Kitchen Cabinets - Questions about Quality....

16 years ago

Ok, here goes. A few weeks back I purchased a kitchen full of Honey Maple, Shaker Cabinets. Nineteen to be exact. Well, I just received them this week and started the install today. Some of the things I had some issues with are the following:

On a few of the doors, the inlaid panels are noticeably darker than others.

All the doors are either bowed (they just don't close right)or just need to be tweaked with the hinges.

Also, on the inlay of the doors, it looks like there is a border of area around the inside perimeter that is lighter than the rest. Almost like there is no finish (there is, it just looks like maybe it is lighter). Of course maybe it is an optical illusion.

Now the kicker. These are Chinese RTA cabinets, that were built then delivered to me. On the whole they do not seem too horrible, but I just want to check and see if the issues I am seeing are a results of the Chinese RTA, or if they are general issues everyone will see.

Needless to say, I am not a happy camper. My first thought was to stop the install, head to cabinets direct, buy the kraftmaid cabinets that I was originally going to and call it a dayÂI realize that to some point you get what you pay for, but I am not sure if I am being overly critical, or I have a horrible set of cabinets.

So, what is it. To frame the conversation, if I did not get these cabinets, I would have gotten the kraftmaid. I have read some horror stories about them, but maybe they are few and far between.

I have posted some photos of the cabinets.

http://www.adeptivemedia.com/misc/kitchen/

I would appreciate any and all comments. The lazy suzan and the cabinet by the oven are the darker doors. In some of the pictures you can see the light edges on the inlay panels.

If I read the kraftmaid catalog, they have a 14 step process on finishing the doors, yada, yada...The price differential between the Kraftmaid and the RTA is about $5000.00. Is it worth it, or are the items I am seeing common for cabinets....and I am just being overly critical.

Thanks...Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to Kitchen Cabinets

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Comments (7)

hhcibtpaun
Original Author
16 years ago
One more thing...If you look at the corner wall cabinet, you will see there is a Knot on the face frame...Does that happen on other cabinets....

Thanks....Mike
janetz
16 years ago
Where would Crystal fall in the lineup, especially their Keyline which is their new low end?
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fern76
16 years ago
Hi Mike, wow! I'm not sure if it's the pictures or what, but if it's the cabs, I personally would not be too happy...is the coloring you are talking about around some of the insets and also on the ends of the some of the drawer panels? geez. Mine are dark cherry KM and I don't seen any of that kind of differention.

I do also have one or two very tiny little knot holes, like almost pencil point size, where like a branch or twig might have been on the wood, but not any real big areas.

I also did have to do a bit of adjusting of the hinges on a few of the doors, and one door that just will not unwarp if you will, to be replaced, but otherwise, no real problems with the construction. All in all, I am thrilled with my Kraftmaid. Very sorry for your trouble, do you have any options?

Fern76
boxiebabe
16 years ago
Hmmmmm.... what are your options at this point?
chefkev
16 years ago
Mike, Sorry to be ignorant - what are Chinese RTA cabinets? I just got Mid-continent natural maple cabinets. Not as expensive or fancy as some, but still very nice. Some knots and color variation are normal, but I wouldn't be happy if I were you, with so much irregularity and particularly the parts that appear unfinished. I didn't mind a few knots and minor variations (not as extreme as yours). I had two cabinet doors I was unhappy with . One had a mineral deposit; it was natural but looked like it was streaked with dirt. The second was a knot that went a third of the way up the inside corner of a door. Also several shelves were damaged in shipping. I took them to my KD and he was gracious about it and simply got me new ones - the replacements just came yesterday.

As boxiebabe said, what are your options? If you have the option, ask that they take back the problem doors/drawers and replace them. It sounds like you're not going to be happy. I'm certainly not an expert, but I don't think you're being too "picky". Good luck, let us know what happens.
Kevin
berryberry
16 years ago
yes, to some extent you do get what you pay for. I have read about lots of issues with Chinese RTA cabinets. That said, your don't look too bad but yes, it does seem the color matching could be better. Hard to see the bow doors. If you can tweak the hinges to remedy how they close, then thats an easy adjustment that really wouldn't be too far out of the ordinary.

I guess it boils down to are you stuck with these? Ie no return? and if so, can you live with them or do you want to spend more for a bunch of other cabinets ?
hhcibtpaun
Original Author
16 years ago
RTA = Ready To Assemble...

As far as my options...Not sure yet, I emailed the guy and mentioned that a few doors may need to be swapped out. There were some issues with the drawer glides too. I can probably tweak the drawer glides and doors, and figured that was probably more common.

I guess one option is to return everything (not sure what he would say about that), then go out and get some new cabinets. Like I said to get the same in Kraftmaid, the price goes from about $3500.00 to $7500.00.

I have looked around at similar cabinets in a similar finish and they all seem to have some range of color variation, so I was hoping that someone with similar options could comment. My fear is I go and cancel, then order new and end up in the same boat.

Thanks...Mike

Kitchen Cabinets - Questions about Quality....

Comments (7)

hhcibtpaun
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janetz

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Kitchen Cabinets - Questions about Quality....

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hhcibtpaunOriginal Author

janetz

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