How we assess build quality
Why we don’t score brands
We don't give brands a quality score out of 10. Instead, we check the specific things that decide how a flatpack kitchen, laundry or wardrobe holds up, and show you a simple Yes or No for each.
That way you can see exactly where each brand stands, and decide what matters most to you. A brand with fewer ticks isn't a bad choice. It might just mean you're paying less, which could work if you don't plan on keeping your flatpack long term!
What we check
Kitchens and laundries get the same checks, because their cabinets face splashes and use the same kinds of hinges and drawers. Wardrobes aren't exposed to the same moisture, so we focus on how their doors and drawers close.
| Check | Rooms | What we look at | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copes with splashes | Kitchen, laundry | Moisture-resistant board; edged on all exposed edges; solid back panel | Kitchens and laundries see constant moisture, so boards with lower resistance can swell or delaminate. Warranties only cover manufacturing defects, so water damage may not be covered. |
| Hinge features | Kitchen, laundry | Soft-close as standard; adjustable | Soft-close hinges stop doors slamming, and adjustable hinges let you line the doors up neatly. |
| Drawer features | Kitchen, laundry | Soft-close as standard; full extension; holds 25kg or more; metal sides as standard | How far drawers open, how much they hold, whether they close softly and what the sides are made of all affect everyday use. |
| Soft-close features | Wardrobe | Soft-close sliding doors; soft-close drawers; soft-close hinged doors | Soft-close doors and drawers stop slamming and reduce wear on runners and tracks over time. |
| Warranty | All rooms | How long each part is covered, and what's excluded | Warranty length varies between brands, and also between components. |
"Exposed edges" means the edges you can see once it's installed: mainly the fronts of the cabinets. Edges against the wall, floor or another cabinet aren't counted.
In laundries, we also flag when a brand says its cabinets aren't suited to high-humidity rooms or a room with a shower.
What the numbers mean
Each feature a brand has earns one point. So a brand with soft-close hinges that also adjust shows 2 of 2 for Hinge features. The bar next to each brand fills in as the points add up.
- Yes means the brand includes it in the products we quoted.
- No means it doesn't, or you have to buy it as an extra. Where something is sold separately, we say so.
- To confirm means we couldn't find a clear answer yet. It doesn't count for or against the brand, and we keep chasing it.
Warranty isn't part of these numbers. Tap any brand to see what its warranty covers and for how long.
Where our answers come from
Every answer is backed by a source we've recorded, in this order of preference:
- The brand's own documents: product pages, catalogues, assembly instructions, care guides and warranty terms.
- The retailer's product pages: Bunnings, Mitre 10, IKEA and Fantastic Furniture listings for the exact items we quoted.
- Supplier documents: for example, Häfele's drawer specs for Principal's drawers.
We check against the products in our quotes, so the answers match the prices you see.
What we don't do
- We don't call anything waterproof. No flatpack brand makes that claim, and neither do we. The best you'll see from us is "moisture-resistant", and only when the brand says it.
- We don't guess. If a brand doesn't publish something and won't confirm it, you'll see "To confirm" or "Not stated".
- We don't test products in a lab. We compare what the brands publish and confirm, side by side, using the same checks for every brand.
- We don't rank brands overall. The goal is to help you compare easily and pick what suits your project and budget, not to choose a winner.