A coveted name brand (and hefty price tag) might imply high quality, but to truly ensure quality, it's important to examine cabinet construction and components that often go unnoticed.

Look at:

• Drawer construction: Dovetail drawers will provide the most strength

• Finishing system: To properly protect the doors, your cabinet's finish should include a moisture resistant sealant, catalytic conversion varnish and baked-on coats

• Composition of the doors

 
The Hardwood Manufacturers Association recommends asking yourself:

• Is there evidence of cracking of wood or delamination?

• Are corners square with no perceptible joint separation?

• Are exposed surfaces smoothly rounded with no blemishes?

• Do doors align when closed?

• Are hardware and handles fastened securely and aligned properly?

• Are all edges smooth?

• Are screws, nails and fasteners properly concealed?

• Do doors and drawers open smoothly and quietly?

• Are the drawers removable?

• Is the finish smooth with no drips and bubbles?

Industry Standards
The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) sponsors a national testing program for cabinets to ensure they meet standards set by the American National Standards Institute. Cabinets that pass the tests — designed to simulate years of typical household use — have seals reading ANSI/KCMA A161.1. The certification program is voluntary.

When you purchase a cabinet with the KCMA seal, know that your cabinets have passed the following tests:

• Doors are properly aligned and close without excessive binding or looseness.

• All wood parts were dried to a moisture content of 10 percent or less at the time of fabrication.

• Cabinets are suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms, withstanding exposure to grease, solvents, water, detergent and steam.

• Mounted wall cabinets were gradually loaded to 500 pounds without visible signs of failure in the cabinet or the mounting system.

• All shelves and bottoms were loaded at 15 pounds per sq. ft. and maintained for seven days to check for joint separation and bending.

• Drawers were loaded at 15 pounds per sq. ft. and opened and closed 25,000 times to ensure proper drawer assembly and operation.

• To ensure tight and proper connection of doors, door-holding devices and hinges, doors are opened and closed through a full 90-degree swing 25,000 times.

• The cabinet door has been placed in a hotbox at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 percent relative humidity for 24 hours to test the finish for discoloration, blistering and film failures.

• To ensure kitchen and bath durability, exposed surfaces were subjected to vinegar, lemon, orange and grape juices, ketchup, coffee, olive oil and 100-proof alcohol for 24 hours (and mustard for one hour). The finish did not show appreciable discoloration or stain that would not disperse with ordinary polishing.