Our cabinet experts are always willing to help, which is why we’ve complied this list of frequently asked questions.
+ General Questions
When you choose a cabinet line, you are dictating the options your designer may use when piecing your kitchen together, so look at:
• Number of door styles offered
• Number of colors offered
• Total number of cabinets available
• Modifications that are available
Better custom and semi-custom lines offer more upgrades and modifications for a more uniform, appealing design and appearance in the finished product. For example, Fieldstone Cabinetry scales their doors to fit cabinets that have been modified. For cabinet lines without this feature, pre-sized doors are matched as closely as possible to modified cabinets. Less flexibility in this case can result in as much as three inches surrounding the undersized door, causing the modified cabinet to stick out like a sore thumb.
The manufacturer should stand behind its products with a warranty.
Investing in a kitchen involves decisions. You weigh your priorities, then decide on something that will meet your wants, fit your budget and stand the test of time. Kitchen designers transform your concept into a beautiful reality. Remember to ask potential kitchen designers for references and see if their designs and installations have the quality and service you expect.
+ Cabinet Box Construction
Better quality cabinetry offers adjustable shelving as a standard feature. It’s worthwhile to ask about this, since some lines offer only fixed shelves. Adjustability gives you more flexible storage options, especially where shelves and roll-out trays are concerned.
Cabinets need to endure hard knocks. Make sure the box includes strong joinery using rabbets and dados. If a joint is only glue and staples, pass up that cabinet.
Don’t assume that the answer is “yes”. Some cabinet boxes are made without a back or enclosed bottom or even a melamine interior. Extra features, such as a fully enclosed space under the bottom drawer in base cabinets, help to protect cabinet interiors and their contents from dust, bugs and rodents.
A light colored interior reflects the most light, so it’s easier to view the contents. A light-colored melamine applied over plywood does the trick, and is easy to clean. If your kitchen cabinet designs call for open or glass-door cabinets, make sure the line you choose offers a stained wood veneer interior to match the outer finish.
Sometimes when a cabinet is installed next to a dishwasher or stove, a little bit of the cabinet’s end panel will show. Exposed end panels should be covered with stained wood veneer or melamine that closely matches the exterior finish.
• The more real wood used in the construction of a cabinet box, the better.
• Quality plywood holds up the best over time.
• Plywood is good for larger surface areas such as sides, tops, bottoms, backs and toe boards.
• The face frame should be constructed of premium-quality, solid wood for extra rigidity.
» Learn more about what the differences are between common cabinet materials.
+ Cabinet Care and Cleaning
Yes. Wood will shrink and swell with the seasons, making them appear “crooked” and in some cases, making them tough to open and close. However, it’s not a defect. You just need to adjust your doors and drawers. It’s easy to do.
+ Cabinet Doors
If a manufacturer offers doors with veneered panels, make sure the manufacturer is very capable at finishing. Veneered panels may not accept stain the same as solid wood. This could result in doors that don’t match the rest of the cabinetry components.
The sheen and feel of a finish is not an accurate guide to its durability. Instead, ask about the finishing process. The best finishing process…
• Carefully prepares high-grade wood through hand sanding and staining.
• Includes sealing with an oven-cured, catalyzed conversion varnish.
• The resulting finish is impervious to liquids and stains from everyday use, along with being easy to clean.
Learn More About Fieldstone Finishes and Techniques
A Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer will be happy to order a door sample or color chip sample for you.
Find a Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer.
Email us and we’ll help you locate a dealer.
+ Cabinet Drawers
• The drawer is visible when opened, so it should be made of real wood for the best appearance.
• The best drawers have dovetail joints on all four corners of the box. They are attractive as well as being interlocked, and therefore stronger than pinned or doweled joints.
• Silverware is heavy! Since drawers hold heavy loads, the box should include a captive plywood bottom.
• A drawer box that is surfaced with melamine will be easier to clean.
• The drawer box should have four sides. This seems obvious, but some manufacturers cut corners by building a three sided drawer. The drawer header acts as the fourth side, which compromises the strength of the drawer box.
• Drawers should roll easily on the glides and stop automatically so they don’t fall out.
• Full-extension glides let you roll out the drawer completely to get at all the stuff at the back of the drawer.
• Better drawer glides include a self-closing feature. Give the drawer a nudge, and it quietly closes itself.
• Look for undermount glides. When glides are mounted underneath, drawer box can be wider. Also, undermount glides don’t catch dirt the way side mount glides do.
+ Ordering Cabinets
No. It is important to have accurate measurements and quality installation, which is why we don’t sell direct to homeowners. A Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer will be happy to arrange measurements and installation for you.
• If the current cabinets are from Fieldstone Cabinetry, find a Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer near you. The dealer will need the information found on a label on the back of every drawer. See instructions below.
• If the current cabinets are not from Fieldstone Cabinetry, a Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer may still be able to help. If they take on projects of that scope, they can determine if we offer a door style and cabinet color that will work for the project.
1. Remove a drawer.
2. The order number is on a label on the back of the drawer. The label will be one of two types, depending on the age of the cabinet. An example of both labels is shown below. In these examples, the order number is 111111.
3. Let us know the order number and we can look up the door style, wood type and color. If the order is from the year 2000 or later, we should be able to locate your original order information.
4. Email us and we’ll identify the color and wood type.
A Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer will be happy to help you. Each dealer will have their own timelines for preparing estimates and designs. Each dealer will have their own policy regarding any fees for supplying estimates or design work. Locate a Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer.
Email us and we’ll help you locate a dealer.
A Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer will be happy to help you:
• Order Fieldstone Cabinetry
• Order a sample door or a color sample
• Get an estimate or design
• Add new cabinets to an existing kitchen
Use our dealer locator to locate a Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer, or email us and we’ll help you locate a dealer.
Please note, we do not sell direct to homeowners, as the expertise of a kitchen & bath retailer is almost always necessary for successful home improvement projects that include custom cabinets such as Fieldstone Cabinetry.
To replace a door or drawer
• Please contact the Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer from whom you purchased the cabinets.
• If the dealer is no longer in business, please call us at 800-594-9444 and we’ll help you locate a dealer near you.
• You can also use our Where to Buy to find a dealer near you or Email us and we’ll help you locate a dealer.
To replace a hinge or glide
• Please contact the Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer from whom you purchased the cabinets.
• If the dealer is no longer in business, please send the hinge or glide you would like replaced to:
Fieldstone Cabinetry
Attention Customer Service
600 E 48th Street N
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Click here for a printable shipping label.
Historically, our production schedule is four weeks for most cabinets and six weeks for certain colors, certain cabinets, and inset cabinetry. Recently, the home improvement industry has been experiencing extraordinary demand and supply chain disruption. This will affect delivery schedule. Your dealer can confirm delivery times and look up order status for you.