Cabinets for New Construction Homes in Illinois – Your Complete Guide

Cabinets for New Construction Homes in Illinois – Your Complete Guide

For new construction homes, specify cabinets the way you specify any building system: a written cabinet spec (box, drawers, hinges, finish), a standard cabinet list per floor plan, a short menu of door styles and colors for buyers, and a schedule that ties delivery to drywall, flooring and countertop dates. In-stock lines in standard sizes keep spec homes and subdivisions on schedule.

Key takeaways

• Write a cabinet spec once and use it on every house: box, back, shelves, drawers, hinges, glides, finish.
• Offer buyers a short list of styles that share one construction.
• Coordinate blocking, rough-in and appliance specs before drywall.
• Decide whether flooring goes in before or after cabinets.
• Order per house in releases, not all at once.

Writing a Cabinet Specification for New Homes

Avoid relying on labels like “solid wood cabinets”; the spec line by line is what protects the builder. See plywood vs. MDF vs. particleboard.

Standard Package and Buyer Options

• Standard package: one door style and color per plan, with a fixed cabinet list.
• Upgrade menu: two or three alternative colors on the same box, plus options such as a tall pantry, drawer bases or a trash pull-out.
• Islands: offer a contrasting island color as a simple upgrade.
• Cutoff dates: lock selections before the cabinet order release for that house.

Coordinating Cabinets With Other Trades

1. Framing: add blocking for wall cabinets and tall units.
2. Rough-in: place sink drain and supply, gas, outlets and vents to the cabinet drawing.
3. Drywall and paint: finish before cabinets arrive; paint walls behind open areas.
4. Flooring: decide before or after cabinets; it affects toe kick and appliance heights.
5. Cabinet install: level and fasten; see shimming techniques.
6. Countertops: template after bases are set.
7. Trim-out and punch list: hardware, panels, door adjustment.

See sequencing cabinets, countertops and flooring.

Ordering and Delivery for Builders

• Order each house on the official order form with the lot address and contact.
• Use shipping instructions: deliver on a date, call to schedule, or hold.
• Keep cabinets dry and heated on site; do not store them in an unheated garage through winter.
• Inspect at delivery before signing; report damage within the supplier’s claim window.

For a Joliet and Plainfield example of subdivision supply, see kitchen cabinet supply for new construction.

In-Stock Cabinet Collections and Door Styles at CCC

CCC Cabinets stocks 15 door styles in its Modern, Prestige and Elegant series, all on the same construction: 1/2-inch A-grade plywood box with a 1/2-inch full plywood back, 3/4-inch plywood adjustable shelves, 3/4-inch birch face frames, MDF door center panels, 17 mm solid wood dovetail drawers on undermount full-extension soft-close glides, and 6-way adjustable soft-close hinges. Builder-friendly choices include Pure White, Light Grey, Dark Grey and Espresso Shaker; see all on the cabinet styles page.

Wholesale Cabinet Supply for Contractors and Builders

• Trade pricing quoted per project through a wholesale account.
• Assembled or RTA to match crew capacity and schedule.
• Pickup and delivery: same-day pickup is usually available on in-stock orders placed before early afternoon; jobsite delivery across the Chicago area on CCC’s own trucks. See delivery and pickups.
• Warranty: 5-year limited, 2 years on painted finishes.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Construction Cabinets

What cabinets are best for new construction homes?

For spec homes and subdivisions, in-stock cabinets with plywood boxes, solid wood dovetail drawers, full-extension soft-close glides and adjustable soft-close hinges usually give the best mix of quality, cost and schedule. Write the specification once and use it across every floor plan.

What is the lead time for new construction cabinets?

It depends on whether the cabinets are stock, semi-custom or custom, and on order size. In-stock cabinets avoid production time; at CCC, confirm availability and timing for your door style when ordering, and note that RTA is generally ready sooner than assembled.

How many cabinet styles should a builder offer buyers?

Most builders keep it simple: one standard style and color per plan plus a few upgrade colors on the same construction. Fewer options mean fewer ordering errors and faster closings, while still giving buyers a meaningful choice.

Should flooring go in before or after cabinets in new construction?

Both are used. Flooring before cabinets gives continuous floors and easier future changes but uses more material; after cabinets saves material but reduces toe kick height and can trap appliances. Decide before ordering cabinets and set heights accordingly.

How do I open a wholesale account?

Apply online on the CCC Cabinets open-an-account page. Accounts are for contractors, builders, developers, remodelers, property managers, dealers and designers. After approval, pricing is quoted per project, orders are placed on the official order form, and CCC returns a written confirmation that you sign before the order is processed.

Next Steps

To set up cabinet supply for your next build, call CCC Cabinets at (872) 241-5525, open a wholesale account, or schedule a showroom visit in Des Plaines.