Buying cheap kitchen cabinets may at first sound like a good idea. Think again. After only a short period of time, youll find the cost of repairing and (more likely!) replacing them actually costs more in the long run than purchasing good-quality cabinets in the first place.

So how does one determine cheap kitchen cabinets from those of high quality? First off, dont be fooled by the so-called sales at some less-than-scrupulous lumberyards or other cabinet retailers. These bargains can really sock it to you in the long run with photo-simulated wood, thin-as-paper laminates, poor-quality wood (when real wood is used!), and joinery to shame the most lackadaisical carpenter.

One of the first places to be on the lookout for cheap kitchen cabinets lies in the drawer construction. Do all the pieces fit snugly together? Does the joinery appear solid and well constructed? Does the drawer glide smoothly open and close? Are they on metal extensions that work using ball bearings or on cheap plastic tracks?

Other signs of cheap kitchen cabinets come to light when the doors do not open and close smoothly and easily. Improper fit can wear out hinges and even eventually cause cracking. Well-made doors should open easily without creaking and with an easy action. Hinges should be adjustable, and doors need to be able to open adequately.

Although many people think of big box stores as places most likely to sell cheap kitchen cabinets, this just isnt so. Many small cabinet shops commonly build cabinets that dont quite meet the grade because of a lack of the sophisticated equipment found in large-scale manufacturers. Machining quality can vary greatly in such things as laminating and edging panels, so it pays to shop around.

So although the allure of cheap kitchen cabinets may at first appeal to you, be sure and consider things on down the road. You can spend more now and have great-looking cabinets for the next 30 years, or you can spend less and look at replacing those cheap kitchen cabinets sooner than you would ever imagine. The choice is yours.