9 Common Myths About RTA Cabinets

When you’re remodeling your kitchen, choosing the right cabinets is one of the most important decisions that you’ll make. Ready-to-assemble cabinets are one of the most popular options due to their affordability and versatility. Despite their popularity, several myths continue to surround RTA cabinets, leading to confusion and hesitation among potential buyers. We’re going to debunk some of the most common myths about RTA cabinets, providing you with the facts you need to make an informed decision for your next kitchen project.

1) RTA Cabinets Are Lower Quality

Lower-quality RTA cabinets do exist, but not all RTA cabinets are low quality. Just like assembled cabinets and custom-built cabinets, RTA cabinets can be found at multiple quality points. Buying assembled cabinets doesn’t guarantee that they will be quality cabinets. And buying RTA cabinets doesn’t mean you’ll get a lower-quality product.

Regardless of the type of cabinet you decide to purchase, it’s important to look at the cabinet specs to ensure you’re getting a good quality product. Signs of a quality cabinet include plywood box construction, solid wood face frames, solid wood (or HDF) cabinet doors, dovetail drawers, and soft-close drawers and doors. If you are unable to see the cabinets in person before purchasing, we recommend ordering sample doors so you can see the quality of the construction and finish.

2) RTA Cabinets Are Less Durable

Like quality, durability depends on materials and construction, not whether your cabinets come pre-assembled or ready-to-assemble. High-quality RTA cabinets are just as durable as equivalent assembled cabinets.

They’re made from the same materials. They’re made with the same construction methods. They use the same hardware. They have the same factory finishes. When you purchase assembled cabinets, you’re paying for the convenience of someone else assembling them for you. But you’re not getting a superior product.

3) I Can’t Afford New Cabinets

RTA cabinets are a great option if you’re looking to save on your kitchen remodel. They’re typically 15% to 20% cheaper than assembled cabinets. The savings over custom cabinets are even greater.

Most of the savings come from the ease of shipping. Ready-to-assemble cabinets take up much less space than assembled cabinets. They’re also easier to handle and less prone to damage while in transit. Buying RTA cabinets online also avoids the markup from the middleman. If you rely on your contractor to purchase your cabinets or buy them at a big box store, you’re paying more than you have to.

4) I Need to Pay Someone to Design My Kitchen

It doesn’t have to cost you anything to design your new kitchen. If you like your current kitchen layout but don’t like the cabinets, you can simply replace the cabinets with the same size cabinets. If you’re looking for a completely new layout, there are a lot of great resources out there: free design tools are available and social media is a great source of inspiration and advice.

Most homeowners, however, will benefit greatly from working with a professional kitchen designer, which is why we offer free, no-strings-attached kitchen design consultations. Working with an expert will make your kitchen design go much smoother. They have seen and done it all. You can rely on their experience to help you bring your vision to life and avoid some of the pitfalls of designing on your own.

5) RTA Cabinets Won’t Add Value to My Home

A kitchen remodel offers one of the best ROIs (return on investment) of any home renovation project. The kitchen and the master bath are typically the two most important rooms when selling your home. Because it’s a central part of people’s lives, it’s often the kitchen that sells a home. 

Replacing your kitchen cabinets is a great way to increase the value of your home. Replacing your cabinets with RTA cabinets allows you to save money in the process. You get all of the financial benefits of replacing the cabinets at a fraction of the cost. You also get to enjoy the convenience of designing the kitchen that works for you.

6) RTA Cabinets Are Difficult to Assemble

Anyone can assemble RTA cabinets. All it takes is some time, attention to detail, and a few simple tools. RTA cabinets are designed with simplicity in mind. Pieces are cut to exact size, finishes are carefully applied, dovetails are precut, and all of the hardware is included.

The first couple of cabinets may take a little longer to assemble. But once you have built one or two, the process gets easier. You can expect to spend 15 to 20 minutes assembling each cabinet. If you have any difficulty, give us a call. We’re happy to give you some advice and talk you through any difficulties you may be having.

7) RTA Cabinets Look Cheap

Nobody will be able to tell the difference between RTA cabinets, assembled cabinets, and a custom build. From the outside, they’re indistinguishable. In many instances, ready-to-assemble and assembled cabinets are exactly the same, inside and out. The only difference is where they are assembled and who assembled them. 

Our ready-to-assemble cabinets feature solid wood face frames, dovetail drawers, solid wood drawer fronts, soft-close doors and drawers, and high-quality finishes from Sherwin Williams. If you’re near our Wyomissing, Pennsylvania showroom, you can come in and see the quality in person. If you can’t make it to our showroom, you can get a close-up look at our cabinets by ordering refundable sample doors.

8) RTA Cabinets Take a Long Time to Ship

Shipping time is actually one of the biggest benefits of ordering RTA cabinets. The lead time for ready-to-assemble cabinets is usually significantly shorter than for assembled cabinets and definitely shorter than for a custom build. 

Because RTA cabinets come in standard sizes and don’t take much storage space, they can be manufactured ahead of time. Before you even order your RTA cabinets, they’ve already been built, inspected, and packaged. Most of our RTA cabinets can be shipped within 7 days. And in-stock RTA cabinets can be picked up or delivered locally within 24 hours. If you’ve got a short timeline, RTA cabinets are your best choice.

9) RTA Cabinets Limit My Design Options

RTA cabinets will never be as flexible as a completely custom cabinet build. But they come pretty close. RTA cabinets are available in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and finishes. The wide range of available cabinet sizes makes any kitchen design and layout a possibility. 

Buying RTA cabinets doesn’t mean you’ll be forced to skimp on convenience and customization either. Rollout trays? Deep drawers? Utensil inserts? Trash can pullouts? Fully accessible lazy susans? Wine racks? They’re all available with RTA cabinets.

RTA cabinets offer a combination of quality, durability, and design flexibility at a fraction of the cost of assembled or custom cabinets. Whether you’re looking to enhance your home’s value or simply create a space that suits your style, RTA cabinets provide a practical solution that doesn’t compromise on quality or appearance.