I’m in the middle of a kitchen reno and the cabinet lead times are all over the place. Some places say 4 weeks, others are quoting like 12-14 weeks (which sounds wild to me). Is this just normal now? If you’ve done this recently, how long did it *really* take from order to install? Any tips for speeding things up or is it just a waiting game?
We ordered ours last year and it ended up being about 10 weeks, even though the shop originally said 6-8. It was frustrating, but I guess delays are just part of the game now. I tried calling for updates, but honestly, it didn’t seem to speed anything up. If you’re on a budget, sometimes the “in stock” options at big box stores are faster, but the selection’s pretty limited. Hang in there—it’s worth it when you finally see them installed.
I get what you’re saying about in-stock cabinets being the faster route, but honestly, I’ve had mixed results with those. Sometimes you think you’re saving time, but then you end up dealing with missing pieces or weird sizing issues, which can drag things out anyway. I’ve actually found that semi-custom options from regional suppliers can hit a sweet spot—lead times aren’t as bad as full custom, and the quality’s usually better than the big box stuff. Worth checking out if you haven’t already.
Sometimes you think you’re saving time, but then you end up dealing with missing pieces or weird sizing issues, which can drag things out anyway.
Couldn’t agree more—been there, done that, got the headache. With my old house, those in-stock cabinets never quite fit right (nothing’s square in a 1920s kitchen). I tried semi-custom from a local shop last time, and yeah, it cost a bit more, but the install was way smoother. Didn’t have to jerry-rig anything or make a dozen trips back for missing hardware. Sometimes “faster” just means more time fixing stuff later...
I keep hearing that about semi-custom—maybe it’s worth the extra cost just to avoid the hassle. My place isn’t super old, but the walls are definitely not perfect. I’m starting to think the “quick” options might just be a trap if you want things to actually fit.
