Cabinets- Why Buy RTA versus Name Brand Cabinets?

When buying kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities two things usually come to mind: the quality and price of the cabinet. There are plenty of cabinets to choose from, but getting the most for your money is what is important. Buying cabinets the traditional way, going to a retail store and purchasing kitchen cabinets, is no longer the smart or economical method to a great kitchen. The world of cabinets has changed and here are a few reasons why you should be buying RTA kitchen cabinets and vanities.



First, RTA stands for ready to assemble. The cabinets are packaged in medium sized cardboard boxes and contain instructions and an easy-to-use cam lock system to assemble the cabinet. Cam locks are plastic devices built into the cabinet that lock the cabinet in place when constructing the piece.



When buying kitchen cabinets one must first look at quality. A large number of today's kitchen cabinets are solid wood fronts, but contain particle board sides and backs. This is a sub-standard cabinet and will not hold up in a kitchen. A cabinet sales person will tell you that the particle board is standard and that it is fine for everyday use, but particle board absorbs moisture and kitchens are loaded with moisture. So anyone can do the math on that eventual problem. By using plywood, it gives you the same strength as solid wood (if not more), but you don't have to worry about moisture seeping into the material. These cabinets can stand up for years and have an overall better build. So when looking at the building materials, make sure that you choose a cabinet with paneled wood sides, particle board will eventually lead to problems.



In the world of cabinets prices vary greatly. You can see many different prices ranges online or in stores. Make sure you are comparing "apples to apples". Just because a cabinet states that it is RTA or solid wood, does not always hold true. The great thing about buying RTA kitchen cabinets is that the price is about thirty to forty percent lower than pre-assembled cabinets. Yes, you have to assemble the RTA kitchen cabinet or bathroom vanity, but anyone can assemble these cabinets and save money at the same time. Or if you have a contractor assembling your cabinets, you are still saving money because you did not buy pre-assembled cabinets. Typically a contractor can assemble one of these cabinets in five to ten minutes, so even if you were paying an hourly wage, you will still save money over buying pre-assembled. Also keep in mind that a contractor can be negotiated with; to assemble these RTA cabinets is an easy add on to any project.



There are several advantages to buying cabinets online. The cabinets are sent directly to you, there is no need to spend money on gas, your avoiding retail prices, and it also saves you time. Make sure when your buying online, you determine that the cabinets are easy to assemble. Most RTA websites are buying from a single source, so be careful if they don't actually stock their own cabinets. When multiple websites are pulling from the same inventory, there is a greater chance that they will run out of certain items. The best companies to deal with are going to be the direct importers.



I have been usingRTA cabinets in all of my renovation projects for the past 10 years. After a lot of research, I have found the secret to getting RTA kitchen cabinets at 30-40% below what the big box stores are selling them for. If you are interested in saving a lot of money on your remodeling project, follow these links to find out my secret.