At what point in the construction process should I order built-in items like cages and cabinetry?
“Cabinetry and cages are installed after contractors finish the lighting, ceilings, and painting,” says Dan Chapel, AIA, of Chapel Associates Architects in Little Rock, Ark. However, the true determinant lies at ground level, he says. “Cabinetry should be installed before the flooring is in place, but cages should be installed after.”
The date you will need to order these items, Chapel says, will depend on the time the manufacturer needs to process the custom order. You could be placing an order anywhere from four to six weeks before completion of the construction benchmarks listed above.
Of course, this scenario assumes you’ve done your homework. Translation: The date you order the items is not the time to decide what you want. According to Chapel, this should be done early on by browsing through manufacturers’ catalogs and Web sites. Better yet, attend a national conference so you can actually see and touch the products and take advantage of the sale prices manufacturers often extend at trade shows. “If you want to buy right then so you can benefit from the sale pricing, ask the company to store your goods and deliver them at a later time,” says Chapel. “If that’s not possible, make sure you can store the equipment properly. Cages and cabinetry are valuable—the last thing you want is for the items to sit somewhere where they could be damaged or stolen.”