Order Your Cabinets Before Construction Starts
By Parham Shariat ·
Here is a common story. A homeowner signs a contract, demolition starts, and a week later the question comes up. What color are the cabinets? Now the kitchen is gutted, the family is eating takeout, and an order that takes weeks has not even been placed.
There is a better order of operations. Choose and order your cabinets before the first wall comes down.
Why cabinets come first
They have lead times. Stock cabinets can arrive quickly, but semi-custom and custom cabinets often take many weeks. Custom can take longer. That time passes whether or not you have a working kitchen.
They decide where everything else goes. The plumber needs to know where the sink and dishwasher sit. The electrician needs to know where outlets, lights and the range hood go. Those locations come from the cabinet layout. If the cabinets are not settled, the rough-in is a guess, and guesses get moved later at your expense.
They lock in the details. Appliance sizes, countertop overhangs, and the height of the backsplash all depend on cabinet dimensions. Better to get those right on paper.
How it works in the right order
- Finalize the design with your designer
- Choose appliances and confirm their exact specifications
- Confirm measurements at your home
- Order the cabinets
- Schedule demolition for when the cabinets are close to arrival
That fourth step is the one most people reach too late. The point is to line up demolition with delivery, so the time your kitchen is out of service is as short as possible.
Common questions
Where do the cabinets go until they are needed? A garage or a clean, dry room works. Ask your contractor or showroom about delivery timing and storage before you order.
What if I change my mind after ordering? You can, but it often means a fee or a new order. That is why the design needs to be finished first, and why a designer is worth having.
Do I need to pick everything else right now too? Not everything, but anything that affects measurements does. Tile and paint can wait a little. Appliances and sinks cannot.
Where US Floor Design Center fits
We ask you to make cabinet decisions early, because we have seen what happens when they wait. You choose in our showroom with real samples in your hands, your designer confirms the measurements, and the order goes in before we schedule demolition. When your kitchen comes apart, it is because the new one is nearly ready to go in.
Visit the showroom at 30092 Santa Margarita Parkway, Suite G, in Rancho Santa Margarita, or call 949-589-9226.