Wood cabinets are a popular choice for many homeowners, but with so many varieties and other factors to consider, deciding on a particular wood can be overwhelming. Durability, strength, price and appearance are all important factors in wood selection. You can buy ready-to-assemble, stock, semi-custom or custom cabinets that vary greatly in price and the types of woods that are offered. Before making a choice, consider following this three-step process:
Plan
• Assess your budget and decide how much you can spend on the cabinets.
• Compare the cost of custom cabinets, which allow for the widest choice of woods, with stock or ready-to-assemble cabinets, which are less expensive but restrict your choice of woods.
• Choose wood durability according to your usage. If you need a wood that can withstand heavy use, oak can be an economical choice, while the more expensive woods such as mahogany or cherry are less durable.
Examine
• Browse stock cabinets in local showrooms to see what kind of woods you like. Ask to see woods that are suitable to paint, like birch, poplar or maple, and those that take staining well, like ash.
• Go to several lumberyards and ask to see their wood samples. Examine the grains. Wood can be stained, oiled or tinted, but the grain affects its appearance and how dark or light it will become.
• Ask for a sample of the woods you like. If one isn’t stained in a color you want, ask for a close match to help you make up your mind. Take home samples to see how they blend with your home’s décor.
Decide
• Study stain charts at hardware stores. Compare different woods and the colors they can be stained. Take samples of your curtains and furniture fabrics with you to see which stained woods best complement them.
• Ask for prices of veneers versus solid wood (veneers are generally less expensive). The most visible parts of your cabinets are the doors, so inquire about using solid wood for the doors and combining it with a veneer for the cabinet base. This would reduce expenses while maintaining appearance and durability.
• Narrow your wood choice to three. Measure your cabinet space or existing cabinets. Ask several cabinetmakers and suppliers for quotes for the three woods you’ve chosen.
