Solid Wood vs. Semi-Custom Cabinets
Which is Right for Your Home?

The main difference is sizing flexibility and construction quality. Semi-custom cabinets come in standard 3-inch increments (12", 15", 18", etc.) with limited door and finish options. Custom cabinets are built to your exact measurements down to 1/16th of an inch, maximizing every corner of your kitchen. Material quality also differs: custom cabinets typically use solid wood frames and premium plywood, while semi-custom often uses particle board cores with wood veneer. Construction methods matter too—custom cabinets feature dovetail joints and mortise-and-tenon joinery, while semi-custom uses dowels and staples.

Yes, semi-custom cabinets are typically 20-30% less expensive upfront than fully custom solid wood cabinetry. A typical semi-custom kitchen package starts around $12,000, while full custom starts at $25,000+. However, consider lifetime value: custom cabinets last 50+ years with proper care, while semi-custom typically needs replacement in 15-20 years. Labor costs for installation are similar since both require professional installation. When you factor in the resale value boost and longevity, custom cabinetry often proves more cost-effective over time.

Most semi-custom lines offer solid wood door options as upgrades, but the cabinet boxes are still particle board or lower-grade plywood. You can get solid wood door fronts (typically Oak, Maple, or Cherry) matched to veneer frames, but you're still working within standard sizing constraints. For a true solid wood experience—including drawer boxes, frames, and structural components—you need fully custom cabinetry. At D's Custom Woodworks, we offer value engineering options where we can build critical areas (like the island) in full custom and use quality semi-custom for less visible sections.

From design approval to installation, expect 8-12 weeks for custom cabinetry. This includes 2 weeks for final design and shop drawings, 4-6 weeks for shop fabrication (depending on complexity and finish choices), and 1-2 weeks for installation and final trim work. Our Shelton-based shop allows clients to visit during the build process to see their cabinets taking shape. Semi-custom cabinets are faster (4-6 weeks total) since they're factory-produced, but you sacrifice the perfect fit and quality that makes custom worth the wait.

For Western Washington's humidity, marine-grade plywood is the gold standard for cabinet boxes—it resists moisture better than particle board. For door and face frames, Maple and Oak hardwoods perform excellently in our climate and offer beautiful grain patterns. We source local Washington-grown hardwoods when possible. Avoid MDF (medium-density fiberboard) in humid areas like bathrooms and kitchens near windows—it swells when exposed to moisture. Our custom builds use ¾" plywood boxes with solid hardwood frames, ensuring your cabinets won't degrade in the South Sound's damp climate.

Our focus is on full custom cabinetry because we believe you deserve the perfect fit for your investment. However, we understand budget constraints and offer value engineering solutions—building the high-impact areas (island, range wall) in full custom while using quality materials for secondary areas. We can also create hybrid solutions where we build custom cabinet boxes and integrate semi-custom components where it makes sense. Every project starts with an honest conversation about your priorities, budget, and timeline so we can recommend the best approach.

Absolutely. Custom cabinets are ideal for small kitchens because they maximize every inch—no wasted space with filler strips or awkward gaps that semi-custom requires. We can build cabinets to odd dimensions (like 11.5" or 23.75") to perfectly fill your space. In small Lacey or Tumwater kitchens, this means gaining an extra drawer or shelving unit that semi-custom simply can't accommodate. We also create custom storage solutions like pull-out spice racks, corner optimizers, and appliance garages tailored to your specific workflow and space constraints.

Start with an initial consultation where we discuss your vision, budget, and timeline. We'll schedule a measurement visit to your home to assess the space, note electrical and plumbing locations, and discuss workflow and storage needs. Then we create detailed shop drawings showing every cabinet dimension, interior layout, and hardware placement for your approval. Once you approve the design, we begin fabrication in our Shelton shop. You're welcome to visit during the build to see your project come to life. Installation takes 1-2 weeks, and we handle all final adjustments and hardware installation.