Does or has anyone here used Merillat Brand Cabinets?
The company I work for had been using them for the last 25 years or so. Within the last two years we have had several problems with the finish of the cabinets. I’m wondering if anyone else has noticed this?
One particular kitchen used a Glazed finish, we have had to order replacement drawer and door fronts numerous times, one time they even shipped completely raw doors back to us. I understand that this particular finish has a “random” look to it, but the difference has been so dramatic it can not be considered random, just ugly. At this point Merillat is telling us to pound sand.
On various other occasions we have had to re-order select door and drawer fronts on several recent jobs because the doors and drawer fronts came warped, dented, rough or with un-finished edges.
Customer service was good up to a point in that they will replace the damaged pieces however the replacements often come as bad as the original.
We’ve now stopped ordering Merillat cabinets and have switched a different brand.
Is/was anyone else having these problems?
I’ve lost all faith in the company.
Edited 5/7/2006 5:12 pm ET by CAGIV
Replies
yes
I accidently posted that before I was finished writing, what has your experience been?
I work for a couple of builders that use all grades of Merrilats. I have them in my own house.No problems that I've seen in any of the finishes...but the installations are a different story<G>I'm pushing them on a job right now, thanks for the heads up. I need a dump truck, baby, to unload my head
We mainly used the Masterpiece line, Used the Classic line occasionally where it was appropriate, never used their Essentials line but have heard not good things.
The particular finish we had a problem with was the Pewter Glaze, they can not make a set of fronts look similar.
The router bit they use to edge their cherry drawer fronts must also be past it's prime. Lots of tear out on the last kitchen, It took ordering fronts twice to get a decent set.
Also, they sell a "Home Organizer" little pigeon hole thing for mail etc.... For over 100 bucks it's paper veneer that doesn't even come close to matching the finish... I've seen higher class stuff at wally world.
On many orders they have either neglected to finish an edge or way to much overspray... Simple stuff that should be found in their "Quality Control System" falls through... I mean how the hell do you send out a set of un-finished pieces??
Take it for what it's worth, maybe you'll have better luck then me. My first post was a partial rant partial warning to others.
I'm not thrilled with Merillat, and I installed enough of their cabinets to be given a spiffy Merillat jacket (now I walk around in a nice jacket advertizing crappy cabinets).--"Also, they sell a "Home Organizer" little pigeon hole thing for mail etc.... For over 100 bucks it's paper veneer that doesn't even come close to matching the finish... I've seen higher class stuff at wally world."--Several companies outsource those cheapo organizers (perhaps to the same vendor)...the color and quality are both problems (even without glaze issues).On the glaze issues, glazes are so popular in cabinets now that "everyone is doing it" (few do it well). We have had the same problems with glazed cabinets from KraftMaid and TruWood (the later were horrible).We recently did a home office for a client and color variation was way too wild and the cheezy organizers were unacceptable (especially at $500 a pop). We ordered in extra single bead lightrail and color matched shelving and built and faced our own organizers for less.
I'm installing some now. I think they are a okay mid-range cabinet. Like everyone else the have different levels. I'm installing the Classic now, which is their middle line. I believe the bottom is Essential and the top is Masterpiece. The Classic does have upgrades.The ones I'm installing have 3/8" sides. kind of flimsy if you want to tie boxes together at the back or nail something on the bottom the back is 1/4" part bd, not much extra support on the bottom. You have to be careful pulling them out of the box. I was pulling a wall cabinet out and felt some give on the side. The hot melt glue they use on top & bottom doesn't go around all sides.While trying to level the bases, I noticed many of the front rails had crowns in them causing the level to rock. Had to be leveled from side to side. Also when installing the uppers I find some of the cabinets to be slightly out of square, taking more time to install. I also find that when screwing the cabinet fronts together it's sometimes difficult to get the stiles to close tight all the way up and down. again taking more time to get a good job.all in all, a step above Mills Pride :) Not my favorite cabs, but I have installed worse and I do figure a little extra time for the installoh ...it's the finish you are asking about. now that you mention it the ones I'm installing now are a little blotchy. And the HO wants us to match it. But I never had them come unfinished, though the finish does seem a little soft on certain colors
Edited 5/7/2006 5:54 pm by BarryE
I have them in my house but that was from '96. I've used them in other houses since then, but when I went to order some about three years ago, my supplier gave me a heads up that they were going downhill so I listened.
I considered them a decent midlevel unit. I would beet that problems any company is jhaving with finishes is because of the changes in the paint chemistry required by the govt. We've all got our learning curve. but that doesn't excuse the companies attitude.
I have used Diamond also on that level for three jobs, but they went over the side like falling down Niagra falls. Definitely will not use them again.
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The new govt rulles may be the cause for some of the problems with finishes, However it's not in this case.
The problem is with the Glazing. They can not seem to obtain the same back-ground color, always a shade different, which says to me the guy doing it is either blind or because they were all done at seperate time, there is going to be some variation. So why not finish one kitchen all at once?
Second problem is with the highlights/darkening, what ever you call it, in the grooves. Some doors have it heavy some not at all.
Then there is the "ragged on" look as I call it... Some cabinets have an even finish while others look like the guy left his rag on the door when he went to lunch, some are in the middle...
If they all had the same shtty look that would be one thing, but there's been about 3-4 different shtty looks going on.
Construction wise I'm in-different their not the best/strongest cabinets out there but for the money they aren't to bad either.
"but there's been about 3-4 different shtty looks going on."That's too bad. Sounds like they spent a night in the wrong part of town
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The last time I dealt with them the cabinets fell apart as I was unboxing them. I refused to install them even if I could have.
Merrilats always were crappy and now they are worse.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I had mid-range Merillat cabinets installed in November, they are cherry. The quality of the finish is bad. Some doors have overspray on them, some have small bubbles in the finish. They missed staining some areas of the face frames. Had Merillat cabinets installed in another house nine years ago and the finish was much better. I wouldn't use them again.