RTA kitchen cabinets dominate the market with their convenience and great value. Still, as with any product, you should consider several factors before blindly making your purchase.
We’ve compiled some tips and information that you might need to make an informed decision about whether RTA cabinets suit you.
Do You Have the Appropriate Tools?
The name RTA, or Ready-to-Assemble, gives most people the impression that they must remove the parts from the box and place them in the appropriate spots. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
Of course, a custom kitchen cabinet would not require many tools, but you still need the basic instruments to hold all the parts together.
You will first need a screwdriver and drill, two basic tools required in any home improvement job. Additionally, you’ll want a leveler handy to ensure your cabinets aren’t slanted toward one side.
These three instruments are fairly easy to obtain and handle, so the layman will have no issues at this point.
However, the last two tools you’ll need are less common in many households. Firstly, you need a table saw to cut your fillers and moldings.
Any old saw might do, but you may not be able to get clean, straight cuts on the wood. A table saw will guarantee smooth, accurate cuts and save you quite a bit of time.
Secondly, you need a nail gun to install all your wooden parts. You don’t want to spend hours manually hammering in every nail, risking wood damage. Having a powerful nail gun will allow you to install your panels, fillers, and moldings correctly and on time.
The Installation Might Not Be as Simple as You Thought
As you might have noticed from learning about the various tools you need for RTA kitchen cabinets, the installation could pose some obstacles for someone who isn’t already experienced in home improvement.
Though these cabinets are meant to save people time and effort, they require expertise.
However, it would be prudent to warn those with little DIY project experience that the installation isn’t as straightforward as you might’ve thought. It can be challenging if you aren’t familiar with your tools or the correct techniques.
If this is the case, it is recommended that a professional finish the job. Considering how much you’ve saved from purchasing the RTA option, a quick installation from an expert won’t be too imposing on your wallet.
Can You Completely Trust the Advertisement?
Buying anything online is always a risk. Even if you’re purchasing the product from a trusted retailer, you can never be sure that what you’re looking at through the screen will perfectly match the item that gets delivered.
When purchasing a large-ticket item such as an RTA kitchen cabinet, you should ensure that you’ll get what you’ve paid for.
Imagine receiving your order only to be forced to return the entire thing because you simply aren’t satisfied when you open the box.
This disappointment might occur simply because of your specific monitor settings or quality or even because the retailer has edited its images.
You should know the possibilities regardless of why the cabinet might look different in person.
Order a sample door first to ensure that you’ll be completely pleased with your choice. While you can’t be sure how the cabinets will look through an online gallery, requesting a sample will give you a clear idea of what the RTA cabinets will look like in your kitchen.
Another huge advantage of ordering sample doors is that you can ask for multiple different ones, giving you the opportunity to compare each option before you decide on the perfect fit.
Don’t Expect Luxury
While RTA cabinets are high-quality products, you can’t expect the same level of aesthetics as you might get from custom cabinets or even Ikea furniture.
You might wonder why cheaper Ikea products have better finishes than your kitchen cabinets, but you must consider that they’re mainly constructed with particle boards and veneers. This means that the manufacturers can create a clean finish on the outside, but it’s done in order to conceal the cheaper interior build.
Most RTA kitchen cabinets are made of solid wood, and natural materials like this always contain some flaws. Little scratches or warping in between or behind the cabinets are completely normal but won’t adversely affect the functionality or overall aesthetics of the product.
You can always exchange certain parts and request replacements from your retailer, but keep in mind that you won’t receive any reimbursements for them, and doing so will only extend the installation process.
Online RTA cabinets are meant to give you an affordable alternative. Therefore, you can’t expect the same level of service or elegance as you might find in custom cabinet stores.
