There is a four-inch filler strip in your kitchen and a dead corner you cannot reach. That is what stock sizing does. Custom cabinetry in Jacksonville, FL is the part of our millwork and finish carpentry work that fixes it, because we build boxes to your walls instead of asking your walls to accept a three-inch increment.
Kitchens are where fit pays off most: full-depth pantry cabinets, drawer bases instead of door bases, uppers to the ceiling.
Bathrooms fail hardest, since almost no Jacksonville bath is a catalog width. Laundry rooms need uppers sized to the machines, and offices need file drawers deep enough for hanging folders. For a shelving wall built into a room rather than a cabinet run, see our custom built-ins.
The box is the part you never see and the part that decides whether the cabinet is still square in ten years. A good cabinet maker thinks harder about it than about the door.
| Box material | Moisture behavior | Where we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture-grade plywood | Excellent | Kitchens, baths, laundries |
| Marine-grade plywood | Waterproof glue line | Sink and vanity bases |
| MDF | Swells permanently | Doors and painted panels |
MDF is why so many builder cabinets here look tired after five years: it is fiber and glue, and under a sink the bottom swells until the finish breaks. We build boxes in plywood with maple drawer boxes and full-extension slides.
Shaker is the default, a flat slab reads modern in rift white oak, and beaded inset suits older Riverside and Ortega homes.
Finish matters more at the Beaches and Ponte Vedra, where salt corrodes hardware and works through a weak paint film. We spray a catalyzed conversion coating rather than brushing wall paint, seal all six sides of every door, and specify stainless hinges near the ocean, where plated hardware pits within a few seasons.
Built-in cabinetry has to meet the house, and Jacksonville houses are not straight.
Homes from the 1950s through the 1970s often have block exterior walls with thin furring, which will not hold uppers. We anchor a ledger into the block with masonry fasteners and hang the run from it, keeping an air gap so panels are not pressed against masonry that sweats in July.
In Avondale and San Marco a wall can lean a half inch over eight feet, which stock cabinets show as a wedge of light at the end of a run. We shim bases level, scribe end panels to the real wall, and cut the toe kick to the floor.
Stock ships in days and fills the leftovers with strips. Semi-custom runs six to twelve weeks. A true custom cabinet maker takes four to ten weeks and fits exactly.
Ask any cabinet maker what the boxes are made of, whether the finish is sprayed and catalyzed, and whether they field measure after demo.
A custom cabinet builder should be predictable. We visit, take rough measurements, and give you a layout and a fixed price; on a full kitchen, a 3D rendering is worth the step.
We field measure after demo, because that is when the real walls appear. Then we build. Depending on the project, some pieces are built in the shop and some are built on site in your home. Shop-built pieces are spray finished before they arrive, and the install follows: boxes shimmed, scribed and fastened, doors hung and adjusted.
Lead times for shop-built pieces run four to ten weeks. Finish complexity drives the schedule more than size, since glazed work needs cure time between coats and spray finishing slows in the wettest part of summer.
| Project | Typical Jacksonville range |
|---|---|
| Bath vanity, painted | $2,200 to $5,000 |
| Laundry uppers and counter | $3,500 to $8,000 |
| Office wall with desk and files | $5,000 to $14,000 |
| Kitchen, painted, 20 to 30 linear ft | $22,000 to $45,000 |
| Kitchen, stained or inset doors | $40,000 to $80,000 |
Door construction moves the number first, since inset adds 20 to 30 percent over overlay in fitting labor. Finish is second, pullouts and dividers third. These are typical Northeast Florida ranges, not a quote; a firm number comes after we measure.
Plywood Boxes
The cabinet box decides whether a run stays square for years, so it gets more thought than the door. MDF is fiber and glue, and once water reaches it under a sink, the bottom swells until the finish cracks. We build boxes from furniture-grade plywood, switch to marine-grade plywood with its waterproof glue line for sink and vanity bases, and pair them with maple drawer boxes riding on full-extension slides.
Stainless
Near the Beaches and Ponte Vedra, salt pits plated hinges within a few seasons and finds any thin spot in a paint film. We spray a catalyzed conversion coating instead of brushing on wall paint, seal every door on all six sides so no edge is left open, and specify stainless hinges for homes close to the ocean. Shop-built pieces arrive already spray finished, which keeps the coating even and protects it during install.
Ledger Hung
Many houses from the 1950s through the 1970s have block exterior walls with thin furring that cannot carry wall cabinets. We fasten a ledger into the block with masonry anchors, hang the uppers from it, and leave an air gap so cabinet backs stay off masonry that sweats in July. Because the true walls only show up after demo, we field measure again at that point, then shim bases level, scribe end panels and cut the toe kick to the floor.
4.8from 51 Google reviews
We recently used Klein Carpentry to aid in the renovation of our home. Ray and his team installed new baseboards, wainscotting, window/door trim and crown molding to bring a major update to what was a builder grade interior. From the bidding to the final nail took about two months but the results were worth the wait. During the entire process, Ray was polite and passionate about his work while keeping the working area tidy at all times. I would highly recommend using Kline for any of your carpentry needs, you won't be disappointed!
Glenn Seagers · 2 years ago on Google
My husband and I had the pleasure of working with Klein Carpentry. We recently moved into our new home, and as most homeowners, we wanted to put our personal touch on it. Inspired by so many ideas from Pinterest and HGTV, like so many others, I had several ideas of how I envision what I wanted for our custom built-in. I spoke with Ray, who could also see my vision and transfer it to a 3D program for us to see visually. Well, I can't say enough of what a fantastic job both Ray and Nathan did. From the start of our project to the very end, they exceeded our expectations in every way possible. Words can't describe how their professionalism, commitment, and craftsmanship are genuine. Both Ray and Nathan are genuinely a pleasure to work with. They are two kind, sincere gentlemen who care about their work and the client's vision. They are punctual and reliable and went above and beyond to ensure that my built-ins were completed on time. With this said, we could not be happier with how they turned out. I can finally display my beautiful Disney collectible, which I had been put away for far too long. I highly recommend Klein Carpentry to anyone considering having any work done in theirs.
Laureen Rosario-Perez · 2 years ago on Google
I am thrilled to share my positive experience with Ray and Klein Carpentry. From start to finish, they exceeded my expectations in every way possible. Their professionalism and commitment to quality were evident from the moment they arrived, and they consistently delivered exceptional work throughout the entire project. One of the standout aspects of working with Ray and Klein Carpentry was their ability to accommodate my needs and desires. They took the time to truly understand what I wanted and went above and beyond to ensure that I was completely satisfied with the end result. Their attention to detail was impeccable, and they demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every aspect of the project was completed to the highest possible standards. Ray and Nathan were an absolute pleasure to work with - not only were they skilled craftsmen, but they were also kind, funny, and genuine individuals who truly cared about ensuring that I was happy with their work. They were punctual, reliable, and always went the extra mile to ensure that the project was completed on time and within budget. The end result of their work was simply stunning - a beautiful 20-foot built-in shelving unit with crown molding, complemented by a gorgeous accent wall behind the TV. The craftsmanship and attention to detail were second to none, and I have received countless compliments on their work from friends and family. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Ray and Klein Carpentry to anyone in need of their services. They are true professionals who take pride in their work and go above and beyond to ensure that their clients are completely satisfied. If you want exceptional quality and unparalleled customer service, look no further than Ray and Klein Carpentry - they truly are the best in the business.
Sam Scholten · 3 years ago on Google
Reviews from Google
MDF doors hold up fine in a conditioned room, but MDF boxes do not. MDF swells permanently once wet, and a sink base will eventually see water, so we build boxes from plywood.
It depends on the piece. Some cabinetry is built in the shop and brought in finished, and some is built on site. For shop-built pieces, plan on four to ten weeks from approved design to install. Finish complexity drives the schedule more than cabinet count, and install is two to five days for a kitchen.
A sprayed catalyzed finish with all six sides sealed, paired with stainless or marine-grade hardware. Salt air attacks hardware and any weak spot in a paint film, so leave no unsealed edges.
Yes, and it is routine in older Jacksonville neighborhoods. We anchor a ledger into the block and hang the uppers from it, keeping an air gap behind the backs, away from masonry that collects condensation.
If your room is a standard size, semi-custom is a fair value. If you have crooked walls, an odd room size, or you want inset doors, custom is the only way to get the fit without filler strips.
Shelving walls built into a room.
Storage past the kitchen run.
Glass fronts and bottle storage.
The same approach in a bedroom suite.
Everything else our crew builds here.
Call Klein Carpentry at (904) 759-4988 and we will come look at the space, take measurements and give you a written quote.
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