Ready-To-Assemble cabinets, or "RTA" for short, is a type of cabinetry that comes in flat-packed boxes and requires assembly by the buyer. This typically leads to cost savings when compared to custom or pre-assembled cabinets, as it reduces labor and shipping expenses. For this reason, among others, we're big fans (and recently helped save a family $95,000 by using RTA!).
There is one caveat, however... not all RTA cabinets are created equal, so we need to make sure we're buying the right kind. In a recent visit to The RTA Store's new showroom, we got to see the different construction types, hardware, and finishes firsthand (having helped over 150k families with new cabinetry, we certainly look to them as the experts). We'll break down the pros and cons of this type of cabinetry so you can make as informed a decision as possible when shopping for your home. Let's jump in!
Less Expensive... But Are They Good Quality?
This is what we were most excited to see in person. Short answer is yes. Yes there are!
Quality RTA cabinets all depend on how specifically they are made to go together. For cabinetry, we generally want to stay away from anything like the twisting cam locks and particle board seen in big box furniture stores. Once those pieces of hardware wiggle loose, there's no re-tightening and the structural integrity of the piece has been drastically reduced. What we saw at The RTA Store's showroom was completely different. Their manufacturers use the same high-quality joinery found in leading custom manufacturers' cabinetry: full plywood boxes and "dado" or sliding dovetail joinery (fun pro tip: wood glue is actually stronger than wood, so the point of joinery is to increase the amount of surface area for the glue. This is why we groove or "dado" pieces into one another).
Dado construction on the left, and sliding dovetail on the right. Both excellent quality.
Assembly isn't too difficult and gets easier as you go. They've got a ton of excellent assembly videos and resources on their YouTube channel, as well, from door adjustments to installation tips. A lot of RTA cabinets will have small pieces of corner hardware. Know that this isn't where the strength of the cabinet comes from, rather to hold all the pieces together while the much-stronger glue dries.
To review: the best types of RTA cabinets are those that have the same joinery, construction method, and hardware as higher-end custom cabinets, they just aren't assembled until they arrive onsite. That's exactly what we saw at The RTA Store.
The Convenience Of Standard Finishes
If you've spent any time in our Ask A Cabinetmaker Facebook group, you've seen frustrated homeowners dealing with finishers that can't figure out how to create the look they're wanting. Unfortunately, finishing is a bit of an afterthought in most of America's cabinet shops, and this often leads to a disappointing (and lower quality) outcome.
With standard finishes, you don't have to reinvent the wheel, starting from scratch on [often] very advanced finishes. You can easily order samples, confirm that everything looks good and works with your aesthetic, and then place your order. From the uber-popular rift sawn white oak, to trendy greens and navy paints, it's a refreshingly simple approach to buying new cabinetry.
I personally want as durable and consistent a finish on the doors, draw fronts, and trim where you're frequently splashing water, bumping with a broom, and opening and closing dozens of times. These factory finishes all excel in the Chemical Resistance Evaluation that tests the finish's durability against common household liquids like ketchup, red wine, vinegar, and ammonia (we get a bit more into detail about this test and just how different proper cabinet finishes are when compared to anything purchased at a hardware store here!).
Durability, consistent tone and color, and a super simple selection process makes this an excellent option, especially if you're not 100% confident (literally zero doubt) that your local cabinetmaker is able to create the look you want with the today's cabinet finishes.
Not Just For Kitchens
It's important to remember just how much cabinetry goes into a home: kitchen, pantry or scullery if you have it, bathrooms, mudroom, media built-ins, home office, wet bar, fireplace surround! Quite a bit to say the least. RTA cabinets can be a particularly good option to save in these other rooms.
Customer Support
Buying cabinetry for your new home is a difficult enough decision. Just selecting the door style and finishes can be an overwhelming process on it's own! This is where we feel The RTA Store really shines. As of the writing of this article, they've got 4.5 stars in 3,331 reviews. From the initial design stages to ordering samples to offering financing options, you will have an entire team intimately familiar with process helping you along every step of the way.
So... Is RTA Worth It?
Short answer is yes! At least worth looking into. These days, "custom" doesn't mean quality. It doesn't even always mean custom. For that reason, it's getting more and more difficult for this particular cabinetmaker to recommend using your local shop no matter what. If you're wanting something especially unique like walnut cabinet interiors or a period-correct finish to match the existing millwork in your historical brownstone, we recommend finding a good custom cabinet shop 10 times out of 10.
But that's rarely the case.
As we mentioned above, why try and reinvent the wheel on a natural rift sawn white oak skinny Shaker with someone unfamiliar with today's modern finishes and processes, when one already exists ready to ship directly to you? Likewise, why use an inferior cabinet paint because the painter isn't familiar with professional cabinet finishes, when you can buy one with a proper factory finish? Yes, they do require assembly onsite (this can be done by the trim carpenter, the GC, the installer, or you and some friends over a weekend), but rest assured there is no decrease in quality when considering any of The RTA Store's collections. For these reasons, and many others, they get our vote!