Asked before every project
The questions below come from real design visits. Pricing specifics live on the cost guide and the reface-or-replace decision has its own page; this page covers everything else.
What should I check before hiring any cabinet company in California?
The license, first and always. California requires a C-6 cabinet and finish carpentry license for any cabinet job of $500 or more, and the Contractors State License Board lets you verify a number free in about a minute. A company that hesitates to give you its license number has answered your real question.
Which woods actually hold up in Antelope Valley air?
Alder, hickory, maple and white oak are the reliable choices, with rift-cut white oak the calmest of all through dry summers. The rule underneath: frame-and-panel construction that lets wood move, engineered center panels behind paint and finishing on all six faces of every door. Species matters less than construction that respects desert humidity swings.
Why do painted cabinets crack at the joints here?
Because solid wood center panels shrink in our dry air and pull hairline cracks through the paint at every joint line. Doors destined for paint should carry engineered panels that do not move. If a previous kitchen taught you painted cabinets crack, it was the construction, not the paint.
How far ahead should I book a kitchen project?
Six to twelve weeks before you want installation, since drawings take a week or two and the shop build runs six to ten. Refacing is faster, usually two to four weeks end to end. Holiday-deadline kitchens book by early fall every year.
Do you sell cabinets without installation?
For contractors and capable owner-builders, yes, boxes and fronts built to your measurements. For most homeowners we install what we build, because scribed installation is half of what makes custom look custom, and split responsibility helps nobody when a wall turns out crooked.
What plywood and materials do you use inside the boxes?
Cabinet-grade plywood boxes with hardwood face frames where the design calls for them, and composite panels that meet the EPA formaldehyde standard for composite wood. Ask any bidder this question; the answer tells you whether their price difference is materials or margin.
Can you match cabinets to my existing furniture or trim?
Yes. We pull stain samples against the piece you want matched and build a test door before finishing the whole run. Matching is slower than picking from a fan deck and worth it when a house has woodwork worth honoring.
What happens if something is wrong after installation?
We come back and fix it. Doors settle, seasons change and a hinge sometimes needs a turn after the first summer. The first-year adjustment visit is part of the job, and the invoice matching the quote is what makes that promise easy to keep.
A question we did not cover?
Call (661) 441-3918 or send the form and Palmdale Custom Cabinets will answer it straight, including when the honest answer is that you do not need custom work.