To find good cabinets, look beyond surface

When it comes to kitchen renovations, the most expensive part of the project is typically the cabinets. Indeed, cabinets can easily make up 40 or 50 percent of the total cost. With even basic kitchen renovations often costing $20,000 and more, that means cabinets end up being one of the first places where homeowners look to save money.

But Tom Silva, general contractor on the TV show "This Old House," says cabinets are one place where people shouldn't skimp. Even if you're only planning to stay in a house for three to seven years, he says, installing bottom-of-the-line cabinets means you'll get less for your house when you sell it .

In a home store, cabinet prices can range from $50 to $200 a linear foot, while custom cabinets can start at $200 a linear foot and go up from there. Too often, homeowners pick their cabinets based on the style of the door and the price tag but never take the time to consider the construction of the cabinet box itself.

"You can put lipstick on a pig," says Silva, explaining that looks are only part of the story. "You have to make sure that the bones of the cabinet are strong so that whatever you hang on them will last."

To illustrate the point, Silva points to the cabinets he built for his home 20 years ago. Constructed from plywood with solid pine doors, these cabinets have stood the test of time and the abuse of two small children who grew up in the house. The cabinets have dovetail joints, full extension drawers, and a country kitchen look.

Silva is the first to admit that kitchen designers probably wouldn't recommend the wood he used, but he likes it. "People should get what they want, not what someone else tells them to get," he says.

One way to figure out your style is to check out display kitchens in cabinet showrooms. Popular looks include mix-and-match cabinets, furniture-style hutches, and painted finishes from sage green to red.

You may not be able to duplicate Silva's cabinets, but anyone willing to do their homework can find well-constructed cabinets that will last. Silva says the research starts by looking at the cabinet box with the countertops removed. That top-down view lets you see both the materials and the quality of construction.

Cheaper cabinets are often made with particleboard or a composite fiberwood , neither of which are typically as strong or resilient as plywood. "You want plywood," says Silva. Thicker plywood is better but also more expensive, and the type of veneer covering the plywood will also affect price, he says.

Next, look at how the box is built. The corners should have diagonal bracing made of wood or metal, not flimsy plastic pieces, he says. Then check out the back of the cabinet and the kick space in the front, both places where manufacturers may use cheaper materials. That can cause problems during installation.

"Drive a screw through the back of a cheap cabinet, and it will fall apart," Silva says.

You may even want to get physical with the cabinet box to make sure it can withstand the abuse of everyday living, Silva says. A cabinet that can't stand up to a good shaking probably won't last.

Part of the purchase decision will be deciding between stock cabinets, which are only made in standard sizes, and custom cabinets, which are made to order. But Silva says there are good choices with either option. Homeowners who are handy might even opt for good-quality cabinets and do their own assembly.