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Custom Cabinets versus Modular or others type of cabinets lines

Your cabinets are the focal point of your kitchen--for this reason, deciding who will build your cabinets is the biggest decision you will make in creating a kitchen. To help you decide whom you trust and what you should consider, we have compiled a list of important points that are essential in comparing custom cabinets versus modular units or semi-custom line

Cabinet Manufacturing
On one hand, our custom cabinets are manufactured in the Bay Area by well trained, second generation cabinet makers.  For our lumber selection, we use mainly the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified woods that come from local lumber business, and our construction materials are purchased from local suppliers that meets safety standard.  We are a professional custom shop that supports local business to business and brings employment to our community.  On the other hand, Modular cabinets are mostly built out of state and some are imported from overseas.  The lumber and construction material are coming from unknown places.

Bids
We do our bids based on a proposed kitchen layout that was designed for your family needs and life style by a professional designer.  Our cabinets bids are not based on basic cabinets boxes that are putting together to just come up with a bid which at the end can be deceiving.

Service
Since we manufacturer our cabinet and we have professional and licensed installer, we can take care of any problems with our in-house technicians, and since we make all the parts of our cabinets, including some doors and drawers, we can fix any problem without a long waiting.  This quick turn around time can make a very positive impact to your home remodel project.  However, modular dealers typically outsource their installation and service; therefore, if any parts are needed, they will have to ship it from an out-of-state factory, and this turn around time can ended up causing you more than a delay, you will have to make readjustments on schedule that can ended up in months of waiting and maybe money for this readjustment on schedule to other people in the remodel project. 

Built to Fit
Our custom cabinets are built to fit your space and designed it to those specifications.  From one end to other end of the wall, our goal is to achieve perfection where extra fillers between cabinets are not found.  Therefore, we take extra steps to achieve this.  One of this extra step is to meet with the clients over the job site and to review the new dimensions and other specification found in the proposed kitchen layout.  Based on kitchen layout drawing reflected in paper, the designer and technician bring the proposed kitchen layout on the surface by marking on the floor with blue tape or color crayons the new cabinets’ dimensions.  The cabinet drawing layout on the floor gives the client an understanding of the new space by showing the new work triangle, the island size, the relocation of the new appliances and over all the new flow of the kitchen.  Now, modular cabinets are built in sections of predetermined size that you must choose from and consequently this combination would not make an exact fit and the difference  are made up with fillers everywhere.

Misconception to the Price
There is a common misconception that modular cabinets are a bargain and custom cabinets are too expensive.  This is only a misconception. The fact is, when an equal comparison is made, our products are competitive in price.  Modular manufacturers have hidden costs that customer in some way ended up paying such as the packing and shipping of their cabinets and the profit that dealers have to make.   

Quality
They are many signs that can be seen at first glance of well-made custom cabinet.  First, the cabinet box is made of ¾’ furniture grade plywood and screw, wood glue blocks rather stapled plastic corner braces; next, each cabinets is hand built using traditional cabinetry technique; moreover, the crown molding, the gaps between face frames and cabinets box, the end doors panel and the appliances panel are carrying the same gaps without having any filler interruptions. However, modular cabinets may appear great, but a closer look will point out to all the imperfections from the material quality such as commonly made from man-made wood and melamine; also, imperfection found when you pen the doors and notice the lip at the bottom shelf that will catch on whatever you are removing from that shelf.

Professional/sales/ Designer
J-Style at home offers professional designers sales that go beyond help you with your design and options, but they are knowledgeable in all phases of kitchen cabinet layout and the cabinet construction. From their first hand knowledge of cabinet construction, any special or unusual construction changes or requests that you wish can be considered easily and can be made if it is possible .

Installation
We hire professional installers that are also cabinet makers, and they know how our cabinets are constructed and have the ability to make onsite modifications if necessary. Since we fabricate our cabinet, we have the capacity to fix any misfits, mistakes, damage and replacements for misfitting, damaged, or missing; however, modular cabinets will probably have to be shipped from an out-of-state factory to address any of this issue.

Finish
We applied to our cabinetry catalyzed conversion varnish, which is one the most durable finishes known. We have hundreds of stain colors to choose from and we offer glazes and distressing. Our environmentally friendly topcoat is a high solids, low-VOC finish. Read more about our finish process in the Construction Features of our cabinetry.

Selection
Custom Cabinetry is built to your exact specification and style; your kitchen cabinetry is yours and yours alone so color, doors style, wood species, finishing and construction are endless.  There are not set packages that you are tied to pick. Therefore, the idea that you only have few choices to select from such as bottom, middle, and top of the line is not found. With us, your budget, your imagination, your style, and your ambition will meet