Online shopping may prove to be helpful because it can bring down your costs and provide more variety in styles. However, if you visit any forum that focuses on home remodeling, then you will often see the same questions asked over and over. They include such concerns as whether or not RTA cabinets online are worthwhile, how to distinguish between quality items and cheap imitations, what to do when the size is wrong or some pieces are missing, or in case of damage during delivery.
It appears that purchasing RTA cabinets online is a smart idea in certain cases, provided that you know which criteria are important to examine prior to placing an order. A lower cabinet price may not benefit you much if you have to deal with other issues.
The following are seven things that experienced buyers pay attention to first.
1. Go beyond the pictures and evaluate the cabinet construction
It is possible that the crispness of a shaker door, along with its quality finish, attracts you to the cabinet, but there is a lot more to it when it comes to evaluating the specifications of the construction itself.
To help identify good quality cabinets from poor quality cabinets, one must consider the following aspects of the cabinet: cabinet body, face frame, drawer box, doors, and hardware. Consumers usually look for solid wood cabinets; however, this alone is not enough to give a complete understanding.
Indeed, customers inquire about such specifics as whether the cabinet box is plywood, whether the drawers have dovetail joints, what type of hardware is included, and whether it has adjustable hinges. Currently, at the RTA Cabinets House site, a “standard build” consists of a 1/2-inch plywood box, 3/4-inch solid hardwood face frame, 5-piece HDF doors and drawer fronts, and a soft-close design option.
2. Measure Your Kitchen as a Cabinet Project, Not Just a Rough Room Sketch
One of the most costly mistakes that people make when shopping for cabinets online is the assumption that wall length measurement is sufficient. It is not.
Before you can place an order, you will have to take into account wall measurements, openings for windows and doors, appliances, sink position, and anything else that might interfere with cabinet installation. Fillers, trim work, clearances, and swing space considerations will be more important than one might think at first. Even now, forum posts by frustrated individuals continue to pop up about issues such as sinks and appliance openings being off, and cabinets not matching their actual physical specifications.
This is why it pays to measure your kitchen according to a cabinet design scheme. While it doesn’t have to be a detailed drawing, it should include all aspects of the room. Fortunately, the team at RTA Cabinets House already has a guide for measuring your kitchen.
3. Consider the actual cost of the project, not just the RTA cabinet list prices
It is here that the validity of "cheaper RTA cabinetry" claims breaks down.
In today’s context, while some consumers are able to save significantly on RTA cabinets by working partially on the install themselves, others admit the savings evaporate rapidly once other expenses related to shipping, assembly, install, filler boards, trims, and specialty cabinets get factored into the picture.
This does not necessarily mean that RTA cabinets are a poor deal. On the contrary – you simply have to consider all the costs associated with the project upfront. For example:
Are you planning on assembling the cabinets yourself?
Will there be any surcharges from the contractor for installing RTAs?
How much will it cost to ship the cabinets?
Will you require any specialty units like trash pull-out bins, pantries, or blind corner cabinets?
Could delayed delivery affect the timeline of your countertop and floor install, or appliance set-up?
RTA quotes should give you an opportunity to evaluate the full cabinet list in relation to your budget.
4. Order a sample door before buying a complete set of kitchen cabinets
Choosing the wrong color is one of the most common mistakes you can avoid.
In many cases, the color you see online doesn't match the same one when you get the product to install at your home. It is also affected by other elements like lighting, flooring, wall paint, or the color of the backsplash. When it comes to choosing between white, light white, or gray colors, buyers often need the help of a sample door.
It is essential to consider buying sample doors when you want to coordinate your cabinets with countertops already present or choose among neutral shaker finishes.
5. Be realistic about the assembly process
Assembly is not necessarily impossible, but RTA cabinets do require time and attention.
Some recent purchasers have commented that the assembly process is simple enough for a handy owner to do, whereas others have reported that the instructions, alignment, and time required can be somewhat tough. You can have quality materials in your cabinet but end up frustrated if your assembly process is shabby, labeling not clear or your assembler hurries through it.
Before purchasing, ask about the availability of assembly instructions and documentation regarding your specific cabinet types. In case you are assembling all cabinets yourself, ensure that you know how much time will go into each, apart from knowing what skills are needed. In case you are hiring someone, inquire if assembly is charged separately.
If you are a purchaser looking for information beforehand, you can refer to the RTA Cabinets House website where there is an entire page dedicated to assembly instructions categorized according to cabinet type and SKU number.
6. Study the shipping and damage policy before the day of delivery
This point causes most trouble among consumer feedback, and it is not covered until anything goes wrong.
Often online cabinet purchases arrive in several boxes, and their transportation by freight may go quickly. Therefore, the customers have to know beforehand what to examine, what evidence to gather, and when to alert the seller about the damage found. Customers' forum posts prove that many people become concerned about damaged packages, absent boxes or any problems that become evident upon unboxing.
On the page RTA Cabinets House FAQ customers are advised to examine packages upon delivery, make note of any visible problems on the delivery receipt, and notify the seller of package damage or missing goods within 48 hours, and hidden damage or missing parts within 5 days after delivery. Such information is very valuable to the customers.
7. Seek layout assistance if your kitchen has corners, fillers, or special cabinets
Straight runs may be easy. Kitchens are anything but simple.
Blind corners, lazy Susans, special filler needs, tall pantry cabinets, farmhouse sink base cabinets, appliances, and odd-shaped walls may impact how items need to be ordered. This is when customers tend to underestimate the amount of trim required, skip an essential spacer, or select an item that meets the wall size requirements but will not fit into the layout.
If your kitchen includes special cabinets, or if you are uncertain about your list, getting kitchen design services is very useful. Sometimes a rough drawing of your plan or some images of the room is enough. Layout assistance could be particularly useful for online cabinet shoppers as it will spot problems before ordering.
Conclusion
RTA cabinet purchasing on the internet is not all about choosing the lowest price available. It is about ensuring that the build quality is good, measurements are correct, the finishing fits into the interior, and there will be no surprises concerning deliveries and installations.
With due diligence before buying, the RTA cabinets can offer the customer both practical benefits and aesthetic appeal in many kitchen and bathroom designs. If not, the savings on budget may quickly be lost.