By the MJC design team, Orlando. Updated November 2026.
Short answer: Before hiring a cabinet maker in Orlando, ask who measures and designs, where the cabinets are built, which materials and finishes you can see in person, how the quote is itemized, who installs, and how the schedule is set in writing. Then look at finished kitchens and real reviews before you sign anything.
Why do the questions matter before you hire a cabinet maker?
Custom cabinets are built once, to your measurements, and installed for the long run. A mistake in measuring or design shows up as a gap, a door that hits the refrigerator or a drawer that cannot open next to the range. The questions below help you compare cabinet makers in Orlando on process and quality, not only on price.
Questions about measuring and design
1. Who takes the measurements, and when?
Measurements decide whether the cabinets fit. Ask who measures, whether it happens in your home and whether anything is checked again before production.
What a good answer sounds like: A named person from the company measures on site before the final design, and confirms the measurements again if anything in the room changes.
2. Will I see the design before anything is built?
A drawing on paper is easy to misread. A 3D design shows the layout, door style, colors and how the room will feel.
What a good answer sounds like: You get a 3D design or detailed drawings, you can request changes, and nothing goes into production until you approve it.
3. How do you handle walls and floors that are not square or level?
Most homes have walls that lean and floors that dip. A good installer plans for it instead of discovering it on installation day.
What a good answer sounds like: They measure for it, plan filler and scribe pieces where needed, and level the cabinets during installation so doors and countertops line up.
Questions about where and how the cabinets are made
4. Where are the cabinets built?
Some companies build cabinets themselves, and others order standard boxes from a manufacturer. Both can work, but you should know which one you are buying. Our comparison of custom, semi-custom and RTA cabinets explains the difference.
What a good answer sounds like: A specific shop or factory you can name, and a clear explanation of whether each cabinet is built to your measurements or chosen from standard sizes.
5. Which box materials and finishes can I choose, and can I see samples?
Box material and finish affect how cabinets handle Florida humidity and daily wear. Our guide to cabinet materials for Florida humidity covers the tradeoffs.
What a good answer sounds like: Real samples in your hands, plus an honest explanation of where each material makes sense and where it does not.
6. Which hardware is included?
Hinges, drawer slides and organizers are easy to leave vague and expensive to upgrade later.
What a good answer sounds like: The quote names the hinge and drawer slide types and lists any pull-outs, organizers and lighting included.
Questions about price and paperwork
7. Is the quote itemized?
A single total makes it impossible to compare offers or see what a design change costs.
What a good answer sounds like: Separate lines for cabinets, countertop, installation, demolition and extras, so you can see what each decision adds.
8. What is not included?
The surprises in a kitchen project usually live in what nobody mentioned, such as plumbing, electrical work, appliance installation, paint or drywall repair.
What a good answer sounds like: A written list of exclusions and who is responsible for each of them.
9. How are payments scheduled?
Payment terms should follow the progress of the work.
What a good answer sounds like: A payment schedule in writing, tied to clear steps in the project.
Questions about installation and schedule
10. Who installs the cabinets?
The people who build the cabinets know them most closely. If installation is subcontracted, you should know who is responsible.
What a good answer sounds like: Their own installation team, or a named partner they supervise, with one person you can call during the job.
11. How is the schedule set, and who keeps me updated?
A kitchen project depends on design approval, production, delivery and other trades. Without a schedule, it drifts.
What a good answer sounds like: A written timeline with the main steps and one point of contact who updates you as the project moves.
12. How do you protect the house and clean up?
Installation means saws, dust and carrying cabinets through your home.
What a good answer sounds like: Floors and finished surfaces are protected, and the work area is cleaned at the end of each day.
Questions about proof
13. Can I see kitchens you have finished?
Photos of real projects tell you more than renderings. Ask for kitchens similar in size and style to yours.
What a good answer sounds like: Photos or videos of their own finished projects, not stock images.
14. Where can I read reviews?
Reviews that mention measuring, installation and communication tell you how the company handles the whole process.
What a good answer sounds like: A link to their Google Business Profile, with reviews from real customers in your area.
A quick checklist to take to every estimate
| Topic | Ask |
|---|---|
| Measuring | Who measures, where and when |
| Design | Will I approve a 3D design before production |
| Fabrication | Where are the cabinets built |
| Materials | Can I see samples of boxes, doors and finishes |
| Quote | Is it itemized, and what is excluded |
| Installation | Who installs, and who is my contact |
| Schedule | Is the timeline in writing |
| Proof | Can I see finished projects and reviews |
How MJC answers these questions
MJC is a family owned cabinet maker in Orlando. Here is how we answer the questions above.
- Measuring and design: we measure your space and design the kitchen in 3D at no cost, during a free 3D design visit.
- Samples: our mobile showroom van brings door, finish and granite samples to your home, so you choose in your own kitchen light.
- Where the cabinets are built: every cabinet is built to measure in our shop at 5014 Forsyth Commerce Rd in Orlando.
- Quote: you receive a detailed, itemized cost assessment before anything is built.
- Installation and contact: our team installs the cabinets, and one point of contact manages the project from design to installation.
- Proof: you can read or leave a Google review and see our custom kitchen cabinets in Orlando.
Complete custom kitchens at MJC start at $15,000, and the final price depends on size, materials and countertop.
Frequently asked questions
Should a cabinet maker measure my kitchen in person?
Yes. Custom cabinets are built to exact dimensions, so measurements taken in your home by the company that builds the cabinets are the safest starting point. Measurements you take yourself are fine for a first estimate.
What should a cabinet quote include?
Separate lines for the cabinets, countertop, installation, demolition and extras, the hardware types, and a written list of what is not included, such as plumbing or electrical work.
Is it worth hiring a custom cabinet maker instead of buying from a store?
It depends on your kitchen. Store cabinets come in standard sizes, which suits simple layouts. A custom cabinet maker builds to your measurements, which helps in kitchens with unusual dimensions, tall ceilings or specific storage needs.
How do I compare two cabinet estimates?
Line them up item by item: cabinet count, materials, finishes, hardware, countertop, installation and exclusions. A lower total often leaves something out.
Plan your project with MJC
Get a free 3D design and see door, finish and granite samples at your home. Cabinets are built to measure in our Orlando shop at 5014 Forsyth Commerce Rd. Complete custom kitchens start at $15,000.