We had gotten quotes for Rutt and Signature, too. Our KD was clear thar the quality of the Rutt was somewhat better, but he said that Signature was quite good. In the end we went with Signature because they had a stock color closer to what we were looking for. We have been quite happy with the Signature cabinets, and were fine to have been able to use the difference on other parts of the kitchen . I think you'll be happy with either

Thanks sas95. Very helpful. I want to try to figure out in what respects Rutt is higher quality so that I can determine whether or not those things are important to me. Did your KD give you any insight on that?

It has been over a year at this point and I don't remember the details of the differences. Are you working with a KD or cabinet person who can explain them to you? I'm assuming from your name you're from NYC. We're from the NYC burbs. I wonder if we're dealing with the same cabinet person...

i really liked what i saw from rutt, but in the end decided custom from an independent shop would yield comparable (if not better) quality at lower cost.

sas95--I went to a small shop in my neighborhood on the Upper West Side. They only have Signature so it is probably not the same place. I know Rutt by reputation and when I mentioned Rutt, she suggested that they were comparable.

I think I will price out both and go to an independent shop as well. I need a lot of cabinetry--at least by Manhattan standards.

I don't normally frequet this site, but saw the post and thought I'd weigh in. I work at Signature and have several thoughts...

Local independent shops often don't have the quality control and the craftsmanship can be suspect depending on who you choose. They also don't always deliver on time and that can wreak havoc on a project.

You generally get what you pay for. Both Rutt and Signature are located in Lancaster County, Pa and are well known and respected in the craft.

One of the things about Rutt is they don't use the four sided dovetail drawers... dovetails drawers really add to the look and authenticity of the cabinet.

Also Most cabinet manufacturers out there use Blum drawer hardware. Blum is a good product but their drawer hardware has nylon ball bearings and as a result don't have the longevity. Signature uses Hettich drawer hardware made in Germany. Hettich has steel ball bearings and as a result perform better over the long run.

Also Signature has a very unique french dovetail cabinet construction that your KD should be able to show you. This makes a much better constructed cabinet.

Signature just introduced a new Premium Line that is really attractive. Check out the newly designed roll out shelves... wow! They are so new your KD may not even have them on display yet but samples are available.

Signature has 4 different price points to choose from. Your KD can help you discern which one will best fit your needs. Signature is definitely more competitively positioned pricewise and you even get dovetaild drawers with steel bearings.

You are evaluating to very good cabinet lines but in the end hopefully Signature is the better value for you.

"Local independent cabinet shop don't have the quality control". Maybe Signature could exercise that same quality control on their own website, check out the title " Craftsmenship", didn't know that word existed.

As an independent cabinet shop owner ( isn't that what you are )a lot of the features you espouse are standard fare for a custom cabinetmaker.

Blums are made in two places Austria & South Carolina. Never in my life have I had a callback on a Blum slide.
Hettich are now outsourcing to China.

The french dovetail would be self squaring if the dado weren't so sloppy

Dont work for Rutt, just sticking up for the little guy

In our last kitchen we put in Rutt. The cabs are now about ten years old. We are a family of five (also NYC burbs) so the kitchen saw a lot of use. Rutt held up perfectly ... the movement of the drawers, alignment of cabinet doors, and the painted finish are all like new. I was quite pleased.

I would've used them again but went all custom thru my GC.

ihelpu--great feedback. thanks so much.

I priced out signature and crown point. The signature cabinets 3/4 inch had an mdf center panel where the crown point were solid wood, 1 inch thick and had a raised panel in the inside of the door. They both came out to the same price for the same exact kitchen except crown point looked much better for construction and for quality. I would take a crown point kitchen because of the 1 inch. I looked at Rutt but the only cabinet that really had me going back for more was crown point. But I have to say I was very very impressed with signature.

We have Rutt in our soon-to-be-demo-ed kitchen, installed by the previous owners >10 years ago. I'd say everything aligns, rolls out well, nothing is hanging by the hinges or anything, and they good inside and out. Only after moving in to our rental did I notice that the Rutts don't have that drawer front attached to a four-sided box, like birdman mentioned above. This didn't bother me in the slightest. What bothers me more is the "boxes" on the walls for uppers. They seem to be finished differently, somehow, because even though their color matches with the doors, they've gotten a whole lot more dinged up. I can't really say I noticed this until becoming TKO here, but now that's ALL I notice.

I'm still going to try to sell them on CL. Like I said, they work great and look pretty nice.

As a former kitchen designer, I found cabinetry in this league quite acceptable. The emphasis I would consider is the design ability of the designer, not the cabinetry. Both lines are more than substantial for any use. Look at the dealer and the designer and make your decision there.

In my case, I have submitted my drawings to two different cabinet shops. Both sell Signature and Rutt. It seems that Signature's top line (the new "Premier" line which is even above their custom line) is somewhat equivalent in price to Rutt Regency, which is a new line of Rutt that is about 20% less expensive than the Rutt original line.

So not sure which to choose.

Re the MDF center brought up by kamkar2006 above: I went to a cabinet store today (KentCo in Brooklyn) and the owner praised the MDF center over solid wood because wood expands and causes the seams to crack over time, whereas MDF does not and so there's no more cracking of the seams.

D Rosenbach, did you end up using KentCo? We have looked there but haven't talked in depth to them. I would be interested to hear your experiences, if any. Thanks.

Can anyone speak to Signature's SELECT line vs. CUSTOM --quality, longevity, etc.?

Usually the front of the cabinet are both the same,but behind the cabinet the drawers would be 5/8 thick instead of 3/4,also on top of the lower cabinet they would have a dust shield,this is plywood on top of the cabinet,and the other line would not have the plywood it's top,I would have to read the description on the two to see what they add or take away,the quality of Signature is excellent,the longegivity of the Cabinets are dependent on use,but they should last a lifetime.

Thank you Dayspring Construction. Can you specify on the Signature longevity does that include all of their lines? Select (the lowest end, nylon glides) as well?

Best thing to do is check out there product guides for each cabinetry that they are offering and pick from there.

Though this is an old thread, figured I’d weigh in. First, don’t discount the small cabinet shop. Some better than others and the same can be said about the Big boys like Signature Custom Cabinetry. The statement by Birdman69, “Local independent shops often don't have the quality control and the craftsmanship can be suspect…” is simply not true. As a custom cabinet shop owner and former Signature dealer, I can say that our humble cabinet shop produces a fantastic product—one I’d happily compare side by side with Signature. We use quality Benjamin Moore commercial finishes, formaldehyde-free domestic plywood and yes … we use Blum. Let’s be clear here, Blum is an excellent product and we’ve had no quality issues. In my humble opinion, the reason a large manufacturer would switch to Hettich, Grass or another (perhaps) “off shore” brand is simply about cost. For us, a small shop, it’s a non-issue. But when you’re purchasing quantities of slides like the large manufacturers are, that savings adds up. Ask whether their roll-out shelf slides are the same grade/quality as their drawer slides, or an “off shore” brand (BTW... "off shore" is code for China).

As far as, “You generally get what you pay for.” If that were only true. Buyer beware, sometimes you don’t get what you pay for. Simply put: don’t disqualify the small shop.

Yes, Signature offers 4 lines, starting with IQ, Select, Custom and Premium. Too lengthy to explain the nuances of each but, while there are differences in materials, what they’ll do within that Line, not do, etc., suffice to say, all lines feature Conestoga made cabinet doors.

Someone asked about, “Can anyone speak to Signature's SELECT line vs. CUSTOM --quality, longevity, etc.?” With “Select”, there are i) limits on the wood options, ii) Lenga wood drawer boxes vs. Hard Maple wood on Custom, iii) Limited selection of hardware included with Custom (selections you’d likely not want), iv) Drawer slide brands (honestly unsure?), v) Limited inset options with Select ... and more.

There are many good manufactures of custom cabinetry; some better than others, some well-valued … others not. Perform due diligence before committing, don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re close enough to where it’s being made, go to the factory or shop and see first hand what you’re investing in.

The completed kitchens below were done by a "Local Independent Shop", to include the coffered ceiling beams (kitchen), the custom 12" beaded board on the ceiling and fireplace surround with recessed TV, etc (family room). That's the kind of work the capable smaller shop can do ... that the big cabinet manufacturers can't quite produce as cost-effectively.

Malvern, PA · More Info

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Dayspring Construction, I live in TN. This past monday, May 13, 2019, when we finalized our decision with our KD to go with Woodmode, Woodmode closed their operation. Our KD is really hopeful that they will re-open, but we are not that optimistic. Even if by a miracle they did reopen, I would be leery of the company at this point. Our KD is looking into Signature Kitchens and Bentwood (TX) lines as an alternative. You mentioned that Signature is a good line. But you also mentioned that there are comparable lines to Rutt and Signature in the PA area at a lower price point. Could you share a list of some of those companies that may distribute their product thru out the US? Thanks.

If you're in PA I would definitely find an Amish/Mennonite cabinet company and work with them.

JCohen, I am in PA... not Amish, but in PA. we build beautiful cabinetry and can deliver to TN as well. I used to be a Signature dealer as well.
Visit: www.theshopkitchenandbath.com
Thank you,
Jerry

How are your signature cabinets holding up over time?

What an interesting and lively discussion. No one mentioned the fit, finish or warranties of the various manufacturers, which, of course, are the most important!