Kitchen planning
How to compare kitchen cabinet quotes in Montreal
Two kitchen quotes can look similar on the first page and describe very different purchases. Before choosing a supplier, turn each proposal into the same list of cabinets, components and responsibilities. This guide explains what to compare and what to send when you ask Vision Cadre for sourcing help.
Start with the same layout
Give every supplier the same room plan and appliance information. A price for twelve simple cabinet boxes is not comparable with a proposal that adds an island, tall pantry, deep drawers and integrated appliance panels. Count the base cabinets, wall cabinets and tall units separately, and identify drawers, shelves and door configurations.
For a Montreal condo or plex, include the existing room’s constraints: doors, windows, baseboards, exposed pipes and any walls that will change. Your first measurements help discuss the project. Final dimensions and site conditions must be verified by the appropriate professional before manufacturing.
Ask for a component schedule
“Custom cabinets” is a description of the fit, not a complete material specification. Request the box material and thickness, front material, finish, edge treatment and exposed end panels. Make sure fillers, toe kicks and trim are listed instead of assumed.
- Which panels are melamine-faced board, MDF, plywood or solid wood?
- Are the interior and visible exterior finishes different?
- Are countertop supports, appliance panels and handles included?
- Which items are upgrades, and what does each add?
A simple finish and fewer specialty components may suit a modest budget. Plywood or decorative finishes can be selected as separately priced options. Ask to see the actual proposed specification rather than relying on a reference photograph.
Specify DTC models, not just the brand
Vision Cadre’s cabinet hardware direction is DTC. Its exact hinge and slide models, quantities and features are confirmed in the written quote. Ask whether the selected drawers have soft-close, what load rating is specified and which handles or opening mechanisms are included. A brand name alone does not establish those details.
DTC lists hinges, drawer slides and drawer systems in its official product information. Use the agreed model numbers in the component schedule; do not assume every DTC product has identical features or warranties.
Comparing IKEA with a custom proposal
Compare the actual shopping lists, not a showroom photograph or an advertised example kitchen. IKEA Canada describes planning services and installation quotations. Check which products and services your chosen option includes, then use the same scope for a custom quote.
A useful comparison has separate lines for cabinet products, hardware, countertops, appliances, delivery and installation. If one option needs different fillers or additional site work, include those differences. Vision Cadre’s planning targets are not a promise to match an IKEA price.
Separate a planning target from a firm price
Vision Cadre’s current target for basic kitchen cabinetry is $3,000–$10,000 CAD, before taxes and installation. It is a planning range, not a supplier-confirmed selling price. Islands, countertops, appliances, lighting, premium finishes and larger layouts are separately scoped and can exceed it.
For an imported order, the written quotation must confirm the selected products, freight, import costs and local delivery. Ask how changes, damaged components and warranty questions will be handled, and obtain the actual agreed terms before ordering. Compare the delivered material cost and the installation cost separately.
Send a brief that can produce a useful quote
Send your neighbourhood, room plan or photos, approximate dimensions, appliance models, preferred finishes, materials budget and target date. Mark what you already have, what you want to replace and which items can be simplified to stay within budget. An example brief might say: “Keep the existing layout, replace base and wall cabinets, use a simple matte finish, and quote an island as a separate option.” This is an illustration, not a completed Vision Cadre project.
Vision Cadre’s $400 CAD sourcing deposit covers the first five hours of sourcing and factory coordination. Additional time is billed at $80 CAD/hour on the final invoice, with a time summary. The paid deposit is credited once toward a materials order if you proceed. Design, professional measurements and installation are separately arranged.
Explore our kitchen cabinetry sourcing service, or discuss your project to agree the initial scope.