Replies

1. 
   maverick | Nov 17, 2009 07:29pm | #1

   never heard of that line but that is not unusual. most cabinet manufacturers are regional.

   I do not know how much price comparison you have done but you should be comparing against local shops. even home depot and lowes offer competitive prices on cabinets. its all the other things that you need that add up

   and to answer your question, almost any cabinet grade material will give you trouble if you put dishes away wet. try using a little shelf paper

2. 
   frammer52 | Nov 17, 2009 09:54pm | #2

   What drew you to that line?

    

   Was it the "green" talk?

   By the way, I understand the desire for lack of formaldehide(SP) but, most of it disapates rather quickly.  I also would like to see the certification from the plywood manufactoror about lack of.....

1. 
   grandchat | Nov 17, 2009 10:13pm | #3

   This was the line the distributor was discussing with us.  The cost vs. local is about 50% for comparable construction (i.e. dovetails, plywood "boxes", etc.) and I'm not too fond of what Lowes, HD offer since I really want plywood boxes.  The distributor I believe is recommending this line since the pricing is so good.   Perphaps it's brand new and they are just pricing it low to build a market prescence I'm not sure.  I just don't know if this is a situation where "you get what you pay for" or if this is just a good deal? 

   The reason I asked about the plywood shelves is that typically in custom kitchens, I have seen just regular birch plywood, not birch veneer, so I was wondering if this might cause an issue later?

   Thanks again.

1. 
   frammer52 | Nov 17, 2009 10:50pm | #4

   I woundn't think so.

   Sounds like a good line of cabinets, I just get worked up when the word "green" is tossed around.

2. 
   KenHill3 | Nov 18, 2009 12:36am | #5

   I can't see what you mean by the difference between 'birch ply' and 'birch veneer ply'.View Image

3. 
   YesMaam27577 | Nov 18, 2009 05:52pm | #10

   >>"...I have seen just regular birch plywood, not birch veneer..."Plywood is made up of several layers of veneer. In construction-grade plywood, the inner layers are generally made with a species that is strong, but not good looking (like Gum).In cabinet-grade plywood, the inner layers are (or at least should be) either the same species as the outer veneer, or a species which is stronger and more stable (like baltic birch).So, when you say that you've seen regular birch plywood, you have also seen veneer.

   I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
   And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
   I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
   So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)

4. 
   YesMaam27577 | Nov 18, 2009 05:59pm | #11

   And here's a thought on the differences in pricing.....Be sure that you are comparing apples to apples. The site that you linked to is a manufacturer that uses only maple, alder, and cherry. And they don't say when and where they use the good stuff (cherry, maple) and when they use the cheap stuff (alder).My experience tells me that when a manufacturer says that they "sometimes" use a cheaper product, what that meas is that they primarily use the cheaper stuff, and rarely the good stuff.And when I look at their gallery, I don't see anything that looks like real cherry, or real maple. All of it looks like heavily glazed "no-name" wood.So, if your price comparison with the local cabinet shop allows the local to use the same cheap stuff, its a valid comparison. If not.....

   I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
   And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
   I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
   So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)

5. 
   YesMaam27577 | Nov 18, 2009 06:04pm | #12

   And one last word concerning the linked company's claims of being "green".Having read through their website, it seems to me that they are using cabinet-industry standard practices and materials. Their finishes are also industry-standard finishes -- water borne is quite common these days. So their claim of being green is mostly because they recycle at their factory (so do all the others), and because they are members of a number of "green certification" organizations.With enough money for "dues", and taking a few classes, I could be a member of at least that many.

   That doesn't make them bad, or unworthy of your business. It does mean that their claims of "green" might mean very little.

   I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
   And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
   I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
   So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)

2. 
   Snort | Nov 18, 2009 02:23am | #6

   <By the way, I understand the desire for lack of formaldehide(SP) but, most of it disapates rather quickly. >Where do you come up with your material?10. How long does it take for a typical house to air out on its own?This is a difficult question to answer because there are so many variables. For example, different brands of similar products outgas at different rates, the rate changes at different temperatures and humidities, and natural (or mechanical) ventilation is a factor. Plus each different VOC has its own particular outgassing characteristics. As an example, formaldehyde (which is commonly used in kitchen cabinets and wall paneling) typically has a half-life of 3 to 5 years. So, these products will only lose half their formaldehyde in that time. And it’ll take another 3 to 5 years for half of the remaining formaldehyde to be released, and so on. Because outgassing decreases with time, older houses often have lower levels of VOCs than new houses—if they’ve been maintained with healthy cleaning products and there’s been no recent remodeling.(Note: This article is part of the original HHI Archives, and was believed to be accurate at the time of writing. The views expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of The Healthy House Institute, LLC.)http://www.tvwsolar.com

   We'll have a kid

   Or maybe we'll rent one

   He's got to be straight

   We don't want a bent one

   He'll drink his baby brew

   From a big brass cup

   Someday he may be president

   If things loosen up

3. 
   Dave45 | Nov 18, 2009 02:37am | #7

   I've never heard of that line of cabinets, but the word "green" makes me a little suspicious. It's become one of those badly overworked words that may (or may not) really mean something. (A couple of other really overused words/phrases are "heros" and "celebrating diversity" - lol

   As far as shelving, I use cabinet grade, prefinished, birch or maple in all of my cabinets and have never had any problems. You do know about the dry cycle on your dishwasher, don't you? - lol

1. 
   grandchat | Nov 18, 2009 07:33am | #8

   Thanks.  I'm just trying to figure out how they price their cabinets so aggressively.  I've typically used a one-man cabinet maker with very good results, fair pricing, etc. and these guys are almost 1/2 of his quote, so I wanted to get feedback.  Just worried there is something I'm missing here...

1. 
   Dave45 | Nov 18, 2009 08:17am | #9

   Economy of scale? I'm a one man band too, and often have to explain that one of the biggest differences between me and the production shop is that they make many copies of their basic modules while I make my stuff one piece at a time.