A BETTER BRIEF
Planning your cabinetry project
Choose the cabinet type
Stock, semi-custom and fully custom cabinets differ in fit, finish and price. Ask whether the proposal is supply-only, install-only, or both, and who measures.
Confirm installation scope
Ask whether installation includes removal of existing cabinets, patching walls, adjusting for uneven floors, hardware and final adjustment. Refacing is a different scope from replacement.
Coordinate with adjacent trades
Countertop templating usually happens after cabinets are set. Ask how the schedule handles counters, backsplash and appliance fit.
Jobs to describe in your request
- Custom kitchen cabinets
- Bathroom vanity installation
- Stock cabinet installation
- Cabinet refacing
- Closet and pantry systems
What changes the cost?
Use these factors to compare the scope of proposals. A total price alone does not show whether the same work is included.
- Cabinet type and materials
- Linear footage
- Installation complexity
- Removal of existing cabinets
- Countertop coordination
Ask for a written description of included work, exclusions, payment stages and how additional work is authorized. Confirm who supplies materials and what documentation or warranty terms you receive at completion.