RTA stands for ready-to-assemble. RTA cabinets leave the warehouse as flat panels with their doors, hinges and hardware, and are assembled before they are installed. Because they ship flat, they take less space to store and move, and they can be stocked closer to where they are sold. The cabinet itself is the same once it is built; what changes is who assembles it and when.
How VanStro RTA cabinets are built
- Box: ¾" plywood with melamine on both sides, in European-style frameless construction.
- Shelves: ¾" cabinet-grade plywood with finished front edges.
- Doors: ¾" MDF in a Shaker profile, wrapped in PVC thermofoil with a matte soft-touch finish, in White or Light Grey. Glass-door wall cabinets are also available.
- Hardware: DTC soft-close hinges that adjust six ways, and soft-close drawer slides on drawer bases.
- Drawer boxes: ⅝" plywood with a melamine finish.
RTA or pre-assembled: what is the difference?
An RTA cabinet and a pre-assembled cabinet can use the same box, door and hinges. The difference is when the box is put together. A pre-assembled cabinet is built before it ships, so it arrives ready to hang but takes more space in the truck and in storage. An RTA cabinet ships as flat panels and is assembled near where it will be installed. That makes it easier to stock locally, carry through narrow doorways and stairs, and replace one part if a panel is damaged in transit.
| RTA | Pre-assembled | |
|---|---|---|
| How it arrives | Flat panels, hardware and doors | Built box, ready to install |
| Storage and transport | Compact, easier to move into the room | Takes more space |
| Work before installing | Each cabinet must be assembled | None |
| Who assembles | You, your installer or your dealer, where offered | The factory |
What affects assembly time
Assembly time depends on the number of cabinets, the cabinet type and who does the work. A wall or base cabinet with doors is quicker than a drawer base, because drawer boxes and slides add steps. Tall and oven cabinets are large and are easier to assemble with two people. Assemble every cabinet before installation day, check each box is square, and keep the hardware for each cabinet together.
What affects the cost of a kitchen
The price of each VanStro cabinet is the national price shown on its product page, the same at every dealer. The total for a kitchen depends on:
- the number and size of cabinets in the layout;
- drawer bases, which cost more than door bases of the same width;
- tall, oven and microwave cabinets;
- fillers, end panels, toe kicks and moulding to finish the run;
- handles;
- services your dealer quotes separately: delivery, site measurement, assembly help and installation.
Your local dealer offers a free 3D design, which lists every cabinet and accessory so you can see the full order before you buy.
What to plan before you order
- Measure the room. Use the measuring guide to record walls, ceiling height, windows, plumbing and outlets.
- Choose standard sizes. Base cabinets come in 3-inch width steps; wall and tall cabinets in fixed heights. Close any leftover gap with fillers.
- Plan assembly time. Each cabinet is assembled before installation. Assembly and installation guides for bathroom vanities are in the Download Centre; for kitchen cabinets, ask your dealer for the instructions that match your order.
- Plan measurement and installation. VanStro supplies the cabinets. Your local dealer offers a free 3D design; site measurement, installation and delivery are quoted by the dealer and vary by dealer.
Buying RTA cabinets in Canada through VanStro
Stock is held in Canadian warehouses and on dealer floors, and every approved dealer keeps a display floor where you can see the finishes in person. The price on each product page is the national price, the same at every dealer. You can order online and pick up from your selected dealer, or arrange delivery through them. For help with a layout, ask your local dealer for a free 3D design.