or, if delivering unfinished, insist you work with a finisher that does? I cannot stress this point enough. Not only will this ensure you're getting the most durable finish available, but it also suggests they are willing to dedicate time and resource to learning about best-practices and doing everything possible to provide their customers with the best available. Here is a recent blog we wrote that gets into the basics of what good cabinet finishes are, their benefits, and why it's so important your new cabinets are finished properly.
5. Do They Do Their Own Installations?
If not, do they have a reliable installer that does? You can have the most beautiful custom cabinets look terrible if the installation is not done properly. Simply leaving it up to the builder or GC on the project to do the installation usually isn't sufficient. Similar to the samples and aligning expectations: good cabinet shops will want to ensure the final result is something not only the customer will love, but that they can be proud of.
Consider A Manufacturer
The majority of the disasters we've seen in our Ask A Cabinetmaker Facebook group have come from under-qualified "cabinetmakers" ruining projects. Most states do not require any licensing whatsoever to become a cabinetmaker, and the building code rarely includes cabinetry. It really is purely up to the skill level and integrity of the individual building the cabinets, or the carefully-created systems of a proper business. Additionally, the word "custom" does not mean at all mean "quality". If you're unable to find a qualified local cabinetmaker, know that there are lots of excellent cabinet manufacturers that sell nationwide.
From larger parent companies like MasterBrand that have a dozen excellent manufacturers, to more regional shops like DeWils, Bridgewood, and Coppes Napanee, know that you have a lot of good options and aren't stuck having to work with a local company that isn't capable (or willing) to create the look you're wanting.
The Value Of Expert Advice
If you need help vetting a specific cabinet company, deciphering those beautiful finishes on Pinterest so you know exactly what to ask for, or anything else cabinet-related, feel free to ask anything in our Facebook group. We're here to help make your project goes as smoothly as possible!
Here's to empowered homeowners!