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Kraftmaid

blivingstone | Posted in General Discussion on December 22, 2006 05:43am

Hi All,

Looking to save a few bucks on my kitchen reno.  Price of Kraftmaid cabinets from the Depot, looks not half bad.  Priced the job at a local custom shop, but don’t think it is really worth it over what I can get from Kraftmaid. 

Any input on the quality of the Kraft ?  Everyone’s on a budget, and I’ve got a lot of home improvement to do, so trying to save a couple bones where I can.  Going to splurge a bit on the countertops, granite with a nice pencil profile.  Who’s really going to look that close at the cabs with those beatiful tops.  Take care. 

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  1. User avater
    JDRHI | Dec 22, 2006 06:27am | #1

    Who's really going to look that close at the cabs with those beatiful tops.

    It aint what they "look" like that concerns me.

    Kraftmaid has several lines of cabinetry.....the ones sold by HD being the bottom end. I've worked with one of their better lines, sold by others, that I was modestly impressed with.

    They do make some decent cabinets, at a decent price. But Home Depot doesn't carry them.

    Happy

    Holidays 

  2. jg | Dec 22, 2006 05:25pm | #2

    I have Kraftmaid in my own home. They were purchased from and installed by a local cabinet shop we use. I am happy with them as they have nice features for a little less than other lines.  The joinery is tight and the finish is quite nice. I went with a raised panel maple cabinet in a chestnut finish.

    I guess I was under the impression that it was the options ordered on the cabinets that made the quality....not necessaryily that what HD sells is any different.  Comparing apples to apples, they should be same as what a cabinet shop would sell.

    HOWEVER, that being said, the names of the door styles, etc. are different with what a HD sells vs. an independent cabinet shop even though they can be the same door/drawer styles.

    hope that helps.

    1. TheWgroup | Dec 23, 2006 03:53am | #14

      I have had three different sets of Kraftmaid cabinets installed in the last year.  My experience has been good.  Broken piece of glass was tough to get replaced, but otherwise they turned out good.  The HD here ( Charleston,SC) had a top notch installer that did all of the measuring and figuring.

  3. Dave45 | Dec 22, 2006 05:51pm | #3

    I installed a set of HD's Kraftmaid cabs a couple of years ago and promised myself that I would flip burgers before I ever did that again. - lol

    They look pretty good, but they're cheaply made and I doubt if they will hold up very well.  I would recommend them to someone with a rental property - or someone wanting a "temporary" kitchen. 

    If you want cabs that look nice - and will last for several years - there are better choices.

    1. mbmmd | Dec 22, 2006 10:47pm | #8

      had a similar experience, did a custom log home for a customer who had ordered kraftmaid cabs for their kitchen, maple with a shaker panel door style.  These were not from HD... when they were delivered one of the boxes rattled.  upon opening it i found a bunch of cab parts... the STAPLED joints had come undone and the entire cabinet had fallen apart.  A bank of drawers, three had the grain vertical and one was horizontal..talk about quality control....never will install that junk again.  new name for the cabs.  ....c**pmade 

  4. User avater
    basswood | Dec 22, 2006 09:33pm | #4

    I consider Kraftmaid an average cabinet that is priced accordingly. Shop around, other vendors sell them for less than HD.

    Like many cabinet companies, they price the cabinet boxes as cheaply as they can and charge large sums for all the extras (decorative moldings, accessories, even toekick & fillers are overpriced).

    They tend to make mistakes on complicated orders, and they are often unable to fix such mistakes, so keep the order simple and double check your delivery to ensure things are correct, complete, and undamaged.

    I have installed a few dozen Kraftmaid kitchens, quality and price are OK...just be careful on the details.

    1. User avater
      Gene_Davis | Dec 22, 2006 10:09pm | #5

      Hijack.

      What do you consider the good makers, and their product lines?  And why?

      Have you ever installed cabs by Crown Point?

      1. bhackford | Dec 22, 2006 10:20pm | #6

        My opinion is Crown Point is the best and only about twice what cheap HD Kraftmaid are.

      2. User avater
        basswood | Dec 23, 2006 04:41am | #15

        Gene,Honestly, I mostly install average and below average cabinets (Kraftmaid, American Woodmark, Merilatt, TruWood, Legacy, Medallion, Schrock, etc). I have not installed Crown Point, but have heard good things about them. The best cabinets I have installed were Omega.Most (but not all) of the really good cabinets are built by local custom shops, IMO.I would put the cabinets I have experience with in this order from worst to best:TruWood (All wood and plywood constuction, but horribly constructed, out of square etc.)
        Mills Pride (they are good for rentals or storage)
        Merilatt/Legacy/American Woodmark/Thomasville (poor, warped doors/faceframes flimsy)
        Medallion/Schrock/Kraftmaid (fair, Kraftmaid has the worst service)
        Omega (good)

        1. IdahoDon | Dec 23, 2006 06:10am | #16

          I hate to be the one to break this to everyone, but Kraftmaid doesn't make the cabinets, local or regional cabinet shops build them under contract.  Some Kraftmaid cabinets of the exact same model are better than others because not all cabinet shops are willing to build to the lowest standard acceptable.

            

          Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

          1. User avater
            basswood | Dec 23, 2006 08:42am | #17

            Don,Most Kraftmaid cabinets are produced in Ohio.Kraftmaid has only one manufacturing facility West of the Mississippi and that factory just started production.***************************************************************************
            Kraftmaid Cabinetry Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Plant in UtahSALT LAKE CITY, Utah (November 4, 2005) — Construction on the mew 840,000 square foot facility will continue through the third quarter of 2006.[ 11/4/2005 ]  By: NEWS BRIEF
                    
            KraftMaid Cabinetry, one of the nation’s largest cabinetry manufacturers, recently broke ground on a new, 840,000 square foot, $106 million manufacturing facility in West Jordan, Utah, just outside of Salt Lake City. The plant is KraftMaid’s first to be located west of the Mississippi, and the largest manufacturing project undertaken in the western United States in the past 10 years.Cabinet production at the new West Jordan plant is expected to begin in January of 2007. When manufacturing is at full capacity, 1,300 workers at this facility will eventually produce about 6,000 cabinets a day. KraftMaid also recently completed a $25 million expansion of production space in Northeast Ohio, increasing the size of each of its three manufacturing facilities there and expanding its workforce.KraftMaid has named Paul Shamrock Director of Operations for the West Jordan facility, which is expected to operate three shifts a day at full capacity. Shamrock has been with KraftMaid for 17 years, most recently as manager of the company’s largest plant in Northeast Ohio.The new 840,000 square foot KraftMaid facility will be located at the corner of Prosperity Road and Old Bingham Highway on a 76-acre lot. Construction on the facility will continue through the third quarter of 2006. Upon completion of major construction, KraftMaid will begin hiring employees for the facility. The hiring process will begin for supervisory employees in July 2006 and the company will open hiring for all employees, all shifts, beginning in October 2006.In addition to Utah’s abundant skilled labor base, Chieffe says the Salt Lake City area was appealing to KraftMaid due to its balanced growth, strong communities, and work ethic.Founded in 1969, KraftMaid Cabinetry, Inc. is one of the world’s largest cabinetry manufacturers and the leading producer of built-to-order cabinetry for the home. The company’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Northeast Ohio, in the heart of Amish country. KraftMaid cabinetry is available through distributors and leading home centers throughout the United States and in 13 international markets. KraftMaid is a Masco Company. 

          2. IdahoDon | Jan 02, 2007 08:03am | #25

            While I don't doubt that Kraftmaid has some manufacturing facilities, the fact remains that many cabinet shops around the country are building many of their cabinets. 

            Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

          3. User avater
            basswood | Jan 02, 2007 08:15am | #26

            Those you are thinking of are likely a different company with a similar name Craft-Made, or some such.A company with a new 100 million dollar shop is unlikely to work with any small local shops.

          4. IdahoDon | Jan 03, 2007 06:07am | #27

            A company with a new 100 million dollar shop is unlikely to work with any small local shops.

            Ok.  However, next week I'll be ordering a couple cabinets from the local shop that makes them under contract.   I'll try to get a few pics while there. 

            Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

          5. User avater
            Gene_Davis | Jan 03, 2007 06:35am | #28

            The Kraftmaid we are discussing here is a cab maker that shows its corporate logo on all drawer sides.

            The blaze is done with a burner, and looks like this.

            View Image

            Show us with a photo what logo your local shop's drawers bear.

            In your market, Home Depot, Lowe's, BMC West, and Lumberman's all deal KraftMaid.

            Edited 1/2/2007 10:59 pm ET by Gene_Davis

          6. IdahoDon | Jan 03, 2007 07:04am | #29

            Yep, same cabinets.  If a shop is building Kraftmaid cabinets under contract they still have to look the same as all the others so the drawers are branded.  From what I've seen the shop we deal with provides better fit and finish than the ones shipped in by Home Depot.

              

            Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

          7. User avater
            Gene_Davis | Jan 04, 2007 06:55pm | #30

            A friend of mine works at corp HQ for Masco, in suburban Detroit.  Kraftmaid Cabinetry, owned by Masco since 1990, is the world's largest manufacturer of build-to-order cabinetry.

            He checked your claim about Kraftmaid cabs being made in contract shops other than their huge main plant in Ohio, and says no, Kraftmaid does not farm out manufacture of cabinets.  Everything is made in Ohio.

            I am glad you are happy with the superior quality of the cabs you get made locally, but they are not Kraftmaid.  They may be "Craft-Made," or some other variation on the name, but they are not made by, nor warranted by, KraftMaid Cabinetry, of Middlefield, OH.

            I'm still anxious to see your photo of the manufacturer's blaze on the drawerbox side, re your claim that a local shop makes cabs for Kraftmaid, and puts their logo mark on the products. 

            Now, don't fool me by doing your photo shoot in the Kraftmaid display area in the cab dept at your local Home Depot!  ;-)

            You may call one of Kraftmaid's customer service reps at 1-888-562-7744 to verify this.

            Edited 1/4/2007 3:48 pm ET by Gene_Davis

          8. User avater
            madmadscientist | Jan 04, 2007 09:20pm | #31

            Could the local shops be making 'fake' KraftMaid cabinets?  Does Kraftmaid have enough name brand reconition amoung people that something like this would be worthwhile?  Like making fake gucci purses or what-not??

             Daniel Neuman

            Oakland CA

            Crazy Home Owner

          9. User avater
            Gene_Davis | Jan 04, 2007 11:33pm | #32

            Who would be crazy enough to risk their business by doing that?

          10. Summit | Jan 05, 2007 04:27am | #33

            I also would be interested to see those pics.  I run a cabinet dealership w/4 showrooms.  We sell a couple of good "manufactured" cabinets.  I can't imagine that Kraftmaid is farmed out.

            The best advice in this thread if you are sold on Kraftmaid is to purchase from a reputable local dealer.  I have fixed lot's of big box jobs, though have known plenty to go just fine.  The local guy's price will be very competitive (margins are tight in cabinets).  You definitely will get a designer w/more experience, better ideas how to improve layout etc....

            As far as a good "manufactured" cabinet for the dollar.  I like to look for entry-level custom cabinet manufacturers that have good strong relationships with dealers.  You get the best product and best service for a fair dollar.  Brands like http://www.teddwood.com, http://www.candlelightcabinetry.com , http://www.corsi.com .  These guys love what they do, have factories with cutting edge equip. and employ 40-100 people.  Most of the time dealers are communicating direct with ownership and not getting the corporate please hold run-around.  Again, you are dealing w/cabinet guys NOT suits.

            We also sell http://www.wood-mode.com .  Great cabinet, great finish, with the downside of Ralph Lauren pricing. 

            BTW, http://www.craft-maid.com  (that's with a "C") are Really nice.

            Good luck and lets see those pics of Kraftmaid being built at a local shop.  That would be good stuff.

            -Bryan K.

  5. frenchy | Dec 22, 2006 10:29pm | #7

    blivingstone,

     Have you considered other options?

          There are locations out there that sell the doors (he only hard part of a cabinet to make)  the rest is all box and hardware..

      Once I priced out doors and calculated wod costs I decided that i could make my own cabinets much cheaper  than the stuff others would sell to me..

     Now I got lucky and a local high volume cabinet maker sells doors for $3.00 each.  Using solid hardwood  (maple I can build cabinets with lights, glass, and all hardware for under $90 each. that's for a 32"x42 inch maple cabinet.. Finished and hung on french cleats..

    1. blivingstone | Dec 22, 2006 11:55pm | #10

      Hey Frenchy,

      I like your name.  Je parle francais.  I've changed my mind (again).  I'm going to tackle the boxes and buy the doors.  The salesman at the Depot talked me out of the Kraft.  What can I say ?  I asked the question and I was told.  Just finishing a set of hardwood stairs.  A few boxes can't be any trickier that that right ?  Take care.  Brian

    2. stevent1 | Dec 23, 2006 12:09am | #11

      frenchy,Doors for &3.00 each? Give me the contact info.
      Say your doors are 16 x 42. That's 4-2/3 sf. Wholesale price for soft maple is 2095M. That's about $10.00 for the wood + labor.$30.00 per door would be a bargain. Most door fabricators that I know of, charge over $10.00 for paintgrade doors.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

      1. frenchy | Dec 23, 2006 09:55pm | #20

        stevent1

          On saturday mornings at seven o'clock meet me in Waconia and I'll take you there..

          Want better?

          Last year they set out five or six pallets stacked 5 feet high with doors and said take what you want, we're going to dump the rest!  There may have been more but I didn't arrive untill nearly 8:00 so I can't say..

         

        1. stevent1 | Dec 23, 2006 10:26pm | #21

          frenchy,Sounds like over-runs and a great deal if you can use the sizes availableChuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

          1. frenchy | Dec 23, 2006 11:05pm | #22

            stevent1

              yes that is it,  the bins are full of all sorts of differant woods,  sizes, styles, and finishes. The price is so low that it's worth many trips to find what you need..

             They also sell returns as well as Cabinets that sell for $500 or more will have price tags of $85.00 which if it's still around at 10:00 they will accept even less for!

              My sister found enough to do her whole house that way.  Estimates as high as $55,000 and she had less than $1800.00 when it was all over!   Took her well over a year of every saturday morning getting there at 6:30 in order to be at the head of the line but she figured it was well worth her time..

             

    3. User avater
      Matt | Dec 23, 2006 03:25am | #12

      That's pertty interesting.  Got any pics of the cabinets/kitchen you built?

  6. User avater
    bp21901 | Dec 22, 2006 11:07pm | #9

    We bought and installed Kraftmaid cabinets (cherry) from a their local distributor about 12 years ago. I don't think they sold to HD back then. My FIL works for the distributor so we were able to get his cost for the cabinets which made it an especially easy choice. They have held up very well over the years, all drawer & lazy susan hardware still works flawlessly. About two years ago I ordered a tall pantry cabinet from the same distributor and had no problems matching the 10 year old cabinet finish & door style.

  7. User avater
    madmadscientist | Dec 23, 2006 03:52am | #13

    I'm going to have to disagree with most of the folks on here and say that KraftMaid does make a good cabinet if you let them...Their standard cabinets might be crap but you don't have to buy their standard cabinets.  I bought maple cabinets from them thru home despot and they are nice cabinets.  I spec'd all plywood construction, quality full extension hinges, the drawers are dovetailed, the faceframe is put together with pocket screws, where the face frame is attached to the box its rabbited and pocket screwed/glued, everything is either maple plywood or solid maple, the cab backs I can not see anymore to tell if they are stapled but they are rabbited and glued to the sides.

    We did install them ourselves and we would use them again but I would first check if there are any local independent cabinet shops that deal in kraftmaid and get a quote from them.  The service we got from home depot was very lacking...big shock I know....

    Here's what CR had to say about cabinets

    CR Quick Recommendations

    We tested 14 kitchen-cabinet sets from six major manufacturers. MasterBrand and Masco make more than half of all cabinets, from basic brands like Kitchen Classics and Mills Pride to premium brands like Diamond and Omega. For each, we chose 21-inch-wide base cabinets--a common stock size--with one drawer and one pullout shelf, and 21-inch-wide, 30-inch-tall wall cabinets with fixed shelves.

    Our major findings:

    Price doesn’t guarantee performance.

    Salespeople will tell you that you get what you pay for, and to a degree, that panned out. Premium cabinets withstood heat, water, moisture, and other abuse best overall. Indeed, readers we surveyed who bought the least-expensive cabinets were likelier to have problems. We found strong lower-priced performers, however.

    The ready-to-assemble Ikea (4) outperformed much more expensive units, despite its low price. High-quality drawer hardware and doors and a robust mounting strip helped. You’ll also find reasonably priced, preassembled cabinets such as the Diamond (3), Thomasville (5), and Shenandoah (6), that offer more options. But any judged at least very good should weather most wear and tear.

    Most offer upgrades. Like cars, cabinets often offer upgrades à la carte or as part of a package. Upgrades often include better drawer guides and shelves and a box made of plywood, not particleboard. The Omega (1) includes those upgrades in its high price. The basic Ikea (4), Mills Pride (9), and Kitchen Classics (11, 14) don’t offer these upgrades.

    Price quotes may vary. Most stores provide the total cabinet cost within your kitchen design. We've provided prices for individual sets of base and wall cabinets strictly for comparison. Home centers can also give you costs per linear foot or for a typical kitchen configuration--10 x 10 feet, say--to help you shop. Consider such figures rough estimates, since they don't account for upgrades and accessories. Price is likely to vary by region

    Daniel Neuman

    Oakland CA

    Crazy Home Owner

    1. MNMike | Dec 23, 2006 06:34pm | #19

      I couldn't agree more.  If you ask a custom cabinet shop to build you cabinets with the thinnest possible particle board and the cheapest possible hardware (i.e., the "standard" or "low-end" Kraftmaid options available at HD, Lows, etc.) you'll get a crappy cabinet.  If, on the other hand, you spec better materials and construction (i.e., the higher end Kraftmaid options available at HD, Lowes, etc.), you'll get a very nicely built cabinet.  I'm merely a DIYer, but consider myself quite skilled.  I've done half a dozen kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, etc. with Kraftmaid cabinets (mostly through HD, recently directly from Kraftmaid due to a personal corporate connection) and have never been disappointed with the quality.  But I've always spec'd better materials.  Here are some of the results.

       

      Edited 12/23/2006 10:36 am ET by MNMike

  8. user-209584 | Dec 23, 2006 10:04am | #18

    Going to splurge a bit on the countertops, granite with a nice pencil profile.  Who's really going to look that close at the cabs with those beatiful tops.  Take care. 

    Really have to take issue with this.  I understand saving where you have to but this is going to come back to bite you in the butt IMO.  Your cabinets should last a long time & if you are going to invest in a pricey counter top it should have cabinets below worthy of it.  If you have to, get good cabinets now & upgrade the top later. Much easier this way than trying to refit that granite when the cabinets fall apart.  People will see poorly made cabinets. You can put a nice hat on a pig but it is still a pig.

    Bobbi
  9. ownerbuilder | Dec 23, 2006 11:51pm | #23

    Blivingstone,

    I bought and installed about $12,000 worth of Kraftmaid which I purchased from buycabinets.com for about 15% less than HD.  I upgraded to plywood where I thought necessary.  I added quite a bit of crown, light molding, ect.  I've been quite happy with the result.  No problems in the two years they've been installed.

    Burt

     

  10. daveinnh | Dec 24, 2006 01:56am | #24

    We had Cabico cabinets installed and specifically wanted Blum hardware (including their under-mount drawer slides).  We've been happy. 

    Be sure to review the hardware products - go with known product lines (Blum, K&V, etc.)

  11. shellbuilder | Jan 05, 2007 05:14am | #34

    I used the raised panel maple glazed all wood option. They have a nice finish. I eneded up putting a second kitchen in the house and got those from HD. Same exact cabinet at the same price. I don't see where it would matter who you bought them from as long as you verify the order. In fact HD was a lot faster getting these for me, had them in a week. the end panels will probably need a skin. te factory veneer plywood was striped on a couple ends.

     

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