We used ikea cabinets and butcher block countertop for our second kitchen remodel. I hired a carpenter who did our demo, took out a non-load bearing wall, assembled and installed our cabinets and installed our countertops. He charged $40 over hour--this was about seven years ago in a HCOLA. We hired a plumber and an electrician too. (Electricians are $$$$). Only the electrical work needed a permit and our electrician pulled that and arranged inspection. We did not have a GC and we managed the project from the opposite coast. I think this slowed things down by a couple of weeks, but we were not living there for most of it so that wasn't a huge priority.

We felt like we came out ahead in terms of quality of cabinet for total price paid. But finding our reasonably priced, hard working carpenter was key.

This go-around (different house) we have some non-standard dimensions and are going with Barker cabinets. Our GC, who used to be a cabinet maker, has taken a look at their website and communicated with them at our request and feels that they are well-priced for the specified quality. Can't speak from experience yet as we haven't even ordered the cabinets--very, very soon!

What you are really asking is whether you want to DIY the GC part, right?

I know two people who hired just one renovator "handy" guy to install IKEA cabinets and manage the whole process. It worked out really well for both of them and didn't take too long.

We decided to do almost all DIY. My kitchen reno just had its first birthday so you can judge for yourself if that's working for us ;) . The IKEA cabinets weren't too bad. There was a lot more electrical stuff than I expected. We are not DIYing flooring, countertops, or drywall.

We did things in two phases, for financial reasons. Phase One was extending our kitchen and living room into a former breezeway, upgrading electrical, new roof and siding the whole house. So for two years we had a long kitchen with the cabinets, sink, etc. at one end, and the table and chairs at the other end, with just a plywood subfloor, and unpainted walls.

When we were ready for Phase Two, we hired the same company to demo, run new electrical items, and drywall. They were intimidated by installing our 1200 cfm Modern Aire range hood, so we opted to give that job to the only cabinet contractor IKEA had for our area, in addition to assembling and installing the cabinets. Long story short, they did the cabinets just fine, but never returned to do the range hood, or even get the rest of their money, and did not respond in any way for three entire weeks. (We only gave them 10% down, so obviously, they are not business aces.)

We ended up with my husband, me and one of our daughters installing the range hood ourselves. The only reason that our whole cabinet installation was not DIY was the time factor; if we'd done it ourselves, it still wouldn't be finished. :)

Finally, the owner called and said he'd swing by to install the hood. We told him never mind, and sent him a check, minus the hood install.

I'm in the middle of an ikea kitchen remodel. I hired their kitchen planner and they came and measured($199) gave me a parts list, I went in and ordered and they delivered in 2 days for $89. During this time, I researched 2 other contractors that specialize in ikea cabinet installation and sent them the plans and received quotes plus from the ikea installation co. From the day the kitchen planner came to the day of demolition, it took 10 days.

Between the 3 companies, ikea installers were the most affordable (I was very surprised by this). I ended up using ikea installers bc I was told they had better warranty and training (heard training part is not true) and overall, they were very efficient in getting the project rolling. I want fast and furious. Unlike many, kitchen remodel is not a dream or a hobby of mine.

These ikea installers are also GC so I have two contracts with them, one for cabinet install through ikea and one for other GC work(installing sink, dishwasher, updating plumbing stuff, backsplash etc). Same company but different contracts.

Initially, I was going to install Quartz through the same GC, but decided to buy from ikea and they have a different sub for their countertops so I'll be working with them separately. Basically, ikea acts as the main and have two subs, one for cabinets and one for countertops.

fyi, I didn't move anything, but updated everything except lighting and floors.

Regarding the price, I have 20cabinets with crazy num of drawers, material cost $8k. Quartz through ikea is costing more than what I priced from GC (about$1,200 more)for similar material but found that ikea ceasarstone supposedly is 3cm instead of 2cm prevalent in the marketplace and are attached directly on cabinets instead of plywood. These figures are all after their 20% dc. So still big chunk of money.

For me, I wanted to spend my money on appliances, that's where I splurged.

I'm 1wk since demo and my cabs are in. Counter sub comes wed to template and will take up to 15 days to install. That's when the clock starts ticking to install the rest. I hope to be finished by 5/1 when my sub zero is installed. Reading the above comment, this is where I should start getting nervous!

I think it really depends on the contractor you end up with. I found my ikea installer while reading someone's blog and reached out to them before I went to ikea so they worked with ikea to make sure they were assigned to me. I think my local ikea has several installers and I got the impression that they work very differently ( prob charge differently too)

Hope this helps and good luck!

Paying labor negates the entire reason that Ikea is popular. It's designed for the DIYer. If you have to pay to assemble and install, you aren't really saving anything over standard already assembled cabinets from another source. And you'll get a LOT more choices choosing a standard cabinet company as well.

Many contractors won't even do Ikea, and the ones that are ''certified'' don't really get intensive specialty training on cabinets---or anything else. They are no better---or worse--than other GC's. You still have to do your due diligence.

You are totally right, Sophie wheeler, you definitely need to do your due diligence and it seems you do have less to choose from. I just got lucky all three I talked to were all reputable. For me, diy is not an option bc of our schedule but still loved their look and the fact that materials were readily available with very fast turnaround. I didn't have to drive around looking at stuff for days. Some people love that, I don't. In terms of install cost, I felt it was a fair price and I could've paid cheaper depending on the choices I made, but overall, I'm really happy with it so far.

One thing I want to share with people thinking about doing ikea kitchens, my installer told me that the new sektion cabinets take longer to customize than the Akrum cabs due to metal hastners and now there are so many options with drawers that people are adding so many drawers adding more time for install so choose wisely!

IMO, ikea is appealing for more than just price. The cabinet hardware is really great quality. And there is so much customization possible. True, not in the size of the cabinet boxes. But interior fixtures- "hidden" drawers, roll-out baskets, pull outs vs regular doors... sure you could install that kind of stuff in other cabinets (either aftermarket, w/ a rev a shelf type product, or maybe through the cabinet manuf), but they're less expensive at ikea than elsewhere, and they install very easily into ikea's cabinets.

As for finding a contractor... Where are you located? I'm in Atlanta, and I've heard of several
contractors who will do IKEA cabinets + general kitchen work. Mostly
through word of mouth, but really, any carpenter should be able to
work with IKEA cabinets. They won't be the hard part of the job you're
describing!

I proceeded to a quote with one contractor. It included removing a wall, patching floor, running a water line to the new fridge location, installing a prep sink, re-installing main sink & DW after counter install, demo & removal of existing cabs, assembly and install of new cabs, installing recessed lights, trim work and crown, and backsplash demo and install. His
price was fair, and was certainly at the low end of a kitchen remodel.
Still, hiring out all that labor definitely bumped the project into the next
budget category. We decided to do it ourselves instead, so I can't
comment on how hiring out ikea would have panned out in the end.

Any good semi custom line can do all of the "customization" that Ikea offers. And beyond. Their hardware will be of equal quality as well. Don't get me wrong, Ikea shines for a basic DIY kitchen. But for anything small, or complex, or that needs contractor involvement other than you hiring an electrician, there are MUCH better bang for your buck options available. Full service contracting with Ikea products is like having a professional chef serve you Burger King. If that's your level of expectation, sure, you can pay more for the same results. Or, you can have that chef create pretty much anything you want. Most people don't have any idea as to the level of options available with the average semi custom line. So to say that Ikea is "more customizable" is a statement based on ignorance of the possibilities elsewhere. Not to mention the additional options for doors and finishes. It's a really wide world outside of a giant blue and yellow box.

Since the original question was regarding the process and cost of going through ikea, I would say for me it wasn't too bad, they didn't nickel and dime me. Yes they do spell out everything but that can hurt or help both parties. There isn't much hand holding like if you had a kitchen designer and a project manager on your staff, but I'm fine without one. While I don't like to build cabinets, I am capable of managing projects.

I know that people love to knock ikea and make it seem it's for a small niche diy market but I'm in San diego and my GC installer does jobs all over including La Jolla with multi million dollar homes. He said he's done 17,000 ikea kitchens in his career. Let's say he's exaggerating and only did half or even a third, he doesn't need to nickel and dime me, he's time is better spent on finishing and moving on to the next job that are lined up. Again, this is just my installer. Don't know about others. At the end of the day, there are good GCs and bad GCs it doesn't have much to do with the fact that it's ikea. Regarding those that won't install ikea cabinets, well that makes it easy for people like me, I'll just move on to the ones that embrace my job.

The good thing about getting Burger King is that you can have it your way..you can just pick and choose the things you want or have the entire burger. I'm good with that!

I respectfully disagree, Sophie. It may depend on the area of the country and local economies, but I found Ikea extremely "more customizable" for the price. It's not a matter of what is possible, but the extreme amount of customization for half the price of a semi-custom plain kitchen. I went to several KD's and in an attempt to get bang for my buck also went to Lowe's. Every quote was more than double than my Ikea quote. I could not even consider drawer banks in semi. The only customization the KD's could provide me at double the Ikea price were bases and uppers with doors, one full extension drawer stack, Susan's and a pantry without drawers or pullouts. I paid $5400 (which included freight as I am 350 miles from an Ikea) for my relatively large amount of Ikea cabinets. My initial design was smaller and the least expensive quote from the KD's was nearly $10k for cabs only, no labor. In my area, a good carpenter can be hired for $25/hr. That would be roughly $600-1000 for putting my Ikea cabs together. If I had hired out assembly, I would have still ended up with a better kitchen having all drawers, pullouts and glass uppers for thousands less.

We understand that semi-custom offers so many options and finishes, but at a price that is ridiculous for so many homes. I was able to get all the custom I could want for my modest home at a very reasonable price.

The key to any successful remodel is finding a good GC or carpenter depending on your scope of work. I am thrilled with the outcome of my Ikea kitchen. I was able to splurge on marble, walnut, and a Kohler Stages sink and Karbon faucet with what I saved on cabinets.

Bbtrix I agree. We just finished having our kitchen full of ikea cabinets installed. Our Gc demoed the whole kitchen added electrical new plumbing can lights all new sub floor all new drywall and put together and installed 26 ikea cabinets with a ton of drawers and pull outs the entire price for the kitchen was 10k that doesn't include flooring or countertops but tell me what other line u can get soft close drawers the really good hardware and all those drawers installed with all the other work that needed to be done for that price. I know I priced out over 10 different cabinet lines and Ikea was less by at least half.

Our last kitchen remodel we used ikea with similar numbers. Even paying for a carpenter to assemble and install, ikea was cheaper than anything else I priced out and at that time their hardware was superior to anything else I priced out.

This time around (different house) we are using barker because we need custom depth on some cabinets. I didn't price out other options specifically, but my GC who came to our meeting prepared to recommend other mid-priced cabinet lines he has worked with was impressed by barker's specifications and price and said we would come out ahead even paying for his guys to assemble.

So in our experience RTA cabinets can be a good buy even if you are paying for assembly.

I live in one of the least expensive sections of the country that exist, and there is no way that I could hire skilled labor like a cabinet installer for $25 an hour. My cheapest qualified installer has a $600 a day charge with a half day minimum. Top of the line goes for $1k a day. But, they are licensed, insured, and get zero callbacks. Local contractors are paying $25 for semi skilled rough carpenters. A trim carpenter goes for close to $70 an hour. But, being contractors, they generally don't work hourly. They work by the job instead. Only the job site gofers who earn about $15 an hour are actually paid "hourly".

Reading the above posts make me feel even better about my choice. Even though I went with the most expensive ikea doors and drawers and had them installed, I still saved thousands it sounds like. I ended up buying all high end appliances because I was so under budget, didn't think it was possible, but even with all of that, my cost is still less than 4% of my home value, not that I ever plan to sell. Heard you can't have fast, cheap and good, but maybe you can!

Live_wire_oak I live in Michigan and have def found licensed and insured cabinet installer for $25 an hour mine didn't charge hourly he charged per cabinet and then so much for the extra like toe kick molding etc. my other work was done my a licensed and insured carpenter and drywaller and licensees plumbers and the electricians and I paid very little from what others are saying they paid

LWO, our economies are all so different. I can and have hired a skilled furniture craftsman and carpenters for $25/hr. I was referring to the very simple task of Ikea assembly, and used that as an example. At $600 a day I would still have been thousands ahead.

We have many out of work union and non-union carpenters in my area, also in the Midwest.

It funny that some just don't want to believe it is possible to get a fantastic high-end looking kitchen on a budget. I'm happy to know others used IKEA to get a great kitchen and save to buy high end appliances. That is what we did and I could not be happier knowing that we saved money. I am not knocking those that can and want to (possible need to) spend the money to get a great kitchen, but to say that those who do use IKEA are getting fast food quality is just plain ignorant. Most people I know who have used IKEA HAVE done research and compared to other cabinets and come to the conclusion that for the price and quality it is a very cost effective choice. Especially with the popularity of the all white kitchens, it is even more of a realistic choice.

Sure, it's possible to fake a high end look on a budget. (And there's nothing wrong with doing a medium end on a budget either.) Getting the real thing, no, that's not going to happen, unless it's your life's mission over several year's time haunting Craigslist. Some people can't tell the difference between real and fake though. Which is why all of the imported Chinese cabinetry continues to sell. People know buzz words like "soft close" and "all wood", not understanding the actual real difference in quality. They don't have the discernment to judge.

What's also not possible is that any real contractor with any skill makes a living when they only charge $25 an hour. That's barely 15K a year by the time overhead for insurance, licensing, and other expenses kick in, and that's given the possibility that they get at least 30 hours, 50 weeks a year. McDonalds workers end up with more than that, without the hassles.

What's also not possible is that any real contractor with any skill makes a living when they only charge $25 an hour.

Sad, isn't it? But it happens around my part of the country, too. Due to previous mini-booms, there are more contractors than there are jobs. Of course, the ones who have been around the longest and/or have gained the best reputations can charge more. But there are quite a few good, skilled ones who just need the work. Any work. And they will underbid to get it. I'm sure many would rather change careers but there aren't many other jobs around here either. Especially not living wage ones.

Sophie, Your a kitchen expert and a fast food expert.

I have worked fast food. I'd much rather assemble ikea cabinets. Just sayin'.

For krazykorean's...I live in San Diego also and would appreciate your contractor for IKEA mail and phone. Also the names of the team that worked on your project. Is it best to hire contractor through IKEA or just outside? Have you used the IKEA units in the bathroom? Appreciate your insight.

Hi Nora New, the kitchen planner that came out was Jenny I think and the contractor I ended up using was Michael Early construction. He is on houzz, just search under pros, you can see his previous projects. I'm not sure he's still a designated Ikea installer still, but I'm sure he can tell you. What I heard was that Ikea grossly underestimated the demand and that they were having major out of stock issues and therefore projects being delayed. Not sure what the situation is now. I also had good experience at the kitchen department in San Diego, they were really helpful. BUT this was my experience, I don't know anyone else personally who's gone through Ikea so I can only tell you my own experience.

I have not used Ikea for bathrooms, my kitchen was the last project that I was dreading to start, I had already done bathrooms with other contractors.

ikea installer vs. outside contractors, I think it's your personal choice. There are a few contractors that don't like to work on Ikea cabinets so I think you just have to do your research. I'm happy with the result. Good luck to you and let me know if you have any more questions.

also there's another thread started by Marcia Dorherty (I think) that has a lot of detail about Ikea kitchens, check that out, it might be helpful.

I've never used IKEA cabinets so I can't comment on the quality. But I would like to know, why is it that most contractors won't work with IKEA products? There must be a reason and that would certainly be something to consider, depending on what that reason is. IKEA is inexpensive and as many IKEA customers say, it looks great. Just curious though - how well do the cabinets hold up over time? Most cabinets look good when first installed, over time you'll get a true picture. Not bashing IKEA, just wondering because usually with most things, you get what you pay for. There are other RTA companies out there, maybe check with a local, reputable cabinet installer and see which brand he/she recommends.

I actually have yet to run into a contractor who won't use IKEA. My GC for this last kitchen has done many kitchens with them and would have gladly used them in mine but agreed with me that the extra time he would have spent ripping cabinets down to fit shallow sink run meant it wasn't a great choice cost-wise for this kitchen. So I have not had an opportunity to ask any why. They do have a different installation system and some people don't like doing things differently than they have before don't know if that plays into it

(He and his crew did assemble and install my barker's cabinets and in the end he was meh on them. He said they were nice enough but he didn't like the email only communications, he wasn't crazy about how the doors fit the cabinets, and he didn't feel the price was particularly a deal.)

Nora New - I also used Michael Early Construction a few years ago when we lived in San Diego. They did a great job with the whole kitchen project and I hired them later to do our bathrooms, too.

iam702, some contractors badmouth Ikea cabinets because they simply have no experience with them. Not "most". Some in the building trades are convinced that the old ways are the best, even when proven qrong and faced with new ways and products. Ikea cabinets are outstanding quality.

sushipup1 nailed it. A lot of contractors tell you "You don't want that", or "That stuff is no good" but what it really translates to is "I don't know anything about that and I don't want to learn. I want to install what I know fast and move on."

@crl I thought Scherr and Barkers were expensive compared to what I would pay with one custom company.

Although, this company was the exception on cost because they were a decent size and don't normally work directly with consumers.

Krazykorean and m_gabriel...thanks so much for Michael Early recommendation and guidance. Another friend and employee recommended this firm years ago, so your insight is confirmation that they still are good! Thanks!