# 12 Questions to Ask a Cabinet Maker, With the Right Answers > Take these 12 questions to every cabinet maker you interview, then compare the drawings, materials, installation, payments and warranty in writing. By Cabinetshop.com Editors · Updated October 1, 2026 ![Woodworker smiling while shaping a board at a bench in a wood shop.](https://cabinetshop.com/assets/img/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker-hero.webp) --- ## TL;DR - **1. Ask about the full job:** Ask who measures, what the drawing includes, which materials and hardware are named, who installs, and how the schedule, payments, changes, and warranty are written into the contract. - **2. Put it all in writing:** Don’t sign until the drawing, materials, finish, hardware, installation, exclusions, schedule, payment terms, change-order process, and warranty are in the contract. - **3. Check the business:** Where licensing applies, confirm the contractor’s license with your state or county government, and ask the contractor for proof of insurance.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) - **4. Expect a clear answer:** A good answer names who is responsible and points to a document. A weak answer relies on memory, assumptions, or promises outside the contract. - **5. Keep costs in one place:** Use the [custom cabinet cost guide](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/custom-cabinet-cost/) for price ranges and timeline estimates. This page tells you what to ask. Before you sign, you need more than a total on a proposal. You need to know who measures, what gets built, who installs it, when payments are due and who fixes problems. These 12 questions help you compare those details in writing. The Federal Trade Commission tells homeowners to confirm a contractor’s license with the state or county government, ask the contractor for proof of insurance, get recommendations and several written estimates, and read the contract with care. Contract and down-payment rules aren’t the same in every state.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) Start with those checks, then get the cabinet details for your job in writing. --- ## What you are actually buying A solid proposal should make sense to somebody who didn’t hear the sales conversation. It names the drawings, cabinet locations, materials, finish, hardware, installation work, exclusions, schedule, payment steps, and warranty. Anything that matters in the finished room needs a name beside it and somebody responsible for it. ## Scope and drawing ### 1. Who measures the room, and who owns the final dimensions? **A useful answer:** One named person checks the site, marks the openings and utilities, and brings the shop drawing up to date before fabrication. The contract also tells you what happens when the room doesn’t match the first estimate. **A worrying answer:** “We’ll work it out during installation.” That leaves a design problem until the most expensive time to correct it. ### 2. What exactly is included and excluded? **A useful answer:** You can see separate lines for cabinets, panels, trim, hardware, delivery, installation, demolition, disposal, wall repair, painting, countertops, plumbing, and electrical work. The FTC says the written estimate should describe the work, materials, completion date, and price.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) **A worrying answer:** You get one total without a scope list. You can’t compare bids or see which trade is missing. ### 3. Which drawing do I approve before fabrication? **A useful answer:** You receive a dated plan and elevations that show cabinet sizes, doors, drawers, fillers, finished ends, appliance or fixture locations, and exposed trim. Each revision gets a fresh date, and the contract names the one that controls. **A worrying answer:** You get a sketch without dimensions or an approval record. Sales, drafting, and the shop crew may record a verbal change differently. ![Base-cabinet elevation and plan labeled overall dimensions, opening dimensions, materials for each part, door and drawer style, hardware, finish, filler and scribe allowances, revision number, and approval and date line.](https://cabinetshop.com/assets/img/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker-plan-1.svg) ## Materials and construction ### 4. What material is used for each cabinet part? **A useful answer:** The specification names case sides, backs, shelves, drawer boxes, doors, face frames or edge treatment, exposed panels, and interior surfaces. When regulated hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, or particleboard is part of the project, have the shop identify the applicable Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Title VI label information. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies those materials as regulated composite wood products commonly used in kitchen cabinets, and the rule covers regulated finished goods that contain them.[2](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-2) **A worrying answer:** The description stops at “all wood,” “furniture grade,” or another broad label. You get no panel type, thickness, grade, or manufacturer information to explain those words. ### 5. Which hardware and finish are included? **A useful answer:** The proposal names the hinge and slide manufacturer or product line, opening type, finish system, sheen, color reference, and the way you’ll approve the sample. It also makes clear whether handles, lighting, and specialty fittings are part of the job. **A worrying answer:** It promises “soft-close hardware” or a “painted finish” without naming a product or approved sample. You still don’t know what the shop plans to install. ### 6. Can I see comparable completed work and speak with recent clients? **A useful answer:** The shop shows you completed projects with a similar finish and scope, then offers references from people who agreed to be contacted. FTC guidance recommends contractor recommendations and careful review of complaint information.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) **A worrying answer:** You see manufacturer photos, pictures without project details, or pressure to sign before you’ve checked the references. ## Money and schedule ### 7. What license and insurance apply to this job? **A useful answer:** The business gives you its legal name, a license number wherever the jurisdiction requires one, and current proof of insurance. Check the license with the state or county source, even if the proposal includes a logo or photocopy.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) **A worrying answer:** The proposal, license, and payment request show different business names, or the shop says you don’t need to verify anything. ### 8. What is the schedule, and what must happen before it starts? **A useful answer:** The proposal lists a target start and completion window, site-measure date, drawing approval, material or appliance choices, fabrication, delivery, installation, and the work that depends on other trades. FTC contract guidance calls for estimated start and completion dates.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) **A worrying answer:** You get a firm completion promise without any mention of approvals, material choices, site readiness, or trade dependencies. ### 9. How do deposits and progress payments work? **A useful answer:** The contract makes each payment due after a named document, delivery, or accepted milestone. This guide gives no universal deposit percentage: the FTC notes that some states cap down payments and advises you not to pay the full project amount up front.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) **A worrying answer:** The shop wants full payment before work starts, asks for cash without an explanation, or requires almost all payment before you can check the progress. ### 10. How are changes approved and priced? **A useful answer:** Before the shop changes the work, both sides approve a written change order that shows the new scope, cost, and schedule effect. Oregon’s Construction Contractors Board describes a change order as a contract amendment for a change to the original project scope. Its state guidance recommends documenting every contract change, says both parties should sign it, and says to include the effect on total project cost.[6](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-6) **A worrying answer:** “We’ll settle extras at the end.” Without a shared record, nobody can show exactly what changed or what it should cost. ## Installation and after ### 11. Who installs the cabinets and coordinates the other trades? **A useful answer:** The contract names the installing company and any subcontractors, assigns site protection and cleanup, and says who coordinates countertops, appliances, plumbing, electrical work, permits, and inspections. It also names the person who makes decisions during the job. **A worrying answer:** The seller can’t name the installer, the subcontracted work, or the person responsible for a conflict at the site. ### 12. What happens at the punch list and after completion? **A useful answer:** The agreement covers inspection, punch-list acceptance, damaged or missing parts, touch-up, warranty terms, service contacts, and the paperwork due before final payment. Ask your state or local consumer agency which lien notices, waivers, or releases apply where you live. The rules and forms depend on location. Wisconsin guidance, for example, explains that a subcontractor or material supplier can place a lien on a home when the prime contractor doesn’t pay its bills.[7](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-7) **A worrying answer:** Final payment comes before inspection, or the warranty promise has no written term, exclusions, or contact. ## Cabinet maker, finish carpenter, joiner, or big-box installer Different providers may use these titles for some of the same work, so confirm the scope for your job. O*NET classifies cabinetmakers and bench carpenters as workers who cut, shape, and assemble wood products, and its reported titles include cabinet builder and cabinet installer.[3](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-3) It classifies carpenters more broadly as workers who construct, install, or repair wood structures and fixtures, and says they may install cabinets.[4](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-4) Those occupational descriptions don’t tell you what a particular firm will do. Read every row as a possible arrangement to confirm. It doesn’t describe a typical or guaranteed business model. | Provider | Who draws | Who builds | Who installs | Who warrants | Typical scope to confirm | Best question to ask | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cabinet maker or cabinet shop | Confirm shop drawings or an outside designer | Confirm in-house fabrication or a named production partner | Confirm shop crew or a named installer | Confirm the contracting party and product/installation split | Shop drawings, fabrication, installation, or a combination | Does one firm own the drawing through installation? | | Finish carpenter | Confirm field detailing or a supplied design | Confirm fabrication, site-built finish work, or install-only scope | Confirm the named installer | Confirm whether work or product is covered | Cabinet installation, site-built finish work, fabrication, or a combination | Are you fabricating the cabinets, installing them, or both? | | Joiner | Confirm who supplies the drawing | Confirm the shop and product | Confirm site scope | Confirm the contracting party | Fabrication, site work, installation, or a combination; usage varies by market | What does “joiner” mean in this proposal? | | Big-box installer | Confirm retail staff, vendor, or other designer | Confirm the named manufacturer | Confirm the contracted installer | Confirm retailer, maker, and installer roles | Retail design, third-party manufacture, contracted installation, or a combination | Who corrects a drawing, product, or installation fault? | Don’t guess the scope from the title. The signed agreement needs to say who draws, builds, installs, takes payment, and handles warranty service. The [built-in bookshelves guide](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/built-in-bookshelves/) shows fitted work that might involve a cabinet shop or finish carpenter. If your choice is between a shop and a retail route, use the [custom cabinets versus big-box stores guide](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/custom-cabinets-vs-big-box-stores/) for that comparison. ## What to put in writing The FTC recommends a written agreement even when state law doesn’t demand one. It says to include the contractor’s identity, estimated start and completion dates, and promises about matters such as scope and labor or material costs.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) Attach the approved drawing and material schedule for the cabinet work. Add the payment schedule, change-order process, installation responsibilities, punch-list process, warranty, and exclusions. Check with the right state or local agency, title professional, or attorney about the lien notices, waivers, or releases that apply where the property sits. Wisconsin consumer guidance says a homeowner with a home-improvement contract can get a lien waiver from the prime contractor and from every subcontractor and material supplier before final payment. It also says homeowners can get waivers for the proportionate amount covered by each partial payment.[7](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-7) That’s guidance for Wisconsin. It doesn’t apply as a rule for every state. ## Mistakes to avoid when choosing a cabinet maker 1. **Choosing the lowest total before the scopes match.** Compare the included and excluded work in [question 2](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#question-2) before you compare totals. 2. **Signing before you approve the drawing.** Get the dated plan, elevations, revisions, and approval record described in [question 3](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#question-3). 3. **Accepting a broad label such as “all wood.”** Use [question 4](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#question-4) to name the material for each cabinet part, including panel type, thickness, grade, and manufacturer information. 4. **Making the final payment before the punch list.** Follow [question 12](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#question-12) so inspection, damaged or missing parts, touch-up, warranty terms, and required paperwork come first. 5. **Leaving changes as verbal agreements.** [Question 10](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#question-10) calls for a written change order with the new scope, cost, schedule effect, and both approvals. 6. **Assuming you know who will install the cabinets.** Get the installing company, subcontractors, trade coordination, and person responsible for site decisions from [question 11](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#question-11). ## Before you request quotes Give every shop the same room measurements, photos, appliance or equipment details, finish direction, storage needs, target timing, and list of work that may need another trade. Ask each shop to write down its assumptions. Keep the money and timeline detail in the [custom cabinet cost guide](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/custom-cabinet-cost/), and use the [Cabinetshop.com guides hub](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/) for more planning help. ## Questions people ask about choosing a cabinet maker ### What is the difference between a cabinet maker and a carpenter? A cabinet maker designs and builds cabinets, usually in a shop, while a carpenter does broader building and trim work on site, though one person can do both.[3](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-3) [4](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-4) [5](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-5) O*NET describes cabinetmakers and bench carpenters as workers who cut, shape, and assemble wooden articles or fabricate wood-product parts. It describes carpenters as workers who construct, install, or repair wood structures and fixtures, and says they may also install cabinets. ### What questions should you ask a cabinet maker? Ask who measures, what the drawing includes, which materials and hardware are named, who installs, and how the schedule, payments, changes, and warranty are written into the contract. The 12 questions above cover each part of the contract. ### How do you find a good cabinet maker? Start with comparable completed work, references, license verification where required, proof of insurance, and a detailed written proposal.[1](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-1) Then compare how clearly each shop documents responsibility from measurement to warranty service. ### What is a cabinet maker vs a joiner? Job titles alone don’t establish the scope, so ask what the person will draw, build, install, and warrant. O*NET uses “Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters” for U.S. occupation 51-7011.00.[3](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-3) England’s National Careers Service lists “Joiner, bench joiner” as alternatives for its Carpenter profile.[5](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-cabinet-maker/#source-5) ### How long do custom cabinets take to build? There isn’t one schedule that applies to every custom project. Use the timeline discussion in the [custom cabinet cost guide](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/custom-cabinet-cost/) and require your proposal to state its approvals, dependencies, start window, and completion window. ### What are common mistakes when choosing a cabinet maker? The most common mistake is choosing the lowest quote before every shop has priced the same drawing, materials, and installation scope. Other mistakes include signing before you approve the drawing, accepting broad material labels, paying in full before the punch list, leaving changes verbal, and failing to name the installer. ## Where these numbers come from The official government sources below support the contractor-screening guidance, composite-wood rule, occupational descriptions, change-order advice, and lien caution. All were accessed September 6, 2026. - [1] Federal Trade Commission, “How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam,” including “Get multiple estimates,” “Read the contract carefully,” and “Don't pay the full amount for the project up front.” - [2] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products,” Rule Summary. - [3] O*NET OnLine, “51-7011.00 Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters,” occupation description and reported job titles. - [4] O*NET OnLine, “47-2031.00 Carpenters,” occupation description. - [5] England National Careers Service, “Carpenter,” alternative titles. - [6] Oregon Construction Contractors Board, “Guide to Home Improvement Contracts,” PDF page 1, “What's a change order?” - [7] Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, “Liens,” including “How liens work” and “Get lien waivers.” 1. [Federal Trade Commission: How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-home-improvement-scam) 2. [U.S. EPA: Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products](https://www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-emission-standards-composite-wood-products) 3. [O*NET OnLine: Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-7011.00) 4. [O*NET OnLine: Carpenters](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2031.00) 5. [England National Careers Service: Carpenter](https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/carpenter) 6. [Oregon Construction Contractors Board: Guide to Home Improvement Contracts](https://www.oregon.gov/ccb/Documents/Guide%20to%20home%20improvement%20contracts.pdf) 7. [Wisconsin DATCP: Liens](https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Publications/Liens262.aspx) Last updated: October 1, 2026 --- ### Before you meet the cabinet maker Bring room measurements, photos, appliance or equipment details, finish direction, storage needs and the work another trade may need to do. Ask the shop to mark every assumption on a dated drawing and name the materials, hardware, installer, schedule, payments, change-order process, punch-list steps and warranty. Give every shop the same package so you can compare the answers. [Browse more guides](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/) --- ### Keep reading #### [Custom Cabinet Cost](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/custom-cabinet-cost/) #### [Custom vs. Semi-Custom vs. Stock Cabinets](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/custom-vs-semi-custom-vs-stock-cabinets/) #### [Built-In Bookshelves](https://cabinetshop.com/guides/built-in-bookshelves/)