Top Questions to Ask Your Cabinet Maker Before Starting a Project
Choosing the right cabinet maker sets the tone for your entire remodel. From material quality to hardware selection and warranties, the details you confirm up front will shape how your kitchen, bath, office, or mudroom performs for years. If you’re planning a project in the Kansas City metro—especially in Johnson County cities like Leawood, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Mission Hills, and Shawnee—start with a structured conversation. At Kansas City Custom Cabinets Inc., we welcome thoughtful questions because transparency leads to better designs and a smoother build.
1) What materials do you use—and why?
Ask your cabinet maker to explain their material choices for boxes, doors, drawer fronts, and shelving. Clarify whether cabinet boxes are built from furniture-grade plywood or particleboard/MDF, and where each makes sense. Discuss door and drawer materials—solid wood, veneer, or engineered cores—and how species selection affects movement, stability, and finish. For durability and consistency, many homeowners prefer plywood boxes with hardwood face frames and doors built to handle Kansas City humidity swings. Dive into finish systems too: catalyzed conversion varnish versus lacquer, and how each resists scratches, cleaning agents, and UV.
2) Do you offer design consultations and drawings?
Great cabinetry begins with detailed design. Ask if you’ll receive measured drawings, elevations, and 3D visuals, plus a clear scope showing cabinet counts, accessories, and appliance panels. If you’re gathering ideas now, skim our article on working with a kitchen cabinet designer to see how layout choices translate into daily convenience. A strong design process includes field measurements, appliance spec checks, and coordination with your contractor so surprises don’t pop up late in the schedule.
3) Can I see your portfolio—and similar projects in Johnson County?
Request examples that match your style and scope: inset Shaker for a Mission Hills kitchen, full-overlay slab for a Prairie Village addition, or built-ins for an Overland Park home office. Look for consistent door reveals, even grain direction, clean miters, and high-quality finishing. Ask for references near you and, when possible, visit a completed project to see how the cabinetry has held up to daily use.
4) How are boxes built and joined?
Cabinet construction should be specific, not vague. Ask about box thickness, dado and rabbet joinery, pocket-screw fastening, back-panel thickness, and toe-kick construction. Clarify how end panels are treated for exposed runs and how scribe fillers are handled at walls or uneven floors—common in older Kansas City homes. Drawer boxes should be sturdy (e.g., dovetail, plywood bottoms in dados), with load ratings that match your storage plan.
5) What hardware do you specify?
Hardware impacts day-to-day satisfaction. Confirm the brand and series of soft-close, full-extension slides and soft-close concealed hinges. Ask about weight ratings for wide drawers, adjustability for inset doors, and internal accessories—pull-outs, tray dividers, spice pull-outs, trash/recycle, blind-corner solutions, and vertical pan storage. Discuss finishes early (polished nickel, matte black, brushed brass) so hardware aligns with fixtures and lighting.
6) How do you finish—paint, stain, or specialty—and what’s the process?
Finishing is a system: prep, priming/sealing, build coats, and a protective topcoat. Ask whether the finish is applied in a controlled shop environment with proper curing time and dust control. If you want painted cabinets in a Shawnee kitchen, expect a filled and sanded surface to minimize telegraphing of grain for tight-grained species. For stained walnut or white oak in Leawood, ask about grain matching and how color consistency is checked across doors and panels.
7) What standards or certifications inform your work?
Quality doesn’t happen by accident. Many cabinet shops look to industry standards for durability and finish performance. For a sense of what durability testing can include, review the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s overview of cabinet certification. While custom work may exceed or differ from factory certification programs, knowing how your cabinet maker benchmarks quality helps you compare bids intelligently.
8) What’s included in your installation?
Confirm who installs, how long it typically takes, and what’s covered: shimming and leveling, scribing, filler integrations, appliance panel fit-up, and final adjustments. Ask how installers protect flooring and adjacent finishes during the process, which is especially important in occupied Overland Park and Prairie Village homes. After installation, expect a thorough walk-through and punch-list process before your countertops and backsplash go in.
9) What is the typical timeline—from deposit to final touch-ups?
Custom cabinetry involves design approvals, shop drawings, material procurement, fabrication, finishing, and installation. Get a realistic sequence with date ranges for each step and understand what can affect timing—change orders, specialty hardware lead times, or field conditions. In a busy Kansas City season, a clear timeline helps you coordinate with your GC and other trades so templating, countertop install, and final paint happen in the correct order.
10) How do you handle project coordination—especially with contractors?
Your cabinet maker should collaborate smoothly with builders, countertop fabricators, electricians, and plumbers. Ask about appliance specification review, clearances, and any required site prep (blocking for floating shelves, venting details for hoods, or access for integrated lighting). If you’re scheduling a larger remodel, our homepage outlines how we engage early so decisions are made before walls are closed.
11) What warranties and service policies do you offer?
Request written warranty terms for cabinetry, hardware, and finish, plus the service process for adjustments after move-in. Normal seasonal movement is expected in wood products, but doors should be easily adjustable and finishes should be designed for household cleaning. Ask how touch-ups are handled and whether your cabinet maker offers a post-settle-in visit to fine-tune reveals and hinges.
12) How do you price and present proposals?
Look for a line-item proposal that lists box materials, finish system, hardware brands, accessory count, and installation scope. Transparent proposals make it easier to compare bids on an apples-to-apples basis and avoid surprises later. If you’re just starting research, our brief overview on choosing a cabinet maker will help you frame early conversations and budget discussions.
13) Can you help me plan storage by zone?
Quality cabinetry is more than door styles. Ask your cabinet maker to map storage zones around how you cook and live: prep, cooking, serving, baking, coffee, cleaning, and kids’ snacks. In a Mission Hills kitchen, that might mean deep drawers for pots under the cooktop, vertical dividers near the oven, a pull-out for oils at the range, and a recycling center by the sink. In Prairie Village, a mudroom could combine bench cubbies, tall lockers, and hidden charging drawers for a tidy daily routine.
14) Do you offer specialty pieces beyond the kitchen?
Great projects often include cohesive elements throughout the home—laundry rooms, baths, home offices, media walls, bars, and window seats. Ask to see examples that match your style and wood species to keep the look consistent as you move from room to room. If you’re exploring ideas, our recent post on working with a kitchen cabinet designer highlights how small details add up to everyday efficiency.
A quick checklist you can bring to your meeting
- Box materials and construction details
- Door style, species, and finish system
- Hardware brands, load ratings, and internal accessories
- Design drawings, field measurements, and appliance coordination
- Installation scope, site protection, and punch-list process
- Timeline, payment schedule, and change-order procedure
- Written warranties and service policy
Why Kansas City Custom Cabinets Inc. is a fit for Johnson County projects
We build and finish cabinetry designed for everyday life in the Kansas City area—precise installs, resilient finishes, and hardware that feels solid years later. Our process is approachable: clear drawings, material samples you can touch, and a collaborative rhythm with your designer and contractor. From Shawnee and Overland Park to Leawood, Prairie Village, and Mission Hills, we deliver tailored solutions that match the character of your home.
Next steps for your Kansas City project
Gather inspiration photos, appliance specs, and a simple wish list. Then schedule a time to talk through scope, style, and budget. You can start on the Kansas City Custom Cabinets Inc. homepage, read more on our blog about working with a designer, and share any floor plans you already have. If you’d like to discuss timing or request a walk-through, reach out—we’ll outline a straightforward path from first ideas to installed cabinetry.
Contact Kansas City Custom Cabinets Inc.
Ready to speak with a cabinet maker about your Kansas City home? Visit our Contact page to tell us about your project in Leawood, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Mission Hills, or Shawnee. Kansas City Custom Cabinets Inc. serves the entire Kansas City metro with clear communication, thoughtful design, and craftsmanship you can see and feel.