Should You Opt For Custom Kitchen Cabinets or RTAs?

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by: darekmar
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Word Count: 499
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 Time: 4:10 PM

Most people renovate their kitchen to increase storage space and work space in the kitchen. Cabinets play an important role in increasing storage space in the kitchen, thus leaving your work-space empty for use all the time. So, the ultimate solution for your kitchen renovation is choosing the right kitchen cabinet for you.
Kitchen cabinets are basically of two types – RTA or the ones that are predesigned and made; and the custom cabinets, which can be made according to your specifications and designs that suit your kitchen décor. Now, there is always a debate as to which is better – RTA cabinet or custom cabinet. Here are a few ways to differentiate between the two:
1. RTA cabinets are pre-designed from the manufacturing company, so the customer does not have much choice regarding color, wood, texture or design of the cabinet. The RTA cabinets are packaged with all the racks and shelves fitted in it and holes drilled on the sides to fit it accordingly in the kitchen. But this is not the case in custom made cabinets. In fact you have a lot of options in custom made cabinets, since you are getting them made just for your needs. You can specify the type of cabinet you want, the kind of wood or metal to be used, the designs of the doors and the knobs, the color of the cabinets, etc. The best thing about a custom made cabinet is that you can have it made according to the exact size you want and also according to the theme of your kitchen.
2. RTA cabinets need very little installation time, since they are pre-installed with all the components and also packed with the essential accessories required to fit them. On the other hand, custom made cabinets take a long time to be installed, firstly because they need time to be made, then fitted on the walls and then finally install the racks and shelves inside it. This is the reason why you need to order for your custom kitchen cabinets much before you do your kitchen renovation, because they need time to be carved out in the workshops.
3. The cost involved in custom made kitchen cabinets is far more than RTA kitchen cabinets. There are various reasons supporting this. For one, in a custom made kitchen cabinet, you will always insist on putting together the best quality parts including wood, varnish, colors and racks. This demands a hike in the total cost of the kitchen cabinet. Secondly, the charge of the maker is also included in the cost of the kitchen cabinet. While on the other hand, RTA cabinets have a fixed price that they are sold at in the stores. In fact you can get them even cheaper when the stores allow discounts and sales. And since the RTA cabinets are manufactured by a specific company, manufacturing costs are less, hence decreasing the retail price of the cabinets on the whole.

About the Author

Darek Bosek is the owner of Factory Plaza, Inc - direct manufacturer and distributor of kitchen cabinets. Factory Plaza is headquartered in Bensenville, Illinois but serving continental US and Canada with residential and commercial kitchen projects. Darek offers solid knowledge about kitchen cabinet industry and long-time experience. His business prides itself in detailed craftsmanship and the most competitive prices in the industry. www.factoryplaza.com

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