Cabinets are a key part of any kitchen remodelling project and can help boost the appeal and value of your home by up to 35 percent. While some homeowners do attempt to build their own cabinets, professionally-assembled and custom-fit cabinets provide more assurance for this value addition. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) estimates that professionally-made kitchen cabinets have a lifespan of 50 years. It is, therefore, necessary that you find certified woodworkers near you who offer the best kitchen cabinet fabrication services. Note, an attempt to fabricate your own cabinets by yourself comes with its health and safety hazards. Such hazards include exposure to wood dust, cuts, laceration or amputations from mishandling of power tools, and falls from installing overhead cabinets. As such when you are looking to hire “trained kitchen cabinet makers near meâ€, ensure they are conversant with the industry safety standards and can provide satisfactory answers to the following questions:
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Are You A Licensed Kitchen Cabinets Maker?
A valid professional license is proof of competence and expertise for any kitchen cabinet Fabricator near you. Relevant government agencies issue occupational licensure only after a candidate has satisfied all necessary requirements, including education, training, and a verifiable period of relevant work experience. The exact requirements for licensing kitchen cabinet makers vary by state. Thirty states mandate a state-level license for cabinet makers. States like Arizona (R-60), California, provide for a specialized contractor license-cabinet, millwork, or finish carpentry licenses.
In states like Texas, New York, Ohio, and Illinois where a statewide license is not mandatory, municipal authority may require a license for kitchen cabinet fabricators. Hence, it is recommended to contact the state licensing authority or consumer protection agency to determine the specific requirements for kitchen cabinets fabricator licensure.
Whether or not your state sets licensing requirements for kitchen cabinet fabricators, it would be best if you hired contractors near you that belong to professional bodies such as the Cabinet Makers Association (CMA)and the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA). You can also verify membership claims by confirming membership IDs or similar documents on the relevant association website.
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Are You Bonded and Insured?
United States' contractors are required to possess insurance and bonding coverage. Each of these provisions is designed to protect your work and the contractor from unfavorable outcomes such as a workplace injury and contract default. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), cabinetmakers suffered 8 work-related fatalities and 850 occupational injuries in 2019. Workers’ compensation insurance and liability insurance plans are the baseline insurance standards for contractors in the country.
A liability insurance policy covers damages, injuries to others, and other risks that arise from the project. On the other hand, workers compensation benefits guarantee that workers receive proper medical care in the event of a work-related accident. They are therefore compensated for the earnings lost as a result of the accident.
Conversely, a surety bond obligates the third party, commonly referred to as the "surety firm," to cover the cost of finishing a half-finished project. As a result, the job is adequately covered if there is a service default on the contractor’s part. Any kitchen cabinet Maker near you that does not have sufficient protection and bonding coverage should be avoided.
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What Kind of Kitchen Cabinets Fabrication Work Are You Specialized In?
Kitchen cabinets fabrication is of various specializations. As such, you must ask a prospective woodworker what their exact specialty is. The response will help you decide whether or not their skill set matches your needs. Below are some of the most common kitchen cabinet fabrication specializations:
- Pre-assembled Cabinets: This specialization deals with cabinets with their components such as doors, cabinet shelves, hinges, and drawer boxes pre-attached. These cabinets come in more common and generic designs and sizes, and it is not possible to fit them into unique spaces as with custom cabinets. Typically, they are manufactured in large quantities and transported in large containers.
- Ready-To-Assemble (RTA) Cabinets: Like pre-assembled cabinets, the cabinet parts are already designed and fabricated from the factory. However, they are not pre-attached, and the buyer will just have to assemble them upon purchase. They are transported in relatively smaller - and flat - containers.
- Semi-custom Cabinets: This cabinet fabrication specialization involves choosing assembling ready-parts usually offered in different styles, colors, wood types, and door configurations. They are typically more expensive but provide more flexibility relative to RTA and pre-assembled cabinets.
- Custom Cabinets Manufacturers: This involves fabricating cabinets uniquely, according to the exact style, design color, and size that a customer specifies. Given the complete cabinet specification flexibility they offer, they are the most pricy of all cabinet fabrication specializations.
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Who Will Do The Work?
It is essential to be sure of who exactly will do the work. If your kitchen cabinet specification will require that a third-party contractor work on your project, instruct your main contractor that they must be qualified, insured, and bond to forestall any financial liabilities accruing to you in case of damages, unfinished work, or injuries.
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Do You Offer A Warranty?
Most kitchen cabinet manufacturers near you would offer a warranty on their products to assure customers of their quality. Warranties typically cover manufacturing defects found in the product, such as a door or hinge break. Typically, the warranty coverage period is between five to 25 years. The more expensive the cabinet, the longer the coverage period. Generally, warranties for fully custom-made cabinets are lifetime warranties.
Defects arising from day-to-day use, normal wear and tear, and poor installation are not covered. It is generally advisable to carefully study the warranty contract to get a clear understanding of the scope and period of coverage, warranty transferability, as well as the conditions that invalidate your warranty.
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Will This Job Require A Permit
Permits are generally aimed at enforcing compliance to safety standards and local ordinances. Cabinet-making activities typically involve cutting, sanding, and fabricating wood products, generating wood dust in the process. Wood dust is classified as an air pollutant known as “particulate matterâ€. Manufacturing also involves the use of paints and other chemical substances equally considered air pollutants. Therefore, a prospective cabinet maker may require an air quality permit. Also, since most wood materials are highly combustible, a wooden kitchen cabinet contractor may require a fire permit from the local fire department.
Although certain products qualify for an exemption, it would be best to inquire from the local environmental protection agency near you about the additional permits necessary for a wood maker.
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Will You Provide References?
References are essentially proof of previous job experience and knowledge. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers should request a minimum of three references to previous works. While you can assess your contractor's experience, specialization, and job efficiency, you can also request an overall work analysis and input from customers near you they have already worked with.
The Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Business Reviews, in addition to your contractor's self-selected references, are excellent sources of internet-based independent business reviews. For a more comprehensive professional background and job experience, you can also look at your awning contractor's projects compilation on their website and professional profile.
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Do You Have A Business License?
Business licenses, which state governments usually issue, enable businesses to legally conduct business in the state. A business license also verifies that a company is appropriately licensed and has met other trade licensing conditions, including professional licensing, minimum financial requirements, and tax compliance. The Secretary of State's Office in each state helps people verify the registration statements of companies they choose to do business with. This verification would also help prevent business imposter fraud, which is all too prevalent nowadays.
What Are Common Kitchen Cabinets Fabrication Problems?
Some of the most prevalent issues that arise in kitchen cabinet fabrication require professional corrective measures. These problems largely fall under the following categories:
- Operational problems
- Structural dysfunction
- Lack of visual appeal
How Much Does Kitchen Cabinets Fabrication Cost?
Prices of making kitchen cabinets differ from one state to another, and as a result, a uniform price for all states may ot be possible to estimate. The prices below provide industry-range pricing estimates to give you an idea of how much you will have to pay to make kitchen cabinets.
What Are The Factors Affecting The Cost of Kitchen Cabinets Fabrication?
In addition to differences in prices due to location, the following are some of the other factors which also affect the cost of making kitchen cabinets:
- The size of the cabinet specified
- Choice of cabinet design and material
- Shape specified
- Labor cost charged by woodworker
What Qualifications Should A Kitchen Cabinets Fabrication and Installation Contractor Have?
A high school certificate or equivalent is typically required for entry into the trade in the woodwork industry. Workers usually learn the job by attending technical or vocational schools or universities offering wood technology, wood engineering, and furniture manufacturing courses. Some others undertake apprenticeship programs to learn the necessary fundamentals of the woodwork craft. Under training, trainees are typically groomed for roles in engineering, production, and supervision. Full competence and expertise are, however, only attained after substantial years of on-the-job training.
Summarily, while a high school diploma is an entry-level requirement, the minimum qualification includes an apprenticeship certificate, a technical or vocational school certificate, or a university degree in the relevant woodcraft specialization.
Also, professional associations such as the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCANA) offer a national certificate program to improve the quality of work of woodworkers.
You should prefer more certified and experienced workers, which indicates broader knowledge and skill set.
Do You Need A Kitchen Cabinets Maker or A Handyman?
Kitchen cabinet making is a skill-intensive occupation that only well-trained professionals can deliver top-quality products. If you desire to have your kitchen cabinet fashioned to your exact style, design, and size, only hiring a qualified woodworker near you can get you that.
More importantly, you will most definitely not have a good warranty cover, or any at all, if an unqualified and unlicensed worker makes your kitchen cabinet. You may also find it hard to get insurance coverage if your policy providers find out that a non-professional made it.
To get value for your money and still have the necessary security covers such as a warranty and insurance coverage, you should only hire a professional kitchen cabinet contractor.
What Are Common Post Kitchen Cabinets Fabrication Expenses?
After the kitchen cabinet has been made to your taste, some of the post-fabrication expenses include the cost of transportation to your home and the cost of installation. Once you have your cabinet fully installed, routine cleaning and dusting will only be required, and this may not cost you any amount if you do it yourself.
Does Homeowner Insurance Cover Kitchen Cabinets Fabrication Expenses?
No, homeowner insurance policies do not typically cover kitchen cabinet fabrication expenses. However, suppose a household property covered by homeowner insurance, such as a kitchen cabinet, gets damaged by fire, smoke, vandalism, or other perils under your policy coverage, the expenses of making a new kitchen cabinet will be covered by your insurance policy provider.
It would be best to make direct inquiries from your homeowner insurance provider before embarking on a project of this type.
Can I Use Digital Payment To Pay My Kitchen Cabinets Maker?
More and more small businesses, including kitchen cabinet makers near you, are willing to accept digital payments these days. This is because of their relative affordability, convenience, and speed. However, you will have to ask them beforehand to ensure that the type of digital payment method you intend to use is acceptable to them. Digital payments help ensure compliance with the FTC’s recommendation not to pay cash to contractors and make it impossible for such payment to be stolen or forcefully taken.