The kitchen is perhaps one of the most vital rooms in the house. Not only it is one of the most used rooms, but it adds more value to a home as well. And a considerable part of every kitchen is the cabinets.
When deciding whether to purchase ready to assemble cabinets, there are a couple of things that you should know and consider. Frequently termed as “RTA” or “stock” cabinets, ready to assemble cabinets became a trend since it cost lesser compared to other types of cabinets.
While they aren’t as adjustable as custom or semi-custom cabinets, RTA cabinets offer a feeling of quick comfort to any kitchen. And, by expansion, to the whole home simply due to its convenience in installation and its high-end designs as well.
What You Should Know Before Buying
Assembling RTA cabinets may sound straightforward and simple. However, there are things that you should be wary of before purchasing these cabinets. If you buy the wrong material or shop in the wrong place, you may end up with a second-rate cabinet that does not last long.
Here are some of the things that you need to consider the most when purchasing RTA cabinets.
Cost
The cost of ready to assemble cabinets can differ. Aspects like the material of the cabinets, kind of finish you prefer, the difficulty of the assembly process, and the cost of assembly can, more often than not, alter the price. For this reason, the price of RTA cabinets can be as high as $750 or as low as $250.
However, the good news is that you can, for the most part, save more money in RTA cabinets. Such cabinets arrive in pieces, so they somehow cost less compared to typical kitchen cabinets. It also makes them affordable to ship to your home. Plus, if you have some DIY skills, you can assemble the cabinet yourself so that you won’t have to spend money on labor costs.
Quality
For the most part, there is a huge difference in quality. Thus, you should never choose the cheapest RTA cabinets that you can find. Keep in mind that not all ready to assemble cabinets have the same quality, and the cheapest cabinets will surely not last long compared to other options.
But that does not mean that you have to purchase the most costly cabinets either. Alternatively, aim your attention on the features.
RTA cabinets with high level of quality will have the following features:
- Drawer guides
- Dovetail joinery
- Solid wood drawers
- Solid plywood or wood panels
- Solid wood frames
- Brushed or hand-wiped finish
Tools
When you decide to opt for RTA cabinets, you need to have the right tools first to assemble the cabinets. Perhaps you have already owned the tools that you need for the assembly process. But there may be at least two tools that you are missing out.
Here is a list of the tools that you will need:
- Nail gun
- Table saw
- Level
- Drill
- Screwdriver
You Need To Know What You Truly Want
Before anything else, you need to know what you want. It’s best to have a bit of idea or knowledge of what kind of cabinets ready to assemble you want or need before you go shopping. If you do not have a basic idea or know the different types of ready to assemble cabinets, you may get lesser than what you expect.
For instance, an incomplete or half-done cabinet may not seem much contrasting compared to a finished cabinet. However, you will have to apply paint and finish the cabinet yourself. Be wary of the small details. Even the smallest details or aspects can make a massive difference to the outcome of your cabinets.
DIY Skills
The assembly process can become tricky and challenging if you do not have any knowledge or experience about DIY projects. For that reason, you may need to learn some essential DIY skills before buying your cabinets.
On the other hand, if you already have a DIY experience, you should not have any problems or issues with the assembly process. Take note that assembling the first few parts of the cabinets will be the most challenging part. However, once you get familiar with the process, the rest should be straightforward. Eventually, assembling the cabinets together should not take a long time.
Takeaway
If you are searching for easy, uncomplicated kitchen cabinets, ready to assemble cabinets are a great option for you. You just have to ensure that you know what you are looking for and equip with the right do-it-yourself tools before you purchase. Take a look at what you need to know before buying ready to assemble cabinets.
