Kitchen remodel in process.
Attached are plans showing a small corner of kitchen remodel plans. Because of setback issues there is a small shed roof bump out on the side of the house that is shown. Ceiling ht drops about 6″ by back of bump out. New foundation poured and about to start framing.
Wife shopping for cabinets. She wants the face of the cabinets to go to the existing ceiling and have me cut the back of the boxes to fit the change in ceiling ht. Cabinet boxes are plywood. Cabinet sales woman says “that can’t be done…”
Seems like with some structural reinforcement this should be doable.
Anyone do this before?
Thanks
Chris
Replies
"Cabinet sales woman says "that can't be done...""
She probably means "that can't be done without voiding the warranty on the cabinets". There's no reason you can't cut the boxes to fit the space- of course, the top shelf might be useless due to the slope- but don't expect the cabinet company to stand behind their warranty at that point.
Bob
Bob
When is the last time you knew anybody to use a warranty on a kitchen cabinet?
Cant imagine that coming up to often!
Cut the damn things down and hang em. Its done all the time.
Doug
I never said it would become a problem- just that the saleperson was covering her azz.......
Bob
Ahem...we usually build our own or I sub to a cab guy.but I have built three kitchens - no four- make that five now that I wake up...in the last maybe ten years using stock units.I can think of threet imes where the HO bought cabs directly from a big box and all three times there were issues - doors or face frames falling apart. The companies all made it right.
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Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like general agreement that modifying the cabinet boxes is not only fine but also common. We'll proceed with that plan. Happy Holidays
Chris
Piffin, How does your price per unit stack up to pre mades?
I've built a few cabinets, but to make it worth my while I come in about a hundred dollars more than premades. Sound about right too you?
Yeah, I think so. We make them for aboutr the same as a good factory built, but ours still need to be painted and pours are a bit more solid. We can size custom easier and use less common detailing is main reason for building our own. One job I buiolt boxes in place and then ordered the doors from Maplecraft, because of very unigue job setup and cab sizing.
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Yeah, same here. I'm no painter. I've done a couple of cabinets mainly non-stock things. Its worked out well. I've yet to build a complete kitchen though. I think that would be fun.
" I think that would be fun."yes and noYou need to think through every detail designing it in six dimensions.
Traffic flow. light flow, utilities and appliances, codes. style, etc. One mistake can create an unworkable situation that needles at the HO for years to come. Walk thru and USE the cab of your design in your head a dozen different ways to be sure you have it right.'cause it ain't fun if they complainBut ius ure is delightfull when they keep praising you every year when they keep inviting you back for their annual Christmass party...
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Piffin/ MSA-
I'm working on my second full set of kichen cabinets from scratch. It is quite enjoyable - except for the finishing part. I won the battle with the first set (stained them blue), but lost the most recent one (painting, then glazing). I hate to see a beautiful grain covered up.
For me, the cabinets were what really got me into renovations. (I'm a homeowner - not doing this professionally) We got an estimate of about $11,000 for cabinets (Lowe's) the first time around. I spent about $2,400 on birch plywood, aspen 1-by's, hinges, pulls, etc. - and had a great time doing it. Learned a lot too. Of course I'm not charging my time against them; that would add significantly considering the time I have invested (no big equipment here - a miter saw, router, sidewinder, and portable table saw).
Doing it again right now. Pictures are before/ after for the first kitchen.
U understand we have to figure for labour time too,LOLnot a bad job - good use of small space there, What's the story of how the island dips near the turned post?
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With labor I estimate the remodel ran about $300,000. Seems like it took me that many hours anyway.
The "limited" space was useless before. You can kind of tell how there was a hallway to nowhere in the before picture... The previous owners had the refrigerator at the end of that hall.
The dip is somewhat an illusion, but mostly due to the tile. The wife insisted on handmade tile, which meant that one piece differed by 1/4" or more to the next. The thickness also varied, so the bullnose next to the post ended up being a bit lower. Since the actual surface of each tile was was also wavy, I didn't sweat it too much. At least the Durock was flat!
at least you have a good drainage path for the blood of sacrificial goats...;)
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Piffin,
How was your experience with MapleCraft? Were the doors you ordered pre-finished or did you finish them when you did the boxes?
Thanks
Frank R.
The doors were fantastic. I did the finish - they will do it either way, or even use a specified finish you choose for a small upcharge, so you have the same product on the boxes and the doors.I would post a photo, but they are on floppies in storage right now. I leave for a ten day trip early AM. Email me thru here if you want to receive same later.
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Use warranty on cabinets all the time.
It wouldn`t stop me from customizing a cabinet, but unless I`m dealing with a custom manufacturer, its rare that each and every piece is perfect.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
I guess I've built way to many cabinets that I don't ever see the stock ones anymore but back when I was installing track home cabs, and I think I probably installed 400 sets of them, I never seen an opportunity to have to use a warranty other then something damaged from shipping.
I cant imagine what could go wrong with a cabinet once its installed? It probably does but that wouldn't stop me from modifying a cab.
Doug
Shouldn't be a problem. Looks like the vent cab will be pretty useless except for the front 6". Are these ready mades? If they are, can you get some short uppers and frame in a soffit above the tops? That would give a finished look. Before you cut, look for pocket screws. Sure can surprise you when you make the cuts. You can brad some 1X or casing to the top of the sides to give you a nailer for the top if you need it.
Off yer azz and on yer feet,
Outta th' shade and into the heat.
Can it be done ? Absolutely. Sharp saw, sharp pencil, some glue, clamps and some forethought. Have a good piece of cabinet plywood handy to patch in the top once it's cut, since the old top won't fit. Get some touch up stain or other finish (from manufacturer if possible) to match what's already there. I've even resorted to good woodgrained contact paper inside when there was nothing else available. If you need to cut the face, make sure there's another piece of wood available, just in case you mess up.
I used to cut cabinets all the time when we had to put in dishwashers and there was no space for them. After the first few, it's old hat.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Easy squeasy, cut cabs all the time. Think it was mentioned, you should be able to put some support 1x2 or the like behind the face frame on the ceiling to face nail or attach from behind. You might need to rebuild the back panel depends on the cabinet construction. If it is a soild 1/2 or 5/8 your ok if it is a 1/8" panel with a top nailer you may need to beef it up. You can just leave the finished ceiling as the interior of the cab or rebuild the cab at your angle and add a piece of melamine or birch ply.
Don't expect cabinet co. to warranty the cabs as far as the reworked box, but the doors and hinges should still be covered.
Jeff
It's definetly "doable". Although, I'd probably start looking for a designer a little more willing to work with you.
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Swimming through the ashes of another life, no real reason to accept the way things have changed. Wrapped in guilt, sealed up tight.
Like this???
Cut the tops off @ cieling angle and got some 1/8 skins to put on the inside tops.
Merry kwanzXmasicah
Mr. T.
Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store...
Maybe Christmas means a little bit more...
Then he got the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!!!