Selecting the Wood or Finish

• A cabinetmaker builds a product to meet a client's specifications. The type of wood used is one of the key choices, and a professional cabinetmaker guides a customer to the right choice. The room colors, countertop finish, purpose of the cabinet and style of decor all contribute to selecting the wood. The cabinetmaker is invested in his craftsmanship, and his pride of workmanship is evident in the finished product. Stock cabinetry is also wood, but usually a thinner cut, a lesser grade or particleboard with a finish or stain. A special heating process is used with some stock cabinets to suggest a wood finish.
  
  

Building to a Specific Need

• If a library is being custom built with component cabinetry, a cabinetmaker can provide your exact needs. Height, width, ceiling-to-floor, hidden storage areas, lighted shelves, glass inserts, embellishments -- all are crafted in custom cabinetry. But high and deep kitchen cupboards, tray storage, spice racks, dish racks, paned-doors, cupboard doors that close with the slightest push -- all these features are available in stock cabinetry. In fact, over 2,000 configurations can be selected from the catalogs of large stock cabinet manufacturers. A highly laminated cabinet front in a custom color has to be produced by a cabinetmaker, but stock cabinetry is also available in modern, high-gloss finishes of good quality.
  
  

Delivery

• A custom-made cabinet takes a cabinetmaker more time to produce than one put together out of stock and sitting in a warehouse. A two-to-three-week waiting period for stock cabinetry is normal, while 12 weeks or more is not uncommon for custom-built projects. A custom cabinetmaker includes installation to be sure his product is hung and displayed correctly. Stock delivery often requires a separate installer be hired.
  
  

Cost

• Custom cabinetry can be expensive, sometime three times more expensive than stock cabinetry. However, quality-grade stock cabinets are also expensive. Your cost differential comes between the low and high ends of the products, the special sizes required and the hardware chosen. The choice of wood is also added into the cost, with high-end woods like mahogany adding substantially to the price of the cabinetry.