Understanding Different Grades of Products

Whether you’re looking at cabinets, flooring, fixtures, appliances, or other products to be used in a home remodeling or addition project in South Florida, it can sometimes be hard to distinguish the quality. Low-grade products can look just as nice on the outside, but the components on the inside may be so inferior that the product doesn’t perform properly or stand up to any kind of use.

Your home renovation contractor may take the time to explain the differences and help you evaluate the right materials for use in your home. However, many contractors come from a product sales background, and their familiarity with materials is limited to specific types or brands of products. Other contractors may be intentionally vague about quality so that they can use products that provide the greatest profit margin for their companies. 

If you’re not sure whether you can trust your contractor to give you the right information about the materials and products that will be used in your renovation or addition project, then it makes sense to educate yourself so that you can make the best choices for your home. So, let’s take a look at some of the ways products are graded.

What Does a Grade Refer to?

A grade may have different meanings depending on the type of product referred to. High and low grades can reflect variations in the manufacturing process, the types of materials used to construct the product, the options for customization, and many other issues. Grade is, naturally enough, reflected in the price.

One factor that complicates the understanding of the different grades of materials is that there is no single standard in the building industry. Terms can have slightly different meanings depending on who you talk to.

Builder Grade

When a product is considered builder-grade, it is usually a budget-friendly option. In other words, it is the least expensive, and made with inexpensive components. Options for style are often quite limited with builder-grade products.

Sometimes, the components in builder-grade products are inexpensive because they are commonly available, and sometimes, they are less expensive because they are poorly assembled or built of inferior materials. And it’s not always easy to tell. For instance, builder-grade kitchen cabinets may be built on a core of particleboard that will warp or crumble when exposed to water around a kitchen sink or dishwasher. Appliances may have components made of plastic rather than metal, so they can break quickly. A builder-grade shower pan might be so thin that it cracks after a few months of use.

Contractor Grade

In theory, a product labeled contractor grade should be higher in quality than one considered to be builder grade. In actuality, they may be identical. A good contractor wants to use quality products to support quality workmanship for a specific project, in contrast to a builder who may be focused on putting up 200 houses as quickly and economically as possible. To determine whether a product classified as contractor grade truly is a step up from builder grade, find out about the materials used, the warranty, and how these features compare with lower and higher-end products.

Quality Grade

Quality-grade products are the middle-tier option. They are generally made of better materials, although the workmanship may not be any higher caliber than contractor or builder-grade products. More options may be available for color and styles, but sizes will be standard because these products are mass-produced. They may be in stock or require ordering from a warehouse not too far away.

As an example of quality grade compared to builder grade cabinets, instead of particle board framing, the frames may be plywood with doors made of solid wood.

Custom Grade

As the name implies, products classified as custom will have more options available in terms of size, color, configuration, materials, and finishes. Because of the number of options available, custom-grade products are sometimes referred to as designer-grade.

There is an assumption that the underlying materials will be of the highest quality, but it is worth investigating to be certain. In some cases, a quality-grade product may simply be offered with more choices of finish and labeled as custom grade without any true improvement in the quality of construction or components.

Ultra-Custom or High-End

Luxury home remodeling projects generally feature products classified as ultra-custom or high-end. These are the highest quality products designed to be durable as well as stylish. They can be tailored to fit specific needs and aesthetics.

High-end home products are designed to bring the “wow” factor into luxury bathrooms, custom kitchens, and all parts of the home. Materials used in these products are often rare and valuable, and the products are constructed carefully with attention to detail. Due to the custom nature of these products and the time invested in their construction, they generally need to be ordered far in advance of when they will be installed. Though the investment of time and resources is considerable, these ultra-custom high-end products can create a one-of-kind masterpiece that makes your home the envy of the neighborhood.

You’ll note that we said these high-end components can create a masterpiece and not that they necessarily will create a masterpiece. That’s because the best products in the world will fail if they are installed by the wrong contractor.

Marcela Montoya Remodeling Puts Quality Craftsmanship Behind Quality Products

To get the right look and a space you will love to use as well as look at, you certainly need the right products. But you also need the right design and construction as well. You need a contractor who will design your project to meet your specific goals and who guarantees satisfaction with workmanship. You need a contractor like Marcela Montoya Remodeling.

In our decades of experience designing and building luxury home renovations and additions, we’ve learned that when we focus on making our clients’ dreams come true, we get just as much joy from the outcome as they do. We believe in doing quality work for a fair price and keeping clients informed about everything—including the grades of the products used in the project. Schedule a free design consultation with Marcela Montoya to learn what we can do to create the luxury home renovation that will keep you smiling for years to come. To get started, just call 954-900-9992 or contact us online now.