Custom Kitchen Cabinets: Should You DIY or Hire a Pro?
Anyone who’s ever dreamed about installing some lovely, new, custom kitchen cabinets has fantasized about doing it themselves. After all, it looked so easy on HGTV. But when you look into it, you might feel less confident. Toekick! Reveal! Stile! Biscuits (no, not those biscuits)! What on earth do those words mean? Maybe hiring someone to install those cabinets isn’t a bad idea.
The truth is that installing cabinets well isn’t easy, and even professionals have had to work for years to gain the experience that allows them to charge the fees they do.
At Graber Supply, we provide premium materials for building beautiful custom kitchen cabinets, whether it’s for contractors or DIYers. In this blog, we’ll discuss the factors that influence the decision to hire a professional or install your cabinets on your own.
The Pros and Cons of DIY Kitchen Cabinets
Deciding to embark on any project on your own, whether installing kitchen cabinets or just about anything, could benefit from a pro and con assessment. Consequences of failing to assess the pros and cons range from minor finishing flaws to expensive mistakes. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of a DIY custom cabinet project.
Pros:
- Cost savings: Installing kitchen cabinets yourself brings significant cost savings, as the labor is practically free.
- Complete control: You get full control over design, materials, methods—every detail.
- Personal satisfaction: The pride of knowing you built your kitchen cabinets is undeniable. Massive bragging rights await you as you enter the hall of DIY heroes!
Cons:
- Significant time commitment: Remember how we said one of the pros of a DIY installation was free labor? Well, that labor comes from your time. Expect to dedicate a lot of time to everything from planning to installation.
- Steep learning curve: You must spend much time learning to do things right the first time. Cabinetry requires precision carpentry skills and knowledge.
- Potential for errors: Mistakes can be costly and time-consuming to fix, not to mention the expense of trips back to the store to replace wasted material. Measure twice, cut once!
- Tool investment: You may need to purchase or rent specialized tools.
When Hiring a Professional Makes Sense
While DIY is tempting, there are situations where it’s just easier to leave this to the professionals. Consider the following factors:
- Complex designs: If your vision includes intricate details, complex details, curved cabinets, or specialized finishes, leaving things to a professional’s expertise may benefit your sanity.
- Tight deadlines: As the adage goes, haste makes waste. If you need your kitchen completed within a specific period, a professional can work efficiently and meet deadlines. It doesn’t mean you can hire someone to install your cabinets a week before they’re needed, though!
- Limited skill or time: If you lack woodworking experience or have a busy schedule, hire a pro to save yourself potential headaches and stress.
- High-end finishes: Installing cabinets precisely is one thing—achieving a flawless, professional finish requires another set of expertise and specialized tools.
- Property Value: If you plan to sell your home, custom-built cabinets can enhance your home’s value. Ensure that your realtor notes that the cabinets were custom-built for bonus selling points.
- Large or Complex Kitchens: Large kitchens or kitchens with unusual layouts demand precise measurements and construction, especially if the cabinets require complex cuts.
- Structural Changes: If you’re making structural changes to your kitchen, such as adding or removing walls, plumbing, or electrical wiring and outlets, hire a professional. You may need a permit, and a licensed contractor should be able to assist with navigating the red tape involved as well.
Interestingly, mistakes in kitchen cabinetry stand out more than in any other furniture. Kitchen cabinets are typically installed at eye level and subjected to frequent use. Kitchens are often considered the heart of the home (ironic, actually, since they feed the stomach), so homeowners have high expectations for their appearance. Any flaws in the cabinetry can detract from the overall aesthetic of the space.
Our brains are wired to notice differences and irregularities. This trait was initially meant to help us spot potential dangers or opportunities. While we rarely need to spot a threat lying in wait for us, that part of our brain is now used to spot patterns in the world. Any deviation from a smooth, uniform surface, like a countertop, or consistent, parallel lines, such as cabinet door or shelf alignment, will stick out like a sore thumb.
A professional contractor has the eye, experience, and, most importantly, time to ensure the installation is symmetrical.
Cost Comparisons: DIY vs Professional Custom Cabinets
Doing it yourself is a way to save money; or at least that's what it looks like at first glance. But there are costs you might not have factored in. Let’s look at a cost comparison between DIY and hiring a professional:
DIY:
- Materials: You’ll need wood, countertop material, hardware, finishes, and other specialized materials, such as adhesives. Because you’re flying solo on this venture, you’ll likely have to purchase your materials at retail prices from the hardware store. According to HGTV, cabinets cost between $100 and $1200 per linear foot.
- Tools: Assuming you have most basic tools such as tape measures, levels, stud finders and drills, you’ll still need a few specialized tools and hardware, such as cabinet screws, shims, cabinet hardware jigs, and high-end power tools like circular saws, which range from $60 to $700.
- Waste: The cost of wasted material can vary. You could bend or damage a cabinet screw at the cost of a few cents, but making a mistake in cutting a cabinet could result in having to replace an entire cabinet, cabinet door or countertop.
- Time Value: Your time is valuable—consider the cost of spending countless hours on the project, especially if it takes longer than a professional would to install. That comes up to time lost that you could have spent on work, rest, other projects, or time with your family.
Professional:
- Labor: Sure, you have to pay professionals for their services, but you’re not just paying for them to install those cabinets for you, but for their experience, too.
Professional cabinet installers typically charge by the hour or by linear foot, so those rates vary significantly based on location and experience.
The national average labor cost to install kitchen cabinets, including preparation and clean-up, ranges from $67 to $125 per hour when performed by a contractor.
- Materials: While having a professional install your cabinets means paying more than doing it yourself, professionals often have access to high-quality materials and contractor pricing, which can offset some of the labor costs.
A contractor would charge $100 to $300 per linear foot for stock cabinets. Custom cabinetry will cost more per linear foot, about $200 to $500, to add fancy bits like a lazy susan, spice rack, track-can shelf, or floor-to-ceiling cabinets.
- Design fees: Cabinet makers may charge a separate design fee for creating detailed plans and drawings. Again, you’re paying for their expertise, so you’re getting a kitchen that looks really nice because they’re leaning on years of experience.
All things considered. DIY appears significantly cheaper, but consider the value of your time and the potential difference in quality.
Finding the Right Professional for Your Custom Kitchen Cabinets
Choosing the right professional for your custom cabinets is crucial for a successful project. Here are a few tips on finding the right contractor.
- Get Referrals: Ask friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations. Personal experiences can be invaluable.
- Check Online Reviews: Explore online reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, Houzz, and Angi to get a sense of the cabinet maker's reputation and customer satisfaction.
- View Portfolios: Look at photos of their previous work to see if their style aligns with your vision and if they have experience with projects similar in scope to yours.
- Visit Showrooms: Many cabinet makers have showrooms where you can see and feel the quality of their work firsthand.
- Get Multiple Quotes: Obtain detailed quotes from several cabinet makers, ensuring each quote includes materials, labor, and additional fees. This allows for an accurate comparison.
- Ask About Warranties: Inquire about warranties on both materials and labor. A good warranty demonstrates the cabinet maker's confidence in their work.
- Communication and Trust: Choose a cabinet maker who communicates clearly, listens to your needs, and with whom you feel comfortable collaborating.
Key Questions to Ask a Potential Contractor:
You’ve decided to save yourself time and effort, and found a potential contractor to install your cabinets. Talk to them to understand how they work and evaluate whether you might want to work with them. Here are some key questions to ask:
- How long have you been in business?
- Can I see examples of your previous work, especially projects similar to mine?
- Do you offer design services?
- What types of materials do you typically work with?
- What is your lead time for completing a project like mine?
- What is your payment schedule? Do you offer a warranty on your work?
- Are you licensed and insured?
By asking these questions and thoroughly researching potential cabinet makers, you can find a skilled professional who will bring your dream kitchen to life. As a bonus for getting along with this contractor, you could build a friendship with them, which is handy for future projects.
Conclusion
Ultimately, whether to DIY or hire a pro to build custom kitchen cabinets is a personal decision. However, by carefully considering the factors discussed in this guide—your budget, skills, available time, project complexity, and desired quality—you can make the best choice for your kitchen renovation.
At Graber Supply, we’re ready to support you—whether you do it yourself or with a contractor.
We offer a wide variety of interior doors, replacement windows and doors, moldings, kitchen and bath cabinets, countertops, and walk-in showers to customize your home entirely. We’ll even professionally install your cabinets for a less stressful cabinet installation experience!
Contact us today, and let us help you build your dream kitchen cabinets!
Still researching kitchen cabinets? These blogs might help: