January 2026

Introduction: What cabinet installers don’t explain-Why cabinet quotes cause confusion Many homeowners review cabinet installer quotes assuming the numbers are complete and comparable. In reality, most cabinet quotes leave out critical details that affect final cost, timeline, and quality. These gaps are rarely explained unless you know what to ask—often discovered only after work begins. […]

Introduction: Why Installation Costs Surprise Homeowners Many homeowners budget carefully for cabinet materials but underestimate installation costs. Cabinet installation pricing is often bundled, loosely defined, or presented as a flat number without explanation. When final invoices arrive higher than expected, the cause is usually not labor rates alone—but unclear scope and assumptions. Understanding average cabinet

Introduction: plywood vs particleboard-Why This Comparison Is Often Misleading Plywood is frequently marketed as a premium cabinet upgrade, while particleboard is often treated as a red flag. This framing leads many homeowners to assume that material choice alone determines cabinet quality. In reality, cabinets fail—or succeed—because of construction details, not just material labels. Understanding the

Introduction: common cabinet markups-Why Cabinet Prices Feel Higher Than Expected Many homeowners experience sticker shock when reviewing cabinet quotes, even after accounting for materials and installation. What often goes unnoticed is that cabinet pricing typically includes multiple markup layers that are not itemized or explained. These markups are not always inappropriate—but when they are hidden,

Introduction: Cabinet red flags-Why Cabinet Problems Start Before Installation Most cabinet problems do not begin during installation—they start at the contract stage. Homeowners often assume that issues like poor durability, surprise costs, or delays are unavoidable, when in reality many of these problems are visible in the quote and specifications before anything is ordered. Knowing

Introduction: Why cabinet Construction Quality Is Easy to Miss Cabinet construction quality is rarely obvious in showrooms or renderings. Doors are closed, finishes look similar, and sales descriptions often focus on style rather than structure. As a result, homeowners may approve cabinet quotes without realizing that long-term durability depends on details they never saw or

Introduction: When a Cabinet Quote Feels Too High is the cabinet quote inflated? Many homeowners sense something is off when a cabinet quote comes in far above expectations, but they struggle to explain why. Cabinet pricing is complex, and inflated quotes rarely announce themselves clearly. Instead, excess cost is often buried in vague descriptions, bundled

Introduction: Why Cabinet Prices Feel Unclear-let’s do a cabinet price breakdown Cabinets often represent the largest single line item in a kitchen remodel, yet most homeowners receive pricing as a lump sum with little explanation. Without understanding how materials, labor, and markups combine, it is difficult to know whether a cabinet quote reflects fair value—or

Introduction: The Cabinet Quote Shock-why cabinet quotes vary by 30%-60% Many homeowners are surprised when cabinet quotes vary by 30%-%60 for the same kitchen layout. The drawings may look identical, and the door style may appear similar, yet pricing differences can be dramatic. This gap often creates confusion and pressure to “just pick the middle