RTA cabinets stand for ready to assemble cabinets. With that said, they come are boxed parts that are delivered to your door. You may also have the option to order pre-assembled kitchen cabinets, delivered already built from the manufacturer and ready to be installed in the home.
Reduced labor costs let you get high-quality material and distinctive designs for less as long as you don’t mind doing some of the work yourself. RTA cabinet manufacturers know this process can be intimidating to some and are often well prepared to make the assembly process as easy as possible. The packs come with all required hardware included. The pieces are cut to size, labeled, and any necessary hardware holes are pre-drilled. All you’ll need to do is fit the pieces together, then nail or glue them in place.
Detailed, illustrated printed instructions and online step-by-step video tutorials will walk you through the whole process. If you get stuck, most manufacturers offer a customer service phone line that connects you to an agent that can help you out. Not all manufacturers offer such good customer service, though, so choose carefully.
Some manufacturers offer custom RTA cabinets that are tailor-made to your specifications. They’re just like other custom cabinets, but shipped unassembled. Others offer a selection of pre-set sizes, wood types, styles, trims, colors, and finishes to give you some room to choose the look and functionality you want. You might also have options for added features such as a wine rack, pull-out spice rack, appliance lift, or wood range hood.
Lower shipping costs make it more affordable to order from a manufacturer outside your local area, giving you an even broader selection. If the manufacturer you choose doesn’t offer all the features you want, you might be able to find add-ons elsewhere. This makes RTA cabinets ideal if you’re on a budget, but still want some flexibility.
The downside of RTA cabinets is that what you save in upfront costs, you pay for in the time required to put the cabinets together. You’ll first need to invest some time in reading the instructions and watching videos. Some manufactures claim their cabinets take just 15 minutes each to assemble, but that’s usually based on an expert doing the work. If you’re not experienced, expect the first cabinet to take over an hour and the rest to take at least 30 minutes each. Multiply that by the number of cabinets you need, and you’ll have the amount of time you’ll spend if everything goes perfectly.
If you make any mistakes, you’ll also spend time undoing and redoing your work with the risk of also having to reorder certain parts again due to damage caused to the cabinets if not done properly. Most RTA cabinets do not come with a guarantee because the manufacturer has no assurance that you’ll assemble them correctly. Incorrect assembly can damage your cabinets and cause parts to fail early. With no manufacturer’s guarantee, if you make a mistake or damage the cabinets, the cost of repair or replacement is all on you.
Issues like this can mean your RTA cabinets will end up costing you more than pre-assembled stock cabinets would have. The selection of RTA cabinets on the market is constantly expanding, but it’s not as broad as the range of choices you’ll get by ordering custom cabinets. With RTA models, you might have to compromise on color, style, or features you were hoping for.
Overall, the customer needs to weigh both the pros and cons before going forward with their decision and choice of cabinetry to make the best decision on what is the best option for them.