Carpentry vs Cabinetry: What’s the Difference?
Carpentry vs cabinetry: Both carpentry and cabinetry involve making wooden structures. With carpentry, you cut, work and join timber together but with cabinetry, you create, install, and repair cabinets and sometimes other furniture. Click on the following sections to learn more.
If you are looking for high-quality, affordable cabinetry for your home, contact Canada Cabinets Online.
Carpentry vs Cabinetry
1. A Detailed Comparison
Carpentry vs cabinetry: Both involve working with wood
In Canada, carpentry and cabinetry are two of the most common trades that work with wood. Both carpentry and cabinetry require you to convert raw materials, such as wood and wood substitutes, into useful items, but they are different in other ways.
Carpentry:
Carpenters will shape, cut, and install wood for buildings or smaller structures. Most carpentry is done on a job site and involves heavier work than cabinetry. Carpenters are skilled workers who specialize in tasks such as:
- Preparing timber components for construction
- Installing wood fixtures like stud work
- Installing door and window frames
- Making skirting boards, doors, architraves, and other household additions
- Preparing shuttering and stairs
- Shoring foundations
- Constructing castings and mouldings
In general, a carpenter constructs portions of a larger project using a variety of both hand and power tools.
Cabinetry:
Cabinetry focuses on the finer features of woodworking such as joints
A cabinet maker concentrates more on the finer features of wood, wood joints, and wood finishing than a carpenter does. Cabinetry requires much more attention to detail than carpentry. The cabinet maker will often include intricate elements in the design to ensure the finished product is pleasing to the eye.
Unlike a carpenter who mostly works on construction or renovation sites, a cabinet maker will create their cabinets or furniture in a workshop. A cabinet maker will use different types of manufacturing equipment, hand tools, and other devices to produce their products.
Carpenters usually use raw and basic wood for their jobs whereas cabinet makers will work with finer wood planks, boards, panels, veneers, and natural or artificial coatings.
2. Types of Carpentry
There are different types of carpenters that specialize in different projects
There are different types of carpentry/carpenters including:
Framer: This type of carpenter will specialize in constructing the framework of buildings.
Roofer: A roofer specializes in making trusses, rafters, and beams for constructing a roof.
Rough Carpenter: A rough carpenter will perform several carpentry tasks including framing, roofing, and other structural work.
Joister: Joisters will lay the floor joists that floor surfaces are fixed to.
Trim carpenter: This type of carpenter will specialize in mouldings and trims. These could include mantles, skirting boards, and other ornamental work.
Ship’s carpenter: A ship’s carpenter specializes in building boats and ships.
3. Types of Cabinetry
There are many different types of cabinetry to choose from
3 types of kitchen and bathroom cabinets refer to how you can purchase or order: stock, semi-custom, and custom. There are also different types of cabinets referring to where the cabinet is placed and its function: base, wall, drawer, and tall. Also, there is an even wider selection of different types of designs or styles you can choose for your cabinets.
Stock Cabinets:
Stock cabinets refer to cabinets that are pre-manufactured in fixed sizes and styles. You can’t order this type of cabinetry in different sizes, styles, or finishes than what has already been made.
Stock cabinets are usually your least expensive option, however, they offer you the least variety. Because they are already made, you can get them delivered quickly.
Semi-Custom Cabinets:
Semi-custom cabinets are a combination of stock and custom cabinetry. Basically, they are stock cabinets that offer you a number of detailing options such as:
- Cabinet depth
- Cabinet height
- Drawer depth
- Drawer height
- Different handles
- Decor & Moulding
This type of cabinet is usually more expensive than stock but less expensive than custom cabinets.
Custom Cabinets:
Carpentry vs cabinetry: Custom cabinets give you the widest options
Custom cabinets offer you the most diversity. You can choose the exact features and sizes that you want including:
- Size of cabinets
- Style of doors
- Type of finishes
- Decor and Moulding
- Specialty parts
- Type of hardware and accessories
- Colours
This type of cabinetry is usually the most expensive but it will give you precisely what you want. Because they will need to be made from scratch to your specifications, you will have to wait a bit longer to receive your custom cabinetry.
Base Cabinets:
Base cabinets are also referred to as your lower cabinets. They are very sturdy and are used for a number of purposes including:
- The base to support the countertops in your kitchen or laundry room
- A handy island for extra storage and workspace
- A window seat in your kitchen, bedrooms, or other rooms
- The base for your bathroom vanities
- Extra storage for any room of your home
Base cabinets are installed on top of a recessed riser toe kick.
Wall Cabinets:
Wall cabinets are attached to your wall
Wall cabinets can also be referred to as upper cabinets or wall-mounted cabinets. As their name implies, they are installed on your wall. They don’t rest on the floor as base cabinets do.
Wall cabinets are not only an essential and beautiful addition to your kitchen design, but they can also be a great choice for extra storage in your bathrooms, laundry room and family room.
Cabinet Drawers:
Cabinet drawers are a great alternative to traditional cabinets with doors. Deeper drawers are perfect for storing larger items such as pots and bowls and smaller drawers are great for all your utensils and cooking tools.
The great advantage of installing drawers is that you have easy access to every item stored in them, even those at the very back. Drawers eliminate the need to get down on your hands and knees to reach an item placed in the back corner of your cabinet.
Tall Cabinets:
Tall cabinets are also referred to as pantry or utility cabinets. They extend the full height of your walls from floor to ceiling for maximum storage space. Tall cabinets can be used to store all your non-refrigerated food items or you can use them as a great place to keep your cleaning supplies like your brooms, mops, vacuum, and more.
They also make a great addition to a mud room or garage to keep your outerwear and sporting equipment neat and easy to access. Not only are tall cabinets a great storage option but they can also add visual appeal to your rooms with their dramatic vertical appearance.
Cabinet Designs:
There are countless cabinet designs or styles that you can choose from. Here are a few of the most popular models available from Canada Cabinets Online. To see the full line-up of styles, click here.
Why Choose Canada Cabinets Online?
Canada Cabinets Online offers wholesale direct, solid wood, ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets. Our high-quality cabinets are finely crafted and are an affordable and convenient way to make any home more beautiful.
Order Online: There’s no need to visit a store; you can order your cabinets from home. Simply create a secure, personal account to access our FREE professional designer assistance and FREE 3D kitchen layout.
Free Shipping: We offer free shipping for all our ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinet and bathroom vanity orders and all sample door orders within Ontario (deliveries to remote areas may be subject to some related freight charges).
Easy Installation: Our cabinets are easy to install. Check out our helpful videos that will step you through the installation process.
Contact us today if you have any questions.
What Our Customers Are Saying…
“Love working with these people! Excellent service team and great owner that really care about their products.” – Erick L.