Cabinetmaking is an age-old skill within the woodworking tradition. Nowadays, skilled workers are applying cutting-edge tools and technology to push the trade into the modern landscape.

Graduates of cabinetmaking school open the doors to practical career opportunities in cabinet installation, store fixtures construction, and architectural millwork. In order to secure their footing in the field, graduates should know how to transform their knowledge and training into marketable skills. Employers want to feel confident that their workers have the experience and skillset to complete jobs to a high standard. 

Here’s a closer look at how graduates can craft an impressive resume to land work in cabinetry! 

Showcase Your Practical Experience

First and foremost, cabinetmaking is a hands-on trade. Skilled workers will need to know the fundamentals of shaping, cutting, and assembling different types of wood into a finished product. For that reason, employers are looking for someone who not only understands the theory of cabinetry, but who has practical experience working with the different materials and tools of the trade. 

Cabinetmaking training combines classroom teaching with hands-on training in a lab. Students will work with industry-grade equipment–including a table saw, miter saw, drill press, joiner, edge banding machine, and power tools. When applying for a job in cabinetry, students should include examples of their practical experiences and specify how they have used different tools to complete their work. Employers may be scanning resumes for keywords, so it’s important to use industry terminology in your applications. 

Highlight Employable Skills

Cabinetry is a dynamic profession for individuals with a range of theoretical and practical skills. Employers will be looking for workers with strength in design, construction, and organization. Students enrolled in cabinetmaking school will also learn the importance of soft skills. Time management and the ability to multi-task within tight deadlines are developed throughout the course. The ability to organize your work independently will demonstrate that you are a responsible and reliable worker.

As cabinetry entails physically demanding work, stamina and strength are valuable traits. Employers want to know that you are capable of performing various tasks in an efficient manner. Additionally, creativity and design skills are essential to crafting cabinets that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The key skills on your resume will not only showcase your personal strengths, but also demonstrate your understanding of what it takes to work in cabinetry. 

Include an Official Degree From Cabinet Making School

Employers today are looking for candidates with an in-depth working knowledge of the trade. Training someone from scratch takes time and resources, and many companies are looking to hire someone with a pre-acquired skill set. 

A degree from a trade school gives candidates a significant advantage in the job market. Students of a cabinetmaking program will learn the fundamentals of woodworking, blueprint reading, operating machines, surfacing techniques, and laminating procedures. They also gain practical experience using industry equipment. Upon graduating, students can immediately apply their training to a job in cabinetry. With a recognized degree from a trade school, employers can rest assured that their workers have the skills to jump straight into professional work. 

Are you ready to enroll in cabinet making courses?

Contact NATS today!

Cabinets are an essential and practical feature of any kitchen space. They require a great deal of craftsmanship in order to perfect their structure and design. Cabinetmaking draws upon hundreds of years of woodworking. The job of professionals today is to apply those traditions of the trade with modern tools and technology. 

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in cabinetry, you’ll need to have a good understanding of the types of wood most commonly used in the trade and their practical applications. A good cabinet making school will provide hands-on training in woodworking, teaching you how to identify, select, and shape different kinds of wood. 

Here is an overview of the best types of wood to use for crafting kitchen cabinets. 

Oak is an Option Those in Cabinet Making School Should Know About

Oak is one of the most popular choices for kitchen cabinets, thanks to its classic beauty and durability. If you’re looking for cabinets that will stand the test of time, oak is a great choice. It is an extremely hard and sturdy wood that comes in a variety of shades–from light to dark brown. Students in cabinet making school will find that oak responds well to both hand and machine tools that are used to cut and shape the wood. 

When it comes to the aesthetic of kitchen cabinets, oak tends to be associated with older, traditional models. But woodworkers today are applying new finishes to revitalize its use and create more contemporary designs. Although oak is traditionally stained, advancements in wood paint technology are putting an updated spin on the classic grain surface. 

Use Maple for Versatility in Design

Maple is another hard wood option, and one of the most versatile in its uses. Much like oak, Maple is readily available and relatively easy to work with–making it a convenient material for cabinetry. With a smooth finish, this wood comes in colours ranging from almost white to cream. Thanks to its fine grain, you can paint, stain, or varnish this wood with high-quality results. Maple is a great choice for those interested in creating a cohesive aesthetic in the kitchen. The colour and texture of this wood allows you to create traditional, contemporary, or modern cabinetry style. They also vary the door form and finish to match the surrounding design elements. 

The Timeless Look of Cherry

If you’re dealing in high-end woodworking projects, you’ll appreciate the timeless, classic look of cherry. On the more expensive side, this wood has a rich grain and vibrant colour, which ages over time to a reddish brown once a stain is applied. Cherry is fairly strong and its dark color reduces the visibility of nicks and scratches, making it a solid choice for practical use in kitchen cabinets. Professionals with cabinet making training will appreciate the relative ease of crafting this wood, as it glues well and takes screws and nails easily. 

Find Colour Variety in Walnut

Walnut is a hard wood that offers a great deal of variation in terms of grain and colour–ranging from creamy white to dark brown. Although walnut is less readily available than most woods, it is still relatively straightforward to work with, and only needs a light finish to highlight its beautiful natural colour variations. If you choose, a darker finish will create a more classic look. With its colour range, Walnut is a popular choice for kitchen cabinets, and allows for different styles from traditional, to transitional, to contemporary. 

Are you interested in cabinet making courses? 

Contact NATS today to learn more about our practical program! 

Cabinets are an essential component of any kitchen, providing storage and giving the room a unified appearance. The design and installation of a cabinet set can make or break a space, and unfortunately, there are many possible mistakes that can be made throughout the cabinet making process. If you’re interested in a career in cabinetry, you’ll be building and installing cabinets for your clients’ homes. 

Here are the top mistakes that cabinetry professionals make, and how to avoid them.

1. Those with Cabinet Making Training Should Remember to Plan for Function

When cabinets are correctly placed, it’s easy not to notice how much space they take up, or how frequently they’re being opened and closed. However, if the design and layout of a set of cabinets makes it inconvenient to move and operate within a space or access items stored within them, this is a sign that the cabinets are not placed correctly.

In order to avoid a poorly designed cabinet layout, those in cabinet making school should remember to plan ahead and account for the intended function of a space. Cabinets should store clutter rather than create it, and in order to maximize their potential, it’s important to place cabinets in areas where they will be useful. For example, a storage cabinet next to the oven should be big enough for pots and pans, and a spice drawer should be nearer to the stove than the fridge. Planning a cabinet layout in advance will ensure that cabinets are being used properly and saving space instead of creating problems.

2. Don’t Forget About Alignment!

Even the nicest set of cabinets can’t distract a viewer from an alignment issue. When installing cabinets in a home, it’s not uncommon for cabinet makers to forget to correctly level the cabinets. Leveling cabinets is especially important in older homes, where the floors and walls tend to be uneven. Installing cabinets on uneven surfaces can make them appear unbalanced, and it’s important for cabinet makers to take the measurements necessary to ensure precise alignment beforehand. By taking measurements, cabinet makers will know where cabinets need to be leveled in order to create a finished, uniform look. 

3. Failing to Account for Appliances

Cabinets take up a good deal of space, and if they are not correctly installed, they may interfere with the appliances they are built around. A set of cabinets should integrate seamlessly with the appliances in their vicinity, but one of the most common mistakes that cabinetry professionals can make is failing to account for the size of these appliances when performing an installation. Not measuring the appliances correctly can result in the inability to fit cabinets into their intended space, or the doors of appliances and cabinets clashing when open. 

Before installation, professionals with cabinet making training will want to take stock of the appliances within a space, ensuring that the cabinets will be able to fit around them. In order to create a more cohesive look, cabinets should be similar in depth to larger appliances like refrigerators and ovens. Depending on the client, cabinetry professionals may also want to measure smaller appliances such as microwaves or stand mixers, so that cabinets are able to store these properly.

4. Applying the Wrong Paint

For those pursuing a career in cabinet making, another mistake to avoid involves applying the wrong kind of paint to the cabinetry set. Whether they’re located in the washroom or the kitchen, cabinets are used frequently. Thus, it’s important that the appropriate paint is used to prolong the longevity of the cabinets and allow for easy cleaning. Cabinet making professionals should avoid using water based paint. These paints are not stain resistant, making them a poor choice for functional cabinets. Instead, opt for an oil based paint, which is stain resistant and requires less maintenance.

Are you ready to enroll in cabinet making courses?

NATS has got the program for you. Launch your career today!

When the COVID-19 pandemic caused most of Canada to go into lockdown last year, many families found that they were cooking at home a lot more than usual. With the option of going out to eat at restaurants off the table for the better part of the past year, people were forced to spend a lot more time in their kitchens. It’s a change that has gotten plenty of families to reconsider the space in which they’re cooking. For plenty of folks at home, the pandemic was an opportunity to invest in some new cookbooks or updated kitchen appliances, while others decided it was time for a new kitchen altogether. 

In May of 2020, Google searches for outdoor kitchens almost doubled, as did the search for grills, pizza ovens, and other outdoor cooking necessities. Outdoor kitchens can take many shapes and forms, but the idea is rising in popularity, and it looks like the trend is here to stay. If you’re considering a career in cabinetmaking, now is a great opportunity to learn more about outdoor kitchens and their design.

Those With Cabinet Making Training Should Know What Defines an Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is a functional outdoor space that can serve as a second kitchen in certain homes. While some might call their pizza oven and grill an outdoor kitchen, today, the term can be used to describe a whole range of designs, from simple to luxurious. What an outdoor kitchen looks like might depend on the preferences of the owner. Owners might opt for an island, a grill, an outdoor oven (such as a pizza oven or a wood brick oven), a stovetop, a sink, or even an outdoor bar. Regardless of its design or level of extravagance, there are a few things that should always be taken into consideration when designing an outdoor kitchen. If you have cabinet making training, here’s what you need to know.

Exposure to the Elements

In any outdoor space, an important consideration is how the weather or climate will affect the appliances and materials used. When choosing the right materials for the cabinets and paneling of an outdoor kitchen, consider how the cabinet will fare with exposure to moisture, sunlight, or cold weather. Some good options for durable materials include stainless steel, teak, and marine grade polymer. All of these materials are relatively weather-proof and easy to maintain, making them great options for an outdoor space. 

Functionality

An outdoor kitchen doesn’t have to be huge, as long as it contains all the necessary elements. In a functional outdoor kitchen, cabinets should be designed in order to accommodate a range of storage needs. Outdoor kitchens may need more storage, as it’s less likely that owners will be inclined to leave kitchen appliances and utensils resting on countertops in an outdoor space. After completing your cabinet making program, take storage into consideration when configuring the cabinets in an outdoor kitchen. The more storage space that’s available, the less crowded an outdoor kitchen will look.

A Consistent Aesthetic

As with an indoor kitchen, an outdoor kitchen should be consistent in the style and materials used. The use of matching materials and textures makes the space more visually pleasing. Pairing metallic cabinetry with stonework gives the kitchen a more rustic character, while concrete paired with teak cabinetry gives an outdoor kitchen a modern edge. Whatever materials are chosen, it’s important that they work together in order to make the outdoor kitchen both appealing and useful.

Are you ready to enroll in cabinet making courses?

Check out the North American Trade School’s program options to get started today.

If you’re wondering what will make for the most modern-looking cabinet in someone’s kitchen right now, look no further. When you’re in the middle of a home renovation project and you’re fixing up someone’s kitchen, you won’t want any of it looking dated compared to the rest of the room—and that includes the look of the cabinets. Whether they need a new paint job, or a full redesign or replacement, there are many techniques you can use to give them a fresh, modern look.

For any kitchen cabinets looking like they’re stuck in 1974, you can borrow from any of these current trends to give them the facelift they need. Here are some of 2020’s hottest trends in cabinet making.

Transitional Cabinets: Where Old School Cabinet Designs Meet the New

One major trend for cabinets nowadays is when older styles are mixed with current ones, such as when kitchens that were built decades ago are given a fresh update with modern-looking cabinets or other pieces. You can do this by using modern-day tiling and cabinet design while the rest of the kitchen pulls from design techniques of years past. If a client needing renovations for their kitchen wants to spruce it up and make it look more contemporary, while also not wanting to sacrifice too much of the traditional feel that made it look comforting in the first place, transitional cabinets are one way to accomplish this. This is an example of a trend that can be used for a variety of kitchen styles, and one that can apply well beyond 2020.

Open Shelving: How Students in Cabinet Making Training Can Make Kitchens Look Bigger

Students in a trade school learning about cabinet making may notice that some modern kitchens don’t even bother with cabinets that need to be opened and closed. Instead, some opt for shelves that put cabinet items on display for everyone in the room to see! To use open shelving in lieu of traditional cabinets is a great way to modernize the look of a kitchen, and make it more functional as far as using kitchen items without needing to open cabinet doors. 

It also allows for the homeowner to save more space in their kitchen, or make the kitchen appear more expansive, particularly if it’s smaller in size. It’s a decidedly more minimalist approach to the use of cabinets, but it’s a good way for homeowners to make their most prized kitchen possessions the star of the show.

Integration: Hiding Range Hoods and Appliances for a Better-Looking Kitchen

One thing that students in cabinet making training might notice about modern cabinet designs is that some present-day kitchens are looking increasingly streamlined. Components that were once ostentatiously exposed are now integrated within the kitchen, or seemingly hidden altogether. This is especially true for dishwashers, range hoods, ovens, and refrigerators. 

These components would be fitted alongside custom panels to appear integrated with the cabinets surrounding them, and give off a sleek, uninterrupted appearance. The cabinets and kitchen would look more cohesive, and this style would also make parts that would otherwise stick out within the kitchen appear as if they were part of the wall to begin with.

Do you want to take cabinet making courses?

Contact North American Trade Schools for more information!