As we all know, kitchens sell. Would it be fair to say, the kitchen is one of the top three features that turns a warm buyer, into a hot buyer? I think so. To make a beautiful kitchen happen, it needs the right cabinets for the job.
In this article, I want to share a bit about RTA cabinets (ready to assemble) as I believe they need to be on your radar if you are working in and around real estate. After all, many are not familiar with the benefits they can provide!
According to the Houzz kitchen trends study around 11% of people who purchase cabinets purchase RTA cabinets. Although that is a small amount, it is ever-growing!
And here is why. Although many people are not familiar with RTA cabinets, their benefits are amazing. RTA cabinets are simply unassembled kitchen cabinets that come flat-packed and ready to assemble.
So, what are the pros and cons of using RTA cabinets?
Pros
1. RTA cabinets come from the manufacturer flat-packed and ready to ship. Because these cabinets come unassembled, there is no waiting for them to be assembled and then shipped, they are simply pulled off pallet racking, loaded onto pallets, loaded into a truck, and sent directly to dealers and homeowners around the United States.
Typically, RTA cabinets are available within 2 to 4 weeks after ordering. During a major time crunch, this is the absolute fastest you can get cabinets.
2. Often RTA cabinets cost about 50% less than comparable quality pre-built cabinets. This is a huge savings! After all, cabinetry is typically the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel. Therefore, saving up to 50% is huge! Savings like that can free up money to get the dreamy quartz countertops you've always wanted, and that stunning handmade backsplash tile.
3. So they must be junk, right? Not necessarily. Although RTA cabinets do come in various quality levels, they typically have the same quality features: plywood construction, hardwood doors and drawer fronts, hardwood face frames, soft-close door and drawer slides, and decent finishes. There are numerous manufacturers of RTA cabinets, so quality of those features can vary greatly. Some manufacturers use lacquer, an inferior finish, instead of conversion varnish. Conversion varnish has a chemical hardening process that makes it much more durable and resistant to moisture.
The assembly process manufacturers use can also vary. Some use cheaper quality cam locks and metal clips to assemble the cabinets, while others use glue and traditional wood joinery for all of the cabinetry connections.
Cheaper RTA manufacturers are also going to be more prone to using cheaper plywood, softer hardwoods, and inferior dovetail drawer construction. Some dovetail drawers are made with a bunch of pieces of wood glued together while others are made from clear straight-grain solid wood. Both manufacturers would say they are solid wood; however, one of them will look the part much more than the other.
4. Some RTA manufacturers are seeking to provide cabinetry that is keeping up with modern trends. This means there are great options available that can make your new kitchen sparkle! However, there are also a lot of RTA cabinetry manufacturers who sell a lot of outdated styles.
Cons
RTA cabinets are limited in options and sizing. They are standard sized in varying widths of 3 inches, so at times extra fillers are needed to make your kitchen layout work. Some manufacturers offer more options than others, but you often can't get exactly what you want.
RTA cabinets need to be assembled. This means that only people with significant and handyman abilities should apply for this task. For those who are not very handy, RTA cabinets may be a bad choice.
It is without a doubt, that the benefits of RTA cabinets far outweigh the cons. If you're looking for an affordable way to remodel your kitchen, take a good look at RTA cabinets!
