Three ways to get new cabinets — three very different budgets
Custom-built cabinets, refacing, and RTA (ready-to-assemble) sit at completely different price points, with different timelines and different quality ceilings. The regional comparison below covers Birmingham, Montgomery, and Hickory — including the premium Catawba Valley market.
| Location | Area | Service | Low | High | Timeline | Scope / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | Kitchen | Custom Cabinets | $10,000 | $30,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Hand-built custom replacement, solid hardwood, dovetail joinery, soft-close |
| Birmingham | Kitchen | Cabinet Refacing | $5,000 | $15,000 | 3 to 5 days | Keep frames, replace doors/drawers, veneer to match |
| Birmingham | Kitchen | RTA Cabinets | $3,000 | $8,000 | 3 to 9 days | Flat-packed unassembled boxes, requires assembly |
| Birmingham | Bathroom | Custom Vanities | $2,000 | $6,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Made-to-order moisture-resistant construction |
| Birmingham | Bathroom | Vanity Refacing | $1,000 | $3,000 | 3 to 5 days | Keep vanity frame, replace outer doors/drawers |
| Montgomery | Kitchen | Custom Cabinets | $10,000 | $30,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Hand-built custom replacement, solid hardwood |
| Montgomery | Kitchen | Cabinet Refacing | $5,000 | $15,000 | 3 to 5 days | Keep frames, replace doors/drawers |
| Montgomery | Kitchen | RTA Cabinets | $3,000 | $8,000 | 3 to 9 days | Flat-packed unassembled boxes |
| Montgomery | Bathroom | Custom Vanities | $2,000 | $6,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Made-to-order moisture-resistant |
| Montgomery | Bathroom | Vanity Refacing | $1,000 | $3,000 | 3 to 5 days | Keep vanity frame, replace doors |
| Hickory | Kitchen | Custom Cabinets | $12,000 | $35,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Premium Catawba Valley furniture-grade |
| Hickory | Kitchen | Cabinet Refacing | $6,000 | $17,500 | 3 to 5 days | Keep premium frame, replace fronts |
| Hickory | Kitchen | RTA Cabinets | $3,600 | $9,500 | 3 to 9 days | All-wood plywood construction |
| Hickory | Bathroom | Custom Vanities | $2,500 | $7,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Hand-crafted Catawba Valley |
| Hickory | Bathroom | Vanity Refacing | $1,250 | $3,500 | 3 to 5 days | Keep vanity box, replace doors |
How to read this
Custom cabinetry is a 4-to-8-week investment with the longest life; refacing keeps your existing boxes and finishes in days at roughly half the cost; RTA is the entry point but the assembly quality is on you (or your installer). Solid hardwood construction beats particle board at every price point — which is why the premium Hickory numbers run higher.
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