8 Essential Features to Look for in High-Quality Cabinet Construction

Custom cabinets add tangible value to a home in terms of monetary value and functionality. High-quality cabinet construction isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it as long as homeowners recognize the exclusive features that define high-quality millwork.

This list of eight features should help you find cabinets that exceed your expectations. Through quality materials and customized designs, we aim to help you turn your investment into long-term value for your house.

High-Quality Wood

Durable, high-quality cabinets should be made from plywood sourced from maple, birch, oak, or other hardwoods. These materials last longer, resist scratches and damage, bear heavier loads, and look better in the finished product. When buying high-quality cabinets, homeowners should look out for particle board or prefabricated materials. These materials are cheaper, but they don’t last as long and are also more susceptible to moisture damage.

Customized Style

High-quality cabinets are designed to complement the intended living space. Generic or low-quality materials will not provide the personalization that your home deserves. Quality wood allows millwork artisans to preserve the style of the home in their new designs with pieces whose stylistic details will stand the test of time.

Drawer Function

Cabinet drawers should be matched to their intended function. For example, a high-quality pantry drawer will pull out easily and completely so the user doesn’t have to reach into the cabinet’s body for items in the back.

Pull-out drawers must be deep enough to match modern needs, particularly in the kitchen, where space utilization is an issue. Many homeowners prefer to keep their pots and pans in drawers, so a high-quality cabinet should have room for modern storage needs while opening completely to allow complete visibility of the contents.

Sturdy Cabinet Back

High-quality cabinets have full-height cabinet backs that support a strong construction. These back panels should be at least ⅜ inches thick to support the cabinet’s weight and retain its shape over time.

Many modern homes reserve space that used to be occupied by high-level cabinets for shelves and windows. Homeowners often prefer shorter, deeper cabinets closer to waist height to store everything at arm’s reach and potentially use as extra table or counter space. Knowing this, a sturdy cabinet back is an even more important feature than it once was.

Soft Hinges

Hinges are a necessary cabinet feature that may be easy to miss since they don’t directly involve the furniture’s millwork. However, the quality of the hinges says a lot about the cabinet’s longevity. In high-quality cabinets, hinges are steel pieces with nickel plate, adjustable six ways, and covered by a warranty. They may not seem important, but their quality determines the cabinet’s functionality over the long term.

Quality Drawer Glides

Along the same lines, drawer glides are an essential feature to look for in high-quality cabinets. Since they aren’t visible, they tend to be compromised in low-quality constructions. Thankfully, the quality of the hinges is clearly evident from a quick test.

Low-quality drawer glides will be shorter than the length of the drawer, meaning they won’t be able to open fully. They won’t have a smooth opening mechanism from quality ball bearings and a sturdy, well-fitted drawer. A drawer should be able to support a significant amount of weight, around 80-90 pounds, to handle everyday use. Glides mounted below the drawer box are better able to support this weight.

I-Beams

I-beams on the upper sides of cabinets give the structure additional strength. Even during their initial transportation to your home, cabinets without i-beams can warp and strain. High-quality cabinets have i-beams built directly into the millwork, while lower-quality cabinets rely on braces stapled to the sides for decoration.

Resistant Interior

High-quality cabinets are often reinforced on the inside with melamine, a coating that makes them resistant to stains, fires, and water damage. This is particularly important for kitchen cabinets, which can easily come in contact with damaging substances and high temperatures.

Melamine or a similar coating makes the cabinet easier to clean and more durable in the long run. Cabinets in non-kitchen spaces can get away with natural wood veneers, but this still makes them more susceptible to moisture, especially in humid areas.

Contact Sixth Avenue for High-Quality Custom Cabinets

These eight essential features can help homeowners discern high-quality cabinets from generic alternatives. However, while we have narrowed down the general qualities that make certain cabinets high quality, the ideal cabinets for your spaces will need other exclusive features.

An experienced millwork artisan can match the cabinet design to the limitations of your living spaces, the style of your home’s architecture, the materials that match your budget, and more. At Sixth Avenue Custom, we aim to fulfill our customers’ needs for high-quality cabinets by fulfilling these eight essential features.

Contact our team to learn how we can customize our high-quality cabinets to your home’s style and intended atmosphere. At Sixth Avenue, you supply the vision; our artisans will take it from there!