Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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Before
AfterKraftMaid Home Additions & ADU: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
KraftMaid cabinet systems in Fort Lauderdale home additions and ADUs typically run $45,000-$130,000 installed, depending on whether you’re building out a master suite, a detached ADU, or converting existing space. We stock KraftMaid-compatible cabinet lines, hardware, and trim packages for same-week installation on most projects. Most Fort Lauderdale owners realize their KraftMaid layout isn’t working when drawers bind in the humidity, door hinges corrode within three years of salt-air exposure, or the original builder-grade configuration wastes square footage in a space that now needs to function as a kitchenette or full secondary dwelling.
Which KraftMaid Models This Applies To
KraftMaid’s three core lines show up in Fort Lauderdale additions and ADUs with predictable patterns. Canvas (the painted MDF line) and Vantage (the entry-level stained option) were spec’d heavily by volume builders from 2015 to 2022; you’ll find the foil label inside the hinge cup or on the drawer box underside. Natural (solid wood, dovetail drawers) appears in owner-driven projects and higher-end ADU builds, usually with a stamped model code on the cabinet back.
The critical compatibility gotcha in Fort Lauderdale: KraftMaid changed its hinge boring pattern in 2019. Pre-2019 cabinets use a 45mm cup depth; post-2019 shifted to 48mm. Order the wrong hinge and the door sits proud of the face frame by an eighth-inch, which in humid Broward County means the gap traps moisture and the finish fails at the edge. We measure the cup depth on every replacement before ordering.
OEM KraftMaid hardware ships from Middlefield, Ohio, with a three-week lead time. We source equivalent Blum and Salice hinges, plus KraftMaid-matched paint and stain from our Fort Lauderdale shop, which cuts that to three days. For Natural-line drawer boxes, we build replacement dovetailed boxes on site rather than waiting for the factory.
Signs Your KraftMaid Home Additions & ADU Is Failing
- Drawer fronts delaminate or swell at the bottom edge. In Fort Lauderdale’s 75%-plus humidity, MDF core drawers without edge sealing wick moisture upward. The Canvas line is particularly susceptible; we see this first in ADU kitchenettes where the exhaust fan is undersized.
- Soft-close hinges lose their dampening and slam shut. The hydraulic cartridge fails after 25,000 cycles, which sounds like a lot until a tenant uses an ADU kitchen daily. Salt air accelerates seal degradation; Victoria Park properties three blocks from the Intracoastal see this at 18 months.
- Base cabinets rock on uneven tile or concrete slabs. KraftMaid’s adjustable legs max out at 1.5 inches. In Fort Lauderdale additions built on post-tension slabs with common 2-inch+ level variances, the leg bottoms strip their threads trying to compensate.
- Wall cabinet shelves bow under load. The standard 3/4-inch particleboard shelf in Vantage lines spans 30 inches without a center support. In ADU pantries where owners store bulk goods, we replace with 1-inch plywood and add a pilaster mid-span.
- Finish chalks or fades on south- and west-facing runs. KraftMaid’s conversion varnish holds up well, but ADUs with inadequate overhangs or missing window film see UV breakdown in 18-24 months. The telltale is whitening at the top rail of upper cabinets.
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Scope | Price Range (Fort Lauderdale) | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Full KraftMaid cabinet package, ADU kitchenette (8-12 cabinets) | $8,000-$18,000 | Cabinets, hardware, install, adjustment, 365-Day Done Right Promise |
| Drawer box and glide replacement (per box) | $180-$340 | Dovetail box, Blum Tandem glide, alignment |
| Hinge replacement, full kitchen (20-30 doors) | $650-$1,200 | Salice or Blum hinges, boring, adjustment, old hardware disposal |
| Complete home addition or ADU build with KraftMaid | $45,000-$130,000 | Written scope, flat price, permits, inspections, photo documentation |
What drives the range: slab condition (leveling adds $800-$2,400 in Fort Lauderdale’s older neighborhoods), electrical and plumbing rough-in status, and whether the ADU needs a full kitchen package or a wet bar conversion. Under Clause 1 of The Haven Standard, you get the written price before anyone picks up a tool. No change proceeds without a signed change order, which is why our projects finish within a few percent of the number you agreed to.
DIY or Call Us?
What you can safely check: confirm your cabinet line from the interior label, measure the hinge cup depth with a tape measure, and photograph any swelling or delamination for reference. These three steps save us twenty minutes on site and get your parts ordered faster.
Where DIY goes wrong: boring new hinge cups freehand without a 35mm Forstner jig and a drill stop. The depth tolerance is 0.5mm; go deep and you blow through the door face, shallow and the hinge clips fail in six months. In Fort Lauderdale’s humidity, an unsealed bore hole is a moisture entry point that voids KraftMaid’s warranty. We bring the jig, the vacuum fixture, and the touch-up pen. Call (754) 254-7676 to schedule your free estimate.
FAQs
With proper ventilation and annual hinge lubrication, 15-20 years for Natural-line solid wood; 10-14 years for Canvas MDF in high-humidity ADUs without exhaust fans. The salt-air corridor from the beach to I-95 shortens that by 20-30 percent if windows stay open. Call (754) 254-7676 for an exact quote on upgrading your ventilation package - estimates are free.
Not effectively. Once MDF swells, it never returns to dimension; the drawer binds, the glide rollers flat-spot, and you replace both box and hardware anyway. We rebuild the box in hardwood ply and match the front to your existing finish. Call (754) 254-7676 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Two to four days for a standard 8-cabinet kitchenette, assuming electrical and plumbing stay in place. We work one wall at a time so the tenant keeps a functional sink. Every visit includes a documented photo record, standard, not an upgrade. Call (754) 254-7676 to schedule your free estimate.
We stock Blum and Salice hinge equivalents, drawer glide sets, and touch-up markers for the five most common KraftMaid finishes. Full cabinet boxes and custom-sized end panels come from our shop with a three-day turnaround. Call (754) 254-7676 to confirm availability for your specific model - estimates are free.
Rowan Construction Group is an independent service provider; we are not affiliated with KraftMaid Corporation. We also stock parts and materials from Cambria, Silestone, and Kohler.
Measure twice, write it down, then say it once. That’s how we scope every job, whether it’s a single drawer box in a Victoria Park cottage or a full ADU build in Fort Lauderdale’s Coral Ridge neighborhood. Grant Rowan grew up watching crews retrofit older homes in Beverly Hills, where tight lots and mature landscaping demanded the same precision we apply now - line items in plain language, material brands listed by name, no bundled charges. For several years, we’ve served Fort Lauderdale with the same discipline: a written price before any work starts, a signed change order before any change proceeds, and a documented photo record when the crew leaves.
Written by Grant Rowan, Owner, Rowan Construction Group - Fort Lauderdale, FL at Rowan Construction Group Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.