What materials do you use for custom cabinets?

The materials in your custom cabinets determine how they look, how they perform, and how long they last. We use premium, trade-grade materials at every level of construction, from the cabinet box to the door face to the hardware inside. Here is exactly what goes into every set of cabinets we build.

Cabinet Box Construction

Every cabinet box is built with 3/4-inch cabinet-grade plywood, not particle board or MDF. This is a non-negotiable standard for us. Plywood holds screws better, resists moisture damage, and handles the weight of heavy dishes and countertop appliances without sagging. In Edmonton's climate, where indoor humidity can swing dramatically between winter heating season and summer, plywood maintains its structural integrity far better than particle board alternatives.

We use dado joints and glue for box assembly, creating a rigid structure that does not rely solely on fasteners. Backs are 1/2-inch plywood (not 1/4-inch hardboard), which adds rigidity and makes wall mounting more secure.

Door and Drawer Front Materials

Door material depends on your chosen finish:

• Painted finish: We use high-density MDF for painted doors. MDF machines to crisp, clean profiles and provides a perfectly smooth surface with no visible grain. This eliminates the risk of wood grain telegraphing through the paint over time. MDF painted doors receive multiple coats of catalyzed lacquer or conversion varnish for a factory-quality finish.
• Stained finish: Solid hardwood doors in maple, oak, cherry, or walnut. Maple is our most popular choice for its clean, consistent grain. Oak provides a traditional look with pronounced grain character. Cherry offers a warm tone that deepens beautifully with age. All stained doors receive hand-applied stain followed by a clear protective topcoat.
• Specialty options: Rift-cut white oak for a modern linear grain, quarter-sawn oak for a classic Craftsman look, or thermofoil for budget-conscious projects that still need moisture resistance (ideal for laundry rooms and bathrooms).

Hardware and Accessories

We install Blum soft-close hinges on every door. These Austrian-made hinges are the industry standard for smooth, silent operation and are rated for 200,000 cycles. Drawers ride on Blum Tandem drawer slides with integrated soft-close, rated to support 75 pounds per drawer. You will never hear a cabinet slam shut.

Pull-out waste bins, corner lazy susans, spice rack inserts, and cutlery dividers are all available as integrated accessories built right into the cabinetry.

Countertop Coordination

While we do not fabricate countertops in-house, we coordinate directly with Edmonton quartz and granite fabricators to ensure precise measurements and seamless installation timing. We can recommend trusted local suppliers based on your budget and design preferences.

Contact us for a free consultation to discuss material options and see samples in person.