To help ensure a satisfying cabinet purchase, J.D. Power and Associates offers the following tips to consumers, based on what cabinet owners say is most important to them:
- As you shop for cabinet styles and finishes, consider your lifestyle and habits, including the wear and tear likely to be placed on your cabinetry. When it comes to wood finishes, certain woods—such as cherry, oak and hickory—are more shock-resistant than others.
- Pay close attention to how smoothly drawers open and close. Ask about the load rating for drawer slides and be sure they’ll be strong enough to suit your needs. Look for self-closing and anti-slam features, as well.
- When remodeling your kitchen, choose your appliances first, then measure and fit the cabinets around them. Do this before measuring for and ordering your countertops.
- Shopping around and comparing prices is a given, but also be sure to consider the cost of not only the base cabinets, but also any accessories—such as cutting boards, roll-out trays and storage accessories—you want and need.
- When you order your cabinets, think ahead about delivery. Ask about the manufacturer’s procedures for remedying defects or discrepancies in the order if they should occur. If the ordering process isn’t smooth, it can tell you a lot about how the delivery might turn out.
- To protect the investment you’ve made in your new cabinets, adhere to the care instructions provided by the manufacturer. They may recommend a specific cleaner, for example. Check out the manufacturer’s Web site for helpful information to help keep your cabinets looking new.
About the Study
The 2009 Cabinet Satisfaction Study, now in its third year, is based on responses from more than 1,300 consumers who purchased new cabinetry within the previous 12 months. The study was fielded between March and April of 2009.
For more information:
