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Easy Kitchen Cabinets: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying RTA Cabinets
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 4:58:44 PM America/New_York
Easy Kitchen Cabinets: What You Need to Know Before Buying RTA Cabinets
Your kitchen is the most important room in your house.
Aside from being one of the rooms you use the most, it also adds the most value to your home. And a big part of every kitchen is the kitchen cabinets.
In this guide, we'll take a look at everything you need to know before you buy RTA cabinets for your kitchen.
So stay tuned below.
What Are RTA Cabinets?
RTA stands for ready to assemble.
When you buy RTA cabinets, they are sized to your kitchen and have all the right holes drilled into the right places. You can also choose the type of finish you want.
Each individual piece is then stacked up and packaged. You can either bring the packaged cabinets home yourself or have them shipped to your front door.
These cabinets come with instructions that allow you to then put the cabinet pieces together yourself. If you have trouble understanding the instructions (depending on the manufacturer, they might be mostly drawings), you can look up RTA cabinet videos online.
After a few hours of assembly, you'll have new and beautiful cabinets in your kitchen.
Everything You Need to Know Before Buying RTA Cabinets
This RTA process sounds pretty straightforward, but there are some things you should be aware of before you buy these cabinets. If you shop in the wrong place or buy the wrong material, you might end up with a low-quality cabinet that doesn't last long.
We're going to take a look at the most important things to consider when buying RTA cabinets so you get the best cabinets for your kitchen.
So let's dive in.
Considering Cost
The exact cost of RTA cabinets can vary. Factors like the type of finish you choose, the material of the cabinets, the complexity of the assembly process, and how much assembly is required can change the price.
Because of this, the cost of RTA cabinets can be as low as $2400 for an entire kitchen.
But RTA cabinets can actually save you money in several different ways.
RTA cabinets come in pieces, so they cost less than normal kitchen cabinets. This also makes them cheaper to ship to your home. And, because you're doing the assembly yourself, you don't have to spend any money on labor costs.
This makes RTA cabinets an affordable option for kitchen cabinets.
There's a Difference in Quality
You should never pick the cheapest RTA cabinets you can find. Not all RTA cabinets have the same level of quality, and cheaper cabinets won't last as long as other options.
That doesn't mean you have to buy the most expensive cabinets either. Instead, focus on the features.
Good quality RTA cabinets will have the following things:
- Hand-wiped (or brushed) finish rather than a spray on finish
- Solid wood frames
- Solid wood or plywood panels
- Solid wood drawers
- Dovetail joinery
- Drawer guides with full extension
If you see these factors, your RTA cabinets are durable and will last a long time.
You Need to Know What You Want
Have a basic idea of what type of RTA cabinets you want before you go shopping. If you don't understand the different types of RTA cabinets, you might get less than you wanted.
For example, an unfinished cabinet might not seem much different than a finished cabinet. But you'll have to paint and finish an unfinished cabinet yourself.
Keep an eye out for the small differences. Even the small differences can make a big change to your cabinets.
Always Shop Online
Physical stores might say they have a wide range of RTA cabinet options, but they don't. At least, not when compared with online stores.
You can find everything you need for your RTA cabinets online. And you can save money too.
Why?
Physical stores have a lower profit margin for RTA cabinets than already assembled cabinets. Because of this, they tend to mark up the price for RTA cabinets.
Buying online will give you more choices and help you save money in the long run.
You Need the Right Tools for Assembly
Before you buy any RTA cabinets, make sure you have the right tools for the assembly process. Most of the tools for this job are ones you probably already own. However, there might be one or two you're missing.
Here's a list of tools you can expect to use for your RTA cabinets:
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Level
- Table Saw (or another type of saw)
- Nail Gun (or a hammer and nails)
You can use any type of saw for this project. A table saw will give you the straightest cuts, but you can make the cuts with whatever saw you have.
The same is true for the nail gun. Hammering every nail into place by hand can take a long time. You also risk damaging the cabinets if you make a mistake. A nail gun is fast, efficient, and effective.
You Need Basic DIY Skills
If you don't have any experience with similar DIY projects, the assembly process can be challenging. You might want to learn some basic DIY skills before you buy your cabinets.
If you have DIY experience already, you shouldn't have a problem with the assembly.
Putting the first few cabinets together will be the hardest part. Once you get used to the method, the rest should be easy. Putting all your cabinets together shouldn't take a long time.
Buying Ready to Assemble Easy Kitchen Cabinets
If you're looking for easy kitchen cabinets, RTA cabinets are a good option for you. Just make sure you know what to look for and have the right DIY tools before you buy.
Are you looking for some new cabinets for your kitchen?
Make sure you check out some of our RTA cabinet options or contact us for more information!