Two cabinet quotes can look the same on paper and describe very different work. The difference is in the answers to a few plain questions. Ask them before you sign, and ask every shop the same ones so you can compare.
We have included our own answer to each. You should hold us to the same questions.
1. Who builds the cabinets, and where?
Some businesses design and sell cabinets that another company builds. That is not a problem in itself, but it changes who can answer your questions and who fixes a mistake.
Ask to see where the work is made. A shop that builds its own cabinets can usually show you one in progress.
At Atrics: every cabinet is cut, assembled and finished by hand in our shop on Junction Avenue in San Jose. You are welcome to visit.
2. Are the cabinets built to my room, or to standard sizes?
This is the real line between custom and semi-custom. Semi-custom cabinets come in set widths, and the gap left at the end of a run is covered with a filler strip. Custom cabinets are built to the measured wall, so the storage runs the full width.
Ask directly: will there be filler strips, and where?
At Atrics: we measure your space and build to those dimensions, down to 1/32 of an inch. We do not use filler strips to make standard boxes fit.
3. What are the boxes and drawers made of?
The doors are what you see, but the box and the drawers are what you live with. Ask what material the cabinet interior is, how thick it is, and whether the drawer bottom is the same material as the sides. A thin drawer bottom is a common place to save money.
At Atrics: cabinet interiors are 3/4-inch pre-finished maple. Drawer boxes are 3/4-inch pre-finished maple on every side, including the bottom.
4. What hardware is included?
Hinges and drawer slides do the moving, thousands of times a year. Ask for the brand by name, and ask whether soft close is standard or an upgrade.
At Atrics: hinges are Blum or Salice, drawer slides are Blum, and soft close is standard throughout.
5. Who measures the space?
Walls are rarely square and floors are rarely level. If cabinets are built from your own tape-measure numbers, any error is yours. A cabinet maker who measures the room takes responsibility for the fit.
At Atrics: we come out and measure ourselves before anything is built. Your photos and rough dimensions are enough to start the conversation.
6. What will be in writing before I pay?
A quote should describe the job, not just total it. Before you pay, you should have the cabinet layout, the materials, the door style and finish, the hardware and the price in front of you, and you should have approved them.
At Atrics: we settle the materials and the numbers with you first. Then you get a written invoice and a signed contract, so the scope is on paper before the project is scheduled.
7. Who installs, and who is responsible for what?
Installation is where a good cabinet can be let down. Ask whether the people who built the cabinets will install them, or whether your contractor will. Either can work. What matters is that it is decided, and written down, before the cabinets arrive.
At Atrics: we deliver, and we install if you would like us to. If your contractor is installing, we coordinate with them so the work arrives ready to fit.
8. Who do I talk to when I have a question?
On a long project you will have questions about a dimension, a finish or a date. Ask who answers them. If the person who priced your job is not the person who can change it, expect delays.
At Atrics: the owner prices every job, and the same crew carries the work through. When you call, you reach the shop.
Bring the questions with you
Print this list or keep it on your phone, and take it to every shop you visit. The answers will tell you more than the total at the bottom of the quote.
If you would like our answers in person, book a design consultation or come by the shop. See what goes into an Atrics cabinet and how a project runs for more detail.