Cabinets - excerpt from the book Working for Subs

Cabinets:

This book  (Working for Subs see link in other posts) is not intended to give extensive design or decorating pointers for your home. There are many other reference sources available for these endeavors. The aim of this writing is to give a step-by-step method for scheduling subcontractors and materials for the job. Some decorating decisions, however, must be made by the builder in selecting colors and shapes, since cabinets will be the backdrop for other accessories placed in the space. When it is time to select your kitchen finishes, you should prepare to visit several showrooms and read extensively to understand all the variations of cabinets, faucets, appliances, counter tops, sinks, and other components involved. Some specific items, like sink selection, may be discussed in this Chapter's pages, since they affect the schedule. The layout of cabinets and general sizes and shapes should have been at least sketched in the early drawing development stage of design for the entire home (Chap. 3.)

Some kitchen cabinets have a life expectancy of up to fifty years.⁶⁵ I have found that kitchen styles and tastes change about every decade. Cabinet designs change from traditional natural wood grain surfaces with ornate polished brass knobs to smooth-lined European types with hidden hinges and no handles at all, and cycle back again. Regardless of what type of cabinet you choose, it will probably be rehabbed after ten years during a kitchen redo. At that time resurfacing the doors and frames may suffice, and interior construction can often remain.
For my second home in the Colorado mountains I drove to Denver and hand-selected rough-sawn, random length and width mahogany planks from the lumberyard. These were then planed at the yard, and I delivered the odd assortment in a pickup truck to the job. A young neighbor architectural student who was also a talented carpenter built cabinets (Photo 16) on site from these planks.

  Photo 16: Author's son with stick-built mahogany cabinets in Colorado mountain house.

The same guy built my decks and a butcher block top on a mahogany island out of 2” hard rock maple (photo 17) from the mill. Once he had glued, clamped, and belt-sanded the maple top a couple of bottles of mineral oil were poured and smoothed over its surface for a sealer. Any other oil may contain degradable products or vegetable oils that would become rancid. This maple top could be sanded many times and used for decades.

Photo 17: Hard Rock Maple butcher block island top & Mahogany Cabinets.

Recently a more open cabinet has been the style for uppers, but when we began building in Tennessee the framer was expected to build a drop soffit from the ceiling to abut the cabinet tops. Be sure to have the framer include this if you want a connected look, and the drywaller will encase them.

Countertops:

Tops can come in many different materials including granite, marble, tile, concrete, laminate, or even wood, like butcher blocks. Stone tops can last a lifetime, but cultured marble vanity tops may only have a life expectancy of twenty years.⁶⁵ You can call the countertop estimator to come measure on the day before the cabinets are scheduled to arrive, and tell him when they will be installed. This will insure that he can possible set up an appointment to arrive the following day, and you won't lose a day of construction waiting on their delivery. Be sure to call him back if the cabinets are not installed as planned. The lead time on tops is usually about two weeks, so plan accordingly.

You will need to know the dimensions of sinks, whether your faucets are 4” or 8” on center, whether you want a soap dispenser built in, dimensions of drop-in range tops, lavatories, and appliances. Composite sinks make excellent kitchen basins, and they look good as well as save money over enameled cast iron sinks. If the accessory items and appliances are not on the job when the estimator arrives, it may be advantageous to have cut sheets available. Cut sheets are manufacturer's catalog pages, showing dimensions and other considerations for the items.


Natural marble does not make a good kitchen counter top, since it is permeable and porous, not like granite. Cultured marble for a built-in lavatory works well in a bathroom vanity. Your marble whirlpool tub supplier can supply these tops in integral lavs. Formica makes a good inexpensive top. Corian will burn and discolor with hot skillets placed upon it, and works best for bathroom vanities. Tile tops require a 3/4” treated plywood substrate and some sort of nosing for the edge. We have successfully used 1x2 stained and varnished oak nosing for this, fastened to the plywood base by casing nails prior to installing the tile. Twelve inch mat squares of small tiles can make a perfect backsplash on the wall above the top.