Pre-Fab Kitchen Installation in Durham Region
A beautiful new kitchen in weeks, not months — at a fraction of the cost
Most homeowners think a kitchen renovation means choosing between two options: spend $50,000+ on a fully custom kitchen and wait months, or DIY an IKEA flat-pack and hope for the best. There's a third option that almost nobody talks about — and it's what we recommend for the majority of Durham Region homeowners.
Pre-fabricated kitchens use factory-built cabinets manufactured to professional standards — plywood construction, solid wood doors, soft-close hardware, durable finishes — and deliver them ready to install in 1–2 weeks. Our crew handles everything: design, ordering, demolition of your old kitchen, installation, countertops, backsplash, and finishing. The result is a kitchen that looks and functions like a $50,000 custom build, installed in 2–3 weeks, for 30–40% less.
Floor & Bath Design is the only renovation company in Durham Region offering professional pre-fab kitchen installations as a core service. We've been doing this for years, and it's become our most popular kitchen program for a simple reason: the value is exceptional.
What Is a Pre-Fab Kitchen?
"Pre-fab" means the cabinets are manufactured in a factory to standardized dimensions rather than built from scratch in a custom millwork shop. That might sound like a compromise, but modern pre-fab manufacturing has eliminated the quality gap almost entirely.
Here's what today's pre-fab cabinets actually look like inside:
- Cabinet boxes: 3/4" plywood construction (not particleboard). Plywood is stronger, more moisture-resistant, and holds screws better over decades of use.
- Doors and drawer fronts: Solid wood or high-density MDF with premium finishes. Available in shaker, slab, raised panel, and modern flat styles. Over 30 colour options including whites, greys, navy, natural wood tones, and two-tone combinations.
- Hardware: Soft-close hinges (Blum or equivalent) and full-extension drawer slides rated to 75–100 lbs. No slamming doors, no half-open drawers.
- Finishes: Factory-applied paint or thermofoil — more consistent and durable than hand-sprayed custom finishes, with better edge coverage and UV resistance.
The key difference is manufacturing efficiency. A custom cabinet shop builds your kitchen one piece at a time, by hand, over 6–8 weeks. A pre-fab factory produces cabinets using precision CNC machinery, automated finishing lines, and quality control systems that check every unit before shipping. The factory produces thousands of kitchens per year — which means economies of scale reduce your cost without reducing your quality. Read more about this in our blog post: Pre-Fab Kitchens: Beyond Cookie Cutter.
Pre-Fab vs Custom vs IKEA — An Honest Comparison
We get asked this constantly, so here's a straightforward comparison. We're not going to pretend pre-fab is always the right answer — but for most Durham Region homeowners, it is.
| Factor | Pre-Fab (Our Program) | Full Custom | IKEA DIY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinet Construction | 3/4" plywood, dowel joints | 3/4" plywood, dovetail joints | Particleboard, cam-lock connectors |
| Door Material | Solid wood / MDF | Solid wood / MDF | Foil-wrapped MDF or melamine |
| Hardware | Soft-close (Blum-equivalent) | Soft-close (Blum) | Soft-close (proprietary) |
| Cabinet Delivery Time | 1–2 weeks | 6–8 weeks | In stock or 1–2 weeks |
| Total Project Timeline | 2–3 weeks | 8–12 weeks | 4–8 weeks (DIY assembly) |
| Cost (10×10 Kitchen) | $15,000–$28,000 | $40,000–$65,000 | $8,000–$15,000 + installer |
| Design Included | Yes — professional | Yes — professional | Self-serve online planner |
| Installation Included | Yes — our crew | Yes — our crew | No — you or hired installer |
| Door Styles Available | 30+ options | Unlimited | 15–20 options |
| Size Flexibility | Standard widths (9"–36") | Any dimension | Standard widths only |
| Warranty | Manufacturer + our guarantee | Lifetime on cabinets | 25-year limited (cabinets only) |
| Countertops | We install quartz/granite | We install quartz/granite | Sold separately, often laminate |
When pre-fab is the right choice: Your kitchen uses standard dimensions (most do), you want quality results without spending $50,000+, you need your kitchen back quickly (rental property, busy family, selling soon), or you want professional design and installation without the custom price tag.
When custom makes more sense: You have unusual dimensions that standard cabinets can't accommodate, you want integrated appliance panels, or you need a completely bespoke configuration that pre-fab ranges don't cover. About 10% of our kitchen clients genuinely need custom — we'll tell you honestly which category you fall into.
Why not IKEA: IKEA cabinets are affordable, but particleboard construction doesn't hold up like plywood in a kitchen that sees daily moisture and heat. Assembly is complex (a typical 10×10 kitchen has 200+ connectors to install), and without professional installation, alignment issues lead to doors that don't close flush and drawers that bind. We've been called to fix many IKEA kitchen installations that looked simple on paper but went sideways in practice.
For a deeper dive into cost savings, read: Pre-Fab Kitchen Cost Savings Without Sacrificing Quality.
Why Durham Region Homeowners Are Choosing Pre-Fab
Pre-fab kitchen installations have become our fastest-growing service, and the reasons are practical, not trendy:
- Speed matters. With custom kitchens, you're without a functional kitchen for 2–3 months. With pre-fab, it's 2–3 weeks. For families with kids, that difference is enormous. For investment property owners turning a unit around, it's the difference between one month of lost rent and three.
- The quality gap has closed. Ten years ago, there was a real difference between pre-fab and custom cabinet quality. Today, with CNC manufacturing and premium material sourcing, the gap has nearly disappeared. Most homeowners can't tell the difference in a finished installation.
- Cost-conscious doesn't mean cheap. Durham Region homeowners are practical. Spending $50,000 on custom cabinetry when $25,000 gets you an equally beautiful result isn't smart budgeting — it's overspending. The $25,000 you save can go toward quartz countertops, premium appliances, or renovating the bathroom too.
- Less disruption. A 2–3 week project means fewer days with dust barriers, fewer mornings microwaving breakfast in the basement, and less strain on family routines. Our crews are in and out efficiently because the cabinets arrive ready to install — no on-site assembly, no waiting for shop deliveries.
Our Pre-Fab Kitchen Installation Process
Every pre-fab kitchen project follows the same structured process:
- Free Consultation & Measurement: We visit your home, measure the kitchen precisely (wall lengths, ceiling height, window and door positions, plumbing locations, electrical outlets), discuss what you want from your new kitchen, and talk through budget. This takes about 60–90 minutes. Book your consultation.
- Design & Material Selection: Our design team creates a detailed kitchen design based on your measurements, preferences, and budget. You'll see a floor plan and 3D renderings showing exactly how the finished kitchen will look. Visit our Ajax showroom to choose cabinet door style and colour, hardware, countertop material (quartz, granite, or porcelain slab), backsplash tile, sink, and faucet. We include up to three design revisions.
- Ordering (1–2 Weeks): Once you approve the design and select materials, we place the cabinet order. Pre-fab cabinets ship from the factory in 1–2 weeks — compared to 6–8 weeks for custom. During this time, we order countertop material, backsplash tile, and any fixtures.
- Demolition (Day 1–2 of Installation): Our crew removes existing cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and flooring if specified. We set up dust barriers to protect the rest of your home and establish a temporary kitchen setup (fridge, microwave, portable cooktop) in another room so you can still prepare meals.
- Installation (Day 3–7): Cabinets are installed, leveled, and secured to wall studs. Filler strips, crown moulding, and trim pieces are cut and fitted on-site. Plumbing and electrical connections are roughed in for the sink, dishwasher, and range hood.
- Countertops & Backsplash (Day 8–12): Countertops are templated after cabinets are in place (for a precision fit), then fabricated and installed within 5–7 business days. Backsplash tile is installed, grouted, and sealed.
- Finishing & Walkthrough (Day 12–15): Sink, faucet, dishwasher, and appliance connections. Hardware installation. Touch-up painting where needed. Final cleaning. We walk through the completed kitchen together and address any punch-list items on the spot.
Start to finish: 2–3 weeks from demolition to cooking dinner in your new kitchen. For more on our general approach, see our renovation process page.
Pre-Fab Kitchen Cost Breakdown
Transparency matters. Here's what a pre-fab kitchen renovation actually costs, broken down by component:
| Component | 10×10 Kitchen | 10×12 Kitchen | 12×14 Kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-fab Cabinets (supply) | $5,000–$8,000 | $7,000–$11,000 | $9,000–$14,000 |
| Quartz Countertops (supply & install) | $3,000–$5,000 | $4,000–$6,500 | $5,500–$8,000 |
| Backsplash Tile (supply & install) | $1,200–$2,500 | $1,500–$3,000 | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Sink & Faucet | $500–$1,200 | $500–$1,200 | $500–$1,500 |
| Demolition & Disposal | $1,000–$1,500 | $1,200–$1,800 | $1,500–$2,000 |
| Installation Labour | $3,500–$5,500 | $4,500–$7,000 | $6,000–$9,000 |
| Electrical & Plumbing (if needed) | $800–$2,000 | $800–$2,500 | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Total Range | $15,000–$25,700 | $19,500–$33,000 | $25,500–$41,000 |
These ranges reflect the choice of cabinet line, countertop material (quartz varies from $55–$95/sq ft installed), and backsplash complexity. We provide a detailed, line-item quote after your consultation — no surprises, no hidden fees. The quote is valid for 30 days and includes everything listed above.
For additional perspective on kitchen budgeting, read: What Is a Good Budget for a Kitchen Renovation?
Pre-Fab Kitchen Inspiration
We've installed pre-fab kitchens across Ajax, Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, and Bowmanville. Browse our portfolio to see completed projects — many of the kitchen transformations you'll find there used our pre-fab program. You'd never know from looking at them.
For more on the design possibilities, explore these articles from our blog:
- Pre-Fab Kitchens: Beyond Cookie Cutter — why modern pre-fab is nothing like what you're imagining
- The Surprising Design Flexibility of Pre-Fab Kitchens — styles, colours, and configurations available
- Pre-Fab Kitchen Cost Savings Without Sacrificing Quality — the numbers behind the value
Have questions about whether pre-fab is right for your kitchen? Book a free in-home consultation or call us at 905-683-0079. We'll measure your space, show you options, and give you a straight answer — no pressure, no upsell.
Curious About Pre-Fab?
Most homeowners don't know pre-fab is an option until they see the results. Book a free consultation and we'll show you what's possible.