Direct Answer
Cabo Cabinet Group manufactures cabinets using both framed and frameless construction methods, delivered either as ready to assemble (RTA) or fully assembled units. You specify which construction type fits your project. Frameless construction uses full overlay doors with concealed European hinges, creating a modern, clean look with maximum interior access. Framed construction uses a solid wood face frame attached to the box front, supporting partial or full overlay doors, a traditional method familiar to most install crews in the US. Both methods use plywood or particle board boxes with dovetail or dowel joints, depending on the spec. All units include soft close hinges and drawer glides as standard. The factory runs about 8,000 apartment units of cabinetry per month, roughly 200 containers, so we build to your exact construction spec at scale.
Why It Matters
Construction method affects install time, interior usable space, and the final aesthetic. Frameless cabinets deliver about 10 to 15 percent more interior space because there is no face frame reducing the opening. Install crews accustomed to frameless boxes can move faster because the cabinet bodies align directly, no scribing or shimming the face frame. Framed construction provides a more forgiving install on walls that are not perfectly flat or plumb, the face frame hides minor gaps. It also gives a traditional look that some buyers expect in certain markets. RTA versus assembled matters for freight cost and job site logistics. RTA packs tighter, reducing container count and landed cost, but requires assembly labor on site or at a staging warehouse. Assembled units cost more to ship but roll directly to install, saving labor hours. On a 200 unit apartment project, that labor difference can be 30 to 50 hours of crew time.
How It Works
You choose the construction method when you submit your spec. For frameless, we build a five sided box, typically 5/8 inch or 3/4 inch material, with the door mounted directly to the box side using cup hinges. The box joint is either dowel and glue or a cam lock system for RTA. For framed, we attach a 3/4 inch solid wood face frame to the box front, then mount doors to the frame with either concealed or exposed hinges, depending on your spec. Both methods use the same door styles: shaker, slim shaker, slab, or thermofoil. Drawer boxes are dovetail jointed solid wood or doweled plywood, again to your spec. Soft close hardware is standard on all drawers and doors. You also specify finished ends, toe kicks, and any fillers. The factory builds a sample unit for approval before production starts on the full order. Production takes about 30 days once the spec is locked, then under 7 days delivery by land to your US job site.
What to Specify
When you place an order, specify these details for construction method. First, framed or frameless. Second, RTA or assembled. Third, box material and thickness, typically 5/8 inch particle board for multifamily or 3/4 inch plywood for higher end projects. Fourth, door overlay if framed: partial overlay, where the door covers part of the frame, or full overlay, where the door nearly covers the entire frame. Fifth, drawer box construction: dovetail solid wood, doweled plywood, or metal drawer boxes with a finished front. Sixth, interior finish: melamine, vinyl, or matching wood veneer. These choices affect cost, install labor, and durability. A 300 unit multifamily project might use frameless RTA with 5/8 inch particle board and melamine interiors to hit a budget, while a 40 unit luxury townhome project might spec framed assembled with 3/4 inch plywood and dovetail drawers. Both are standard production for Cabo. The National Accounts program handles the highest volume buyers who need consistent construction specs across multiple projects over years.