Your cabinet maker will be in your home for days, and their work will be in it for decades. Choosing well is mostly about asking the right questions up front. Here is the checklist we would use ourselves.
1. Check their QBCC licence
In Queensland, building work valued over $3,300 must be carried out by a contractor holding the right licence from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). For cabinetry, look for a cabinet making licence class.
Ask for the licence number, then look it up yourself on the QBCC website. The search shows the licensee's name, licence class and whether the licence is current. For the record, KO Cabinetry Pty Ltd holds QBCC Trade Contractor Licence 15517347 for cabinet making.
2. Get a written, itemised quote and contract
A good quote spells out exactly what you are paying for: cabinetry, benchtops, hardware, installation, removal of the old cabinetry if it is included, and anything you need to organise yourself, such as plumbing, electrical or tiling. Vague one-line quotes make it hard to compare, and easy for extras to creep in.
Before work starts you should have a written contract that shows the contractor's licence number, the price, a description of the work, the payment schedule and the expected timing. Queensland law also limits the deposit a contractor can ask for on domestic building work, and the QBCC website explains your rights.
3. Look at real work, not just renders
Renders are useful, but photos of finished jobs tell you more. Look for clean, even gaps between doors, edges that line up, panels that meet walls neatly and drawers that run smoothly. Ask to see work similar to yours, and read their Google reviews.
You can see our recent projects, from full-home cabinetry in Birtinya to builder projects in Brisbane.
4. Find out who designs, makes and installs
Some businesses design in-house and subcontract the making and installation, while others do it all. Neither is wrong, but you should know who is responsible for each stage and who to call if something needs adjusting.
At KO, Nick designs and draws every project and Kayle leads installs, so you deal with the same people from the first call to the final walk-through.
5. Ask what goes into the cabinets
- What board, and which brand, are the cabinets and doors made from?
- Which hinges and drawer runners are used, and are they soft-close?
- Are the cabinets assembled and checked before they come to site?
- Which benchtop materials do they work with now that engineered stone is banned? Our benchtop guide explains the options.
6. Talk about timing and communication
Ask for a realistic timeline from design sign-off to installation, and how you will be kept updated. Good cabinet makers are busy, so a slightly longer lead time is often a good sign, as long as it is clear and they stick to it.
7. Make sure you will see it before it is made
Drawings and 3D views catch problems while they are still easy to fix. Ask whether you will see detailed drawings, and whether revisions are included.
Questions to ask on the first call
- What is your QBCC licence number?
- Can I see photos of jobs like mine?
- Who will design, make and install my cabinetry?
- Will I see drawings or 3D views before you start?
- What is included in your quote, and what is not?
- How do payments work?
- When could you realistically start and finish?
Red flags
- No licence number, or a licence in a different name to the business you are dealing with
- Pressure to pay a large amount up front
- No written contract
- A price far below everyone else's with no clear explanation
- No photos of finished work
If you are on the Sunshine Coast and want to talk through a project, book a free design consult. We will come to you, measure up and give you an honest steer. For the bigger picture, read our kitchen renovation guide.
