Bathroom cabinets
can be purchased prefabricated stock 
models
in a wide variety of styles and colors, or custom-made to fit your
special décor. Regardless of your choice, cabinets should provide
sufficient storage, operate easily, and maintain their appearance.
Because they are not easily replaced, buy the best quality you can
afford. They will be around for a long time.
New cabinet costs
can vary widely. Two types that outwardly appear similar may be priced
at opposite ends of the spectrum. A closer look will likely reveal that
the cheaper one used low-quality material and cheap construction
techniques.
Also, keep in
mind that bathroom cabinets are shallower than kitchen cabinets —
generally only 16 inches deep, designed for the smaller, more intimate
room.
Cabinet
Construction
Whether you
choose stock or custom cabinets, consider these key features that affect
pricing:
- Construction materials: Plywood cabinets are better than those made of particleboard. The thicker the plywood, the better the quality. Be sure to check the back; in lower-quality cabinets, the backs are sometimes a thinner piece of plywood coupled with a piece of fiberboard.
- Cabinets and drawers with dowel or dovetail joints hold up better than those only nailed and glued. Look also at the corner blocks inside the cabinets — wooden corner blocks instead of plastic indicate sturdier construction. Better construction methods will be reflected in price.
- Cabinet doors made of solid hardwood are usually better than those made of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). The reverse can be true, however, if a superior finish is applied to an MDF door. And MDF is better than standard particleboard.
- Ask if the doors and frame are made of the same species of wood. Often, to keep costs down, the face frame of a cabinet will be made of poplar, a less expensive hardwood than the cherry or oak used for doors and drawer fronts. This doesn't affect construction, but can sometimes affect staining and finishing.
- Hand-rubbed
stains and finishes are superior to sprayed-on finishes, and the
more layers of finish the better. Epoxy or conversion varnish is
more expensive but better quality than lacquer.
- Consider the hinges and drawer glides. Doors and drawers that open and close smoothly without banging probably have better quality fittings. Look at the number of hinges on the doors of taller cabinets — better manufacturers use three hinges on tall doors.
- Also compare warranties. How long the cabinet manufacturer guarantees finish, hardware and hinges, speaks to the product's quality.
Repainting/Refinishing
Repainting or
refinishing is an economical solution if your cabinet layout is
acceptable, if you have enough storage and counter space and if the
cabinets are structurally sound. If your bathroom does not meet these
conditions, consider ordering new cabinets.
Not all cabinets can be repainted with good results. Cabinets made of
solid wood or plywood are likely to be worth repainting. Metal cabinets
require automotive-quality painting for best results. Paint bonds poorly
to laminate or melamine cabinets and will soon begin to peel and chip,
especially in the moist atmosphere of the bathroom.
The painting method will greatly affect the final outcome. Painters
who specialize in refinishing cabinets often remove doors and drawer
fronts, then finish them in a controlled environment.
When selecting a new paint, your choices will primarily be either
latex or alkyd, which has largely replaced oil-based paint. Both provide
high gloss, semigloss, satin or flat finishes. Latex paint is often
preferred for bathrooms because it contains an additive to resist the
growth of mold and mildew. It should not be applied to bare wood because
it is water-based and will cause the wood to swell. If you use
water-based paint, specify top-quality 100% acrylic. Alkyd paints have
higher gloss and hardness because of the resins used and can be painted
over wallpaper, which latex cannot because it causes the wallpaper to
separate from the wall. Be sure to choose new cabinet hardware before
painting so old screw holes can be filled and refinished if necessary.
Refacing Cabinets
Refacing cabinets
gives your bathroom a facelift. The project involves a specialist who
replaces doors and drawer fronts, as well as giving visible front and
side panels fresh paint or new veneer. Not only does this option renew
the bathroom look, it gives you a chance to present a whole new décor.
You can also
enhance the bathroom's overall appearance by simply adding new handles
and pull knobs.
Stock,
Modular Cabinets
When replacing or
selecting new bathroom cabinets, stock cabinets are usually the least
expensive choice. They come in standard sizes, offered in 3-inch width
increments, such as 9 inches wide, 12 inches wide, 15 inches wide, on up
to 48 inches wide.
If you need an
unusually sized cabinet to complete your layout, however, you won't be
able to get one. Instead, filler panels are used to close up the gaps
and accommodate measurements outside of the 3-inch increment range.
Though they come
in standard sizes and finishes, stock cabinets can be cleverly arranged
to create a unique look. You'll find a wide variety of door styles and
door/drawer configurations.
Custom Cabinets
For specially
sized cabinets and individual design features, you'll need to go to a
custom cabinetmaker, either local or part of a national custom cabinet
chain. To find a national manufacturer, talk to a bathroom design firm,
remodeling firm, or visit a large home improvement center. Local
craftsmen, however, generally will be able to give you more personal
attention and often can complete the work in a shorter lead-time.
If you choose a
national manufacturer, you'll have plenty of examples in brochures and
showrooms to consider the styles and finishes available. This gives you
the opportunity to assess quality and style. Pricing will usually
include all shipping, handling and installation charges.
With a local
cabinetmaker, you may or may not see finished products in the shop.
Also, all shops are not equally good at making every style, so find one
that has already done what you have in mind. Quality wood finishing
requires skill and patience; some cabinetmakers, both local and
national, lack one or both attributes, so inspect the work carefully.
Don't just call references — go to look at installed work. Be sure to
get clarification on the materials that will be used, not just for doors
and drawers, but for the cabinet boxes as well. When pricing is
discussed, make sure you understand what is included, such as delivery
and installation. Finally, ask about the cabinetmaker's warranties and
service.
Medicine
Cabinets
Sufficient
storage space is always a concern, and it is even more so in bathrooms.
Many people who might prefer something like a pedestal sink instead opt
for the standard sink and vanity just so they will have some drawer and
under-the-sink cabinet space. So it's the medicine cabinet to the
rescue, either recessed or surface mounted.
A wide variety of
medicine cabinets are available in all styles, from Euro-sleek to
country rustic. And if you don't find what you like, a cabinetmaker can
create one for you.
Recessed
medicine cabinets are made to fit between the existing studs in a
bathroom. This is accomplished by cutting out the drywall and inserting,
fastening and sealing the medicine cabinet between the studs. Most homes
have studs 16 inches on center for interior framing, and many cabinet
variations are designed to fit in that space.
But medicine
cabinets can be much wider and still be installed without a great deal
of expense or inconvenience. For recessed cabinets wider than the stud
spacing, a header is installed to support the wall where the cabinet is
placed.
Before cutting
unnecessarily into a wall, make sure that there are no vent pipes
located in that spot. They can be routed around the cabinet, but it is
considerable extra work.
Surface-mounted
cabinets are easier to install but will project farther into the
bathroom area than a comparable recessed cabinet. They are made in
varying depths, so choose one that does not impose itself on the room
and become a head-knocking risk.
The universal way
to help disguise medicine cabinets is to give them mirrored-doors. As
one example, the center mirror may be fixed, with the two side panel
mirrors opening for his and her cabinets above a sink. If using multiple
mirrors, arrange them so that a seam does not fall directly over the
sink.
Medicine cabinet
doors can be sliding or hinged. Sliding doors do not project into the
room, but one part of the cabinet always remains covered — usually the
part you are trying to access. For hinged doors, plan ahead so a door
does not open against an obstruction, such as a towel rack or grab bar.
Medicine cabinets
often come with integral lighting systems, both inside the cabinet for
larger ones and lights along each side or above. High-end cabinets also
may include power outlets and have all surfaces mirrored.