Are Ikea Cabinets a Good Idea for Your Kitchen? | faceyourkitchen ...

by Shannon Dauphin

Face Your Kitchen Columnist

If you're considering a kitchen cabinet refacing as part of your remodel, you have likely stumbled upon the Ikea option. Ikea cabinets have become all the rage among homeowners who are looking for attractive kitchen drawers and cabinet doors at an affordable price.

Ikea kitchens allow you to build your dream kitchen one piece at a time. Whether you are looking for a full cabinet replacement or simply want to reface the cabinets at an affordable price, this might be the right option for you. But as with any big decision for your home, weighing the pros and cons is key to making the best choice.

Here are a few reasons why Ikea cabinet doors might be your best bet:

1. The prices are very nice. A quick survey of Ikea cabinet doors found that the most basic doors cost between $10 and $25 each -- a substantial savings over even the discount cabinet depots.
2. Assembly is do-it-yourself. The pieces come with clear instructions and hardware, so handy homeowners might be able to do the installation on their own.
3. Replacement is easy. If you have a dent, scratch or other issue, replacement is a snap -- just buy that individual piece, install it and you're done. In fact, why not buy a few additional doors to have on hand in the event of a problem?
4. Transport is simple. The cabinet doors and drawers are packed flat in boxes, which makes transporting them easy. You can also have the items delivered to your door for a reasonable fee.

What about the downsides? There are a few of those, too:

1. Stronger hardware might be required. Some contractors have expressed concern that the hardware for Ikea cabinets isn't up to par for strength and durability. If you have questions about that, you might opt for stronger hardware for your kitchen drawers and doors.
2. Easy installation can be misleading. Though Ikea cabinets are designed to be easy to install from start to finish, the promises of easy installation could lead homeowners to get in way over their heads. If you haven't handled a home improvement project before, your cabinet refacing is not the best place to start.
3. Reputation. Ikea has a reputation for low prices, but for some, low price translates into "low quality." If you intend to sell your home in the near future, potential buyers might see Ikea -- deservedly or not -- as a "lesser" brand of cabinetry.

Choosing Ikea for your cabinet refacing can make a lot of financial sense. Before you take that route, however, talk with a professional installer about the pros and cons. A little bit of research right now can pay off big in the future.

?

Source: http://www.faceyourkitchen.com/cabinet-doors/the-deal-with-ikea-cabinets.htm

shannon brown utah jazz mike rowe ron artest deion sanders shld 2012 sec football schedule