Prefab VS Semi-Custom VS Custom Cabinetry
Prefab Cabinetry
Pros: Prefabricated cabinets are extremely cost-efficient, and the turnaround time is relatively quick. Often in areas where cabinets aren't the focal point such as a laundry room or a mudroom, these cabinets can be utilized very well. Some suppliers usually have samples or entire cabinets that you can see, feel, touch, and visualize in the desired space. While others you're taking your chances from visuals online and hoping it shows up looking the same. Cons With cost-efficiency, durability can also take a hit. The paint on prefabricated cabinets isn't poor by any means, but it probably won't stand up the same as a custom cabinet paint job. And with prefab, it's rare that you can paint over it. Options on cabinets are also relatively limited. There aren't as many options to choose from, so this limits you if you have a unique space.
Prefab Cabinetry
Semi - Custom
Pros: Semi-custom cabinet lines offer a great variety of selections. They have multiple colors/stains to choose from as well as different styles for the cabinet itself. Indeed this cabinet is prefabricated, meaning it was mass-produced in a warehouse somewhere, but the quality is similar to a custom cabinet. The options for sizes of cabinets can also be adjusted with semi-custom. This makes choosing the layout of your kitchen less of a headache. So for example we were able to take this bathroom vanity and customize it to a size that fits snug into this opening. With prefab, this wouldn't have been an option and more than likely there would have been gapping on both sides, also creating more area to dust and clean. They also offer a wide variety of moldings that match or coordinate with the cabinetry. Turn around time can be anywhere from one week to one month depending on the supplier.
Semi - Custom
Cons: I would say the biggest downfall to using semi-custom cabinets is the paint quality. Time and time again, we see a huge difference between the paint job on custom vs. semi-custom cabinets. Not to say that semi-custom is bad, the custom line is just that much better. Mass production definitely brings down the cost of labor, but naturally, it brings down the quality as well. Often semi-custom lines will come with "fillers" to place between cabinets. This creates the desired measurements from one end to the other. For instance, if you have a wall that is 75 inches from end to end and you have two lower cabinets that are 36 inches wide, together they only span a total distance of 72 inches. So a 3-inch filler is placed in between the cabinets to ensure a tight fit to each wall. The filler, if done correctly, can be practically unnoticeable, but for most areas, it's much cleaner and a better end product when you can use no filler.
Semi - Custom
Custom
Pros: When it comes to prefab cabinets vs custom, custom cabinetry is the best possible product you can buy. The quality of a custom cabinet is top-notch, and you won't find anything that is of higher quality. Cabinet makers often have their pieces sprayed in a paint shop and properly cured. This process leads to minimal cracking, increased durability, and an overall better finish on the cabinet. The opportunities are virtually endless. With a custom cabinet maker, they can meet your demands more realistically or creatively. If you want a 13.5-inch wide cabinet that would be virtually impossible to find with a prefabricated cabinet line, a custom cabinet maker would be able to accommodate those specific requests. You can also choose any color you've dreamt of, whereas that is not an option with prefab.
Custom
Cons: Cabinetry is the best that money can buy quality-wise, which means it is at a higher price point. Custom cabinets are expensive and they should be. But this is the biggest deterrent when it comes to selling them to clients. For instance, in a standard kitchen size, a line of custom cabinets can cost anywhere from $30-$60k. Time can also be a big factor. If you're looking to do a quick flip, or only want to be under construction for a month, quality custom cabinetry probably isn't going to work within your timeline. Building custom cabinets out can take anywhere from 2-8 full weeks of manual labor just depending on the size of your project, and now with material lead times, it can take even longer.
Custom