RTA kitchen cabinets

[dtam]

Does anyone know where to get reasonably priced high quality RTA kitchen cabinets?

I bought a base cabinet from Pinnacle Home Product, an online RTA kitchen cabinet retailer that someone on woodnet highly recommended, and was very disappointed with the quality. The plywoods for the cabinet were all badly warped, and the dadoes were cut too wide. The raised panel door and drawer front do look nice though with lots of detail.

It would cost $5k for my kitchen (10x15) if I ordered from Pinnacle, compared to $10k for Lowe's Kraftsmaid. I would like to buy RTA cabinets to save money, but they need to be high quality - at the very least, the plywood needs to be flat.

Any suggestions? (I could build them, but don't have the time)

thanks.
dtam

[cabinetman]

Using the terms "high quality" and "RTA" in the same sentence, should be worded "better" and I would leave off the word "quality". Most consumers are interested in the look of the cabinetry, not the details. For example, I wouldn't say that a "twistlock" connection is a quality building technique.

I would first suggest that you price out the entire job at a big box store, and then go to some local cabinet shops for an estimate. By chance you may get a "custom" job for less than you think. Times are tough now and the trade is very competitive.

Or, pick out the best of what the box stores have. At least they would be local and be able to satisfy your needs with any problems. An online distributor would be more difficult to deal with.
.

[mschrank]

Does anyone know where to get reasonably priced high quality RTA kitchen cabinets?


It would cost $5k for my kitchen (10x15) if I ordered from Pinnacle, compared to $10k for Lowe's Kraftsmaid.

While Cabinetman has some obvious bias on this topic, I have to agree with him. RTA cabinets are not going to be high quality (but neither is Kraftmaid).

I recently saw a kitchen done with IKEA rta cabinets, and they really weren't all that bad when compared to the Kraftmaid cabinets I spent WAY TOO MUCH money on in my recently remodeled kitchen. The IKEA cabs were probably less than half the price of the Krapmaids, but the materials, fit and finish were only very slightly less.

Biggest difference was the hardware (hinges, drawer slides), which could be replaced a few years down the road if needed. BUT, I've had to replace one Blum hinge and one of my Blum slides needs constant attention.

Just to finish my rant...the Kraftmaid cabinets were the single biggest expense and biggest disappointment in my kitchen remodel. If I had spent half as much on RTA cabs, I think I would be happier today.

[cgallery]

Due to the inconsistent thickness of plywood, RTA carcasses made of the stuff are probably going to be a problem if they rely on grooves.

[Shep]

I recently update a rental property I own with some RTA cabinets from Grossman's Bargain Outlet. They were the twist lock kind but they looked and function great. I only put in 2 30" uppers, but they assembled well and are holding up well. I think I spent $110 each. Overall, I'm impressed.

[jziegler]

The IKEA ones really look better than anything that the box stores sell that is affordable, including their non RTA stuff. I have put together some IKEA furniture (but never kitchen cabinets) and it has been better quality than the RTA bookcases I've bought from other places. Not the cheapest, but better quality than you're likely to find at HD or Lowes, IMO.

Jim

[Gator95]

To the OP's question about RTA, no question really- IKEA is the king of RTA. But I guess I'd be asking myself what my homes age and price range is in relationship to the market.

IKEA cabinets are perfectly acceptable IMHO in a remodel of a 2200 sf 250K house in North Atlanta built in early '80's like mine, particularly if the rest of the home interior elements are more modern than traditional. Kraftmade would be good enough too, but debatable if they're any better for the money.

OTOH, for a 3500sf home built in 2005 that sold for $450K, then you'd better be looking for something nicer. Custom cabinets from a local source will really be a better fit than either Kraftmade (or similar) and IKEA.

[Tom Slick]

Look at cab parts and cal door. It won't exactly be RTA because you'll have to do the calc's, order from seperate companies and have to bore the doors for hinges but you can install a set of cabinets that are nicer than IKEA and made exactly to your specs. IKEA only makes certain sizes.