Frequently Asked Questions

All of the informational pages on this website are available to anyone, with or without an account.

If you've ever requested a quote from us or emailed us, then you already have an account in our internal systems. By creating an account on this website (assuming you use the same email address!) you have direct access to your quotes and previous orders, and you can place any new orders using our secure payment system.

If you're new to the Cabinet Authority, creating an account will assign you to your personal Account Manager who will work with you on all your quotes and orders.

Yes. The login gives you visibility to your existing quotes and orders, but it is not required to request or receive a quote or even to place an order. However, we think it will be very helpful for you to create a login on this website so that you can easily track and review your account.

Certainly! We believe that processing orders via a secure checkout on this website is a safer way for you to guard your credit card information, but (for now) we will continue to take your order as we've done before if that's your preference.

"My Recent Quotes" will contain quotes completed by your Account Manager. In theory, these will be ready to order at your convenience. "My Requests" are requests you've submitted via QuoteBuilder (aka, the 'Get A Quote' button) that your Account Manager hasn't quoted yet--don't worry, it shouldn't take more than a few business hours to get your quotes!

No. Your resume code is a random, temporary number that is valid only until the quote is submitted. Once it is submitted, your quote is assigned a quote request number and sent to your Account Manager.

Absolutely not. We have never sent mailings and we don't intend to start. We rarely send bulk email messages, and then only if the information is vitally important to recurring customers. Of course, we will contact you via email or phone for issues related to your quotes and orders.

We will not sell or give your information to any third party except to aid in delivering your product or as required by law. Read the Privacy Statement for further details.

If you are in the trade and would like to use any of the brochures to help you promote these products to your customers, you can purchase brochures from your Account Manager. They are typically available in quantities of 20 or more (per brochure) and range in cost from about $1 to about $5.

We have found that it is typically much more effective (and less expensive) for you to print the sections you need from the website, then update them as needed. Given that the catalogs are typically updated about twice a year, pre-printed versions tend to go out of date pretty quickly.

If you have a specific reason why a pre-printed version of the catalogs is necessary, talk to your Account Manager about ordering them for you.

It's a great idea, but unfortunately not available yet. This is on our to-do list for our programmers.

There are three general categories that you have to consider when starting a cabinetry project. (This is true for DIY'ers AND professionals!) The categories are:

• Budget
• Layout
• Style

We believe you should always have a budget in mind, but also understand whether you have flexibility in that budget. Since your budget probably includes a lot more than just the cabinetry, you have to figure out what slice of the budget to apply to your cabinets.

Now, once you have your budget in mind, forget about it for the time being! Don't try to make selections for layout and style to fit your budget -- you'll pull your hair out trying. Instead, make your choices based on what you want. Once you've received a preliminary quote, then we can work together to find the changes to fit your budget.

At the Cabinet Authority, one of our roles is to make you aware of what layout options you have. We are not licensed designers so we won't make design decisions for you, but we can help to guide. There are several software programs or apps that can help you with design, but they all have limitations and they all take a while to learn. We're fans of the 'old school' method: graph paper and a pencil. Draw out the exact dimensions of your space, noting the positions of plumbing, electrical, windows, doors, etc. Make multiple copies of that page, then start figuring out where you want to put things. If you're doing a kitchen, do some research on the "work triangle". You also want to be aware of any local codes that may restrict you (especially around any electrical or heating devices). Consider where you want cabinet doors vs. drawers. vs open shelves. Figure out where you might have 'dead space' -- especially in corners. Refer often to this website as you're creating the design to see the variety of options and sizes that are available.

Your style is how you put your mark on this project. Use this website to help you understand how your choice of overlay vs. inset, door/drawer style, material and finish can give you the exact look you want.

Of course, your Account Manager is available to help throughout the process. We won't make decisions for you, but we will help to point you to choices that you may not have considered or maybe warn you if we see a potential problem. In other words, your happiness with the result is important to us, too!

Yes! Everything we make is made-to-order, so you won't see any additional upcharges for non-standard sizing. Often, we can get as specific as 1/16 of an inch.

Technically, hinges and drawer slides are "optional" but they are almost always included in cabinet quotes. When ordering standalone doors or drawers, you should note whether you want hardware to be included. We do not sell knobs, handles or pulls.

You will need to purchase screws and nails locally to install the cabinets and to attach the drawer fronts.

We can sell components as well as full cabinets! For doors and drawer fronts, pick a style and let us know the sizes (w x h). We also have dovetailed drawer boxes that can be made to the sizes (w x h x d) that you specify. We’ll be happy to create a quote for you.

Yes! Our cabinets can be unfinished, primed, painted, or stained, depending on your needs and budget.

No, though you can order doors, drawer boxes and other accessories to work with frameless boxes that are made elsewhere.

MDF (medium density fiberboard) is a heavy, engineered product made of wood fibers along with a wax and resin binding agent. It is formed by applying high temperature and pressure. It is generally less prone to bending, chipping or breaking than particle board. By default, our cabinets contain neither, although you may request MDF doors for their resistance to seasonal humidity changes.

Yes! This is one of our more popular choices. Bear in mind that certain cabinets and accessories, like trash can pull-outs, don't always work with inset configurations.

Technically, a "full overlay" is not possible on face-framed cabinets because face-frame hinges require at least 1/4" of clearance in order to function properly. However, many people refer to the 1-1/4" or 1-3/8" face-framed cabinets we offer as "full overlay," even though it leaves some of the face visible when the doors are closed.

Standard cabinet interiors are birch plywood with a clear topcoat. With our most popular species, we offer a "matching interior" upgrade which allows you to request unfinished interiors or interiors that are stained or painted to match the exteriors.

Almost every decision has an impact on the cabinet price, but here are a few that are often overlooked:

• Drawer boxes and pull-out trays will drive up the cost, both due to the high quality dovetail joinery used in the drawers and the soft-close drawer slides we include. Of course, they are convenient storage tools and shouldn't be skipped altogether, but you'll need to factor in the cost when determining how many drawers and trays you need.
• More elaborate finishes cost more. Specifically, a glaze is an extra layer of finish that is manually brushed on then wiped off, leaving "highlights" in the beads and grooves. It is a nice look, but it is substantially more work and therefore more expensive.
• "Matching interiors" (where the cabinet interior is finished to match the exterior) can be expensive, especially on cabinets with lots of shelves. This option is typically used on open shelf cabinets and often used on glass door cabinets. Rarely is it worth the cost on "normal" cabinets with doors and drawers.

Yes! All our products are made in America, at our Pennsylvania and North Carolina facilities. Our sales team is based in Connecticut.

Yes! We're authorized sellers of Conestoga products.

"All wood" cabinets refer to plywood cabinet boxes with solid wood face frames. Our products meet those criteria. (For the record, a cabinet box made of solid wood, rather than plywood, would be a bad idea because of significant warping issues.)

You can choose whether either or both of a cabinet's sides will be finished--by default, they are not. There are a few ways to do this--exposed ends, flush ends, or false door panels. You can see our glossary for more information.

Finished toeboard strips (often called kick plates) are an option that are typically included with cabinet orders, but this is your choice.

By default, no. To have a finished back, you will need to order finished plywood or a wainscot panel sized to cover the cabinet back.

Typically not, but you have some options. You can choose to have the birch underside coated with a clear topcoat, or you can add a "finished bottom panel" (1/4" plywood, finished to match your doors) with a trim moulding to cover its edge.

Yes. We sell our stains in quart, gallon or 5-gallon containers.

Our Colourtones and Prism paints are available in gallon or 5-gallon containers, as are our sealers and topcoats.

Our paints are catalyzed finishes that requires the use of professional spray equipment and is best applied in a dust-free environment. Please check the Finishing section of our online catalog for more details.

Our topcoats require minimal care and cleaning. We recommend periodic cleaning with a mild detergent and water solution to remove dirt, dust and grease that build up with routine usage. Dampen a soft, non-abrasive cloth and wipe entire exterior surface of cabinetry. Dry with a clean, soft cloth. Never use a wet cloth that allows water to run down the cabinetry. Always dry cabinetry immediately if water or other liquids are spilled onto the surface.

Care should be taken not to use abrasive cleansers, ammonia or any other type of harsh chemical. These cleaning agents may cause discoloration, scratching, marring and dulling of the finish. We also discourage use of furniture polishes and waxes on finished cabinetry. Furniture polishes alter the original sheen level and may leave a film on the surface that attracts dust and dirt. These polishes may also cause an irregular or blotchy appearance because they are unable to stand up to many common kitchen stains.

Most Conestoga retailers (many of whom sell the products under their own names) cannot offer the same low pricing as The Cabinet Authority. In order to protect those sales channels, Conestoga has asked that we do not display pricing.

That aside, the variety of products and options can make pricing complex and highly variable -- though that does not necessarily mean expensive.

Since all prices are calculated based on the options selected, we don't have a price list.

Contractors, designers, and other trade professionals may get better pricing based on proven purchase volume.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and checks. To avoid delays, bank checks or certified checks are preferred over personal checks for larger orders.

No. We require payment in full when you place the order. Paypal offers credit options, but we strongly urge you to do your research and read all the fine print before establishing a credit line with them, as you would with any other financial institution.

The best way is to use the QuoteBuilder system on our website. This allows you to view and compare the available options when making your selections so that you end up with a much better idea of what is being quoted. Alternatively, we accept quote requests in various forms: drawings, spreadsheets, documents, etc. At a minimum, each request must include the door style (selected from our site), wood specie, finish color (if desired), specific product sizes and configurations (ie, 3-drawer base cabinet, 24w x 34.5h x 24d).

We try to reply to quote requests within two business hours. There are times when it will take longer because of the volume of requests, but this is our goal.

In 2018, the US Supreme Court ruled in South Dakota v. Wayfair that states can require businesses without a physical presence in a state with more than 200 transactions or $100,000 in in-state sales to collect and remit sales taxes on transactions in the state.

At that time, the ruling had little impact on our business beyond the states in which we were already collecting and remitting sales tax (CA, CT, DC, FL, MD). Since then, however, our business has grown and we are now required -- or soon will be required -- to collect and remit in several more states. Starting May 1, 2021, we will be charging sales tax on all purchases in AZ, CO, GA, IL, MA, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, VA and WA. Other states will be added as we move forward.

As we roll this out initially, we are not immediately able to calculate local sales tax in the areas where such taxes are required. We will be adding that functionality soon.

In states where we do not charge sales tax you may be required by your state, as with any internet purchase, to report and pay use tax (comparable to sales tax) on the purchase subject to the laws of that state.

If you are not the end customer of the product you are purchasing, you may be able to provide us an exemption certificate or resale certificate from your state to eliminate the sales tax on a single order or all orders.

Usually, this is because you haven't made all the decisions in the "Styles" section. In order for us to give you an accurate quote, we need to have as much detail as possible, so make sure that you confirm a selection in each category (they should all have green check marks next to them, not red question marks). If the style category isn't relevant to your order (for instance, if you're not ordering any cabinets with drawers, the drawer slides selection won't make much sense), you can choose "Not applicable" or any random placeholder.

Other potential causes for being unable to submit is that you haven't confirmed any product selections or filled out your contact info so we can get in touch with you with your quote.

If none of these are the case for you and you still can't submit, please contact your account manager.

If you're ordering cabinets, any components like doors, drawer fronts, drawer boxes, drawer slides, and hinges will be automatically included--no need to add them separately or do cumbersome calculations.

If you're only ordering standalone doors and drawer fronts to reface existing cabinets, you will need to provide exact dimensions.

Sure! Whether you're looking at different projects throughout your home or just want a few different options priced out, we're happy to provide multiple quotes. Please just bear in mind that the more quotes you submit, the longer it might take us to respond.

Absolutely! Just remember to write down the resume code in the top-right corner so you can pick up where you left off.

No, once a quote request is submitted it gets sent straight to your account manager so they can start working on it.

Generally speaking, no. Your account manager will be happy to update the quote with your changes if you respond to the email they sent you with the quote. If you're looking at completely changing your design or adding more than a few new cabinets, however, it's usually faster to submit a new quote request.

We know that there are a lot of options and planning out a project takes time and energy. We recommend sending in a quote request with placeholders for the details you're not sure about, and we can always make changes later when you finalize your decisions.

There's definitely a lot of jargon involved with cabinetry, so we've created a full glossary that explains all the terms involved. If you're still not sure, your account manager will be happy to help clarify any questions you have.

We are not licensed designers, but we are happy to offer suggestions to specific questions based on our experience. Whenever we create a quote for you, we will let you know if we identify potential issues or concerns.

Yes! We sell to homeowners as well as trade professionals.

Unfortunately not; we're a fully online company.

An island can range from a simple, utilitarian set of cabinets to a highly ornate showpiece. Your island will be configured by combining your choice of cabinets, accent pieces, wainscot panels, plywoods and veneers, and any other elements you see fit. If you give us an idea of what you're looking for, we'll do our best to point out the pieces that you may want to consider.

While this depends somewhat on what you order, generally speaking painted or stained cabinets ship about 3-5 weeks after ordering. (Note: pre-pandemic, this was consistently 3 weeks; during the pandemic, lead times have expanded.) For unfinished cabinets, it takes about a week less. Smaller orders, such as those that only include doors or drawer fronts, may take even less time.

We will email you the anticipated ship date within a couple days after you place an order. (Conestoga has a 99% success rate at meeting the anticipated date.) We will email you the tracking number on the morning of the business day after the shipment leaves the factory.

Orders ship from east coast locations using a variety of freight carriers. Most deliveries east of the Mississippi river arrive in 1-3 days. Western deliveries typically take 4-6 days. Note: Neither Conestoga nor The Cabinet Authority has any direct control over the freight time.

We ship to residential and commercial addresses throughout the US and Canada, usually through common carriers like FedEx or UPS. Shipping costs are calculated based on the size of the order and the zip code to which they are shipping and are listed on the quote. Please read the quote for information on possible additional fees.

We offer expediting options on small orders. This will speed up the production (not the shipping transit time). There are a few different options depending on what you’re ordering. NOTE: Due to increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, expedites may not be available. Talk to your Account Manager for details.

Officially the answer is "no", but it depends on timing. If the part(s) you need to change have not been released to the shop (that is, if no cutting has been done), then we may be able to change it. After work has begun on the part, there will be a fee for making the change. Very quickly, the fee can become equivalent to the price of the part.

Absolutely!

No, all of our cabinets are Ready-to-Assemble (RTA). That means we ship the components to you flat-packed and you assemble them on-site.

There are several advantages to RTA cabinets:

• Shipping costs are reduced, thus keeping our overall costs lower
• Less risk of shipping damage
• You have control over how well they are assembled.

Click here to see our entire assembly manual! The only tools you need are wood glue and a brad nailer (clamps are helpful but not required, especially if you have an extra pair of hands to assist). We recommend taking some time when your order arrives to sort all the pieces and make sure all the parts of a cabinet are in the same place, so assembly can go quickly.

No.

Use these drawings to see the recommended spacing between doors and drawer fronts. Once the spacing is determined, hinge alignment can typically be determined by measuring the proper location on the face frame. For drawer fronts, a common "trick" is to use double-sided tape to temporarily attach the drawer front to the drawer box. This allows you to confirm the location and spacing before drilling any holes. Once the alignment is set, drill the hole(s) for the knob and attach that. Then, open the drawer and screw from the inside of the drawer box into the back of the drawer front. (On a 5-piece drawer front, it is preferable to screw into the frame rather than the panel. This may mean screwing at an angle through the corners of the drawer box.) We always recommend pre-drilling before attempting to insert screws, being careful not to drill through the front.

Most professionals like using a contact cement or spray adhesive for attaching skins or veneers. Wood glue can work if spread evenly.

All of the procedures for shipping damage are listed in the Warranty section of this website. Click here to review: WARRANTY / DAMAGE CLAIMS

Sure! If you bought them from us and the parts are still under warranty, we'll replace them at no charge. If not, we'll give you our best price on replacements.

We stand behind everything we sell. If a part is damaged in shipping or not made according to specifications, we will ask you to email a description and photo(s) of the issue. Usually that will be enough for us to get a replacement expedited to you. (Depending on the issue, we may ask that you send the part back at our cost.)

No. The products we ship are made-to-order based on your request. We encourage you to carefully review all quotes and acknowledgments and to call or email us with any questions prior to approving your order.

Conestoga provides a limited 1-year warranty from the shipment date all products. See Warranty details.

Please review the limitations and tolerances prior to ordering.

We offer touch-up kits for our finishes. Contact your Cabinet Authority sales representative to order.

We offer a variety of color sample kits. Stain kits are offered by wood specie (Hard Maple, Cherry, Red Oak, and Hickory). We also offer kits for our Colourtone, Truetone, and Heirloom finishes. Each kit contains 20 or more 4"x6" blocks of solid wood, each with a different finish color.

Each kit costs $50 plus shipping, but we refund the $50 when you return the kit to us in good condition (within 5 months).

Instructions for returning a kit for refund are found HERE. Failure to follow these instructions will result in a forfeit of the refund.

It depends. If you are concerned about an exact color or style, then ordering a sample door is a very good idea. However, color choices can often be determined by ordering our refundable sample kits, which are typically faster and less expensive. Sample doors are made-to-order and are not refundable.

If you have the time, once you are settled on the quote, you may choose to order a single door or a single cabinet that you're likely to use in your final layout. This will, of course, push back your final order until you've had a chance to review.