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Are you a builder in the Ottawa region seeking a quality cabinet manufacturer with a hands-on, design-oriented approach? 

We can help! 

At Deslaurier Custom Cabinets, we have specialized in providing our clients with high-quality, functional cabinetry for over 40 years. 

In doing so, we are familiar with and associate ourselves with all sectors of the housing industry in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Whether it’s collaborating with dealers and builders or working with individual homeowners.

This article will detail the 4 different types of builder clients that we serve at Deslaurier. After reading this article, we hope you have a better understanding of which category your business fits into. 

The Four Types of Builder Clients at Deslaurier

At Deslaurier, we complete roughly 3,000 projects per year. A large portion of these projects are completed through our partnerships with a vast number of local Builders. 

Our builder clients fall under one of four categories: Volume, Custom, Kitchen Renovators, or Multi-Unit. 

In over 40 years of industry experience, we’ve come to learn that every Builder is different. Some Builders might want full access to our extensive product catalogue of door styles and cabinet colours, while others may only need a handful of selections for their clients to choose from. 

Likewise, some Builders will benefit from our full delivery and installation services, while others may employ their own cabinet installers and require only delivery. 

Each type of builder category requires different services, and we pride ourselves on having the knowledge, versatility, and capacity to satisfy each and every Deslaurier builder client’s unique demands.

A key benefit our Builders’ receive when partnering with Deslaurier is access to our in-house Design Team. Clients will be able to work 1-on-1 with a Deslaurier designer every step of the way, from their initial design meeting to their final sign-off appointment

Our designers will assist in building budgets, offer expert guidance from years of qualified design experience, as well as provide services such as fully dimensioned floor plans, elevations and 3D renderings in order to help clients visualize and understand the scope of their project.

1. Volume Builders

A large segment of our builder projects are done with Volume Builders in the Ottawa area. 

Volume Builders, also known as “production” or “tract” builders, are generally large, established builders that operate city, province, or nation-wide. They build anywhere from dozens to hundreds of homes in a year. 

Volume Builders will generally have a fixed number of “stock” floor plans and features to choose from in their building process. 

Deslaurier will work together with Volume Builders to decide on a “standard” product selection to provide to their clients. This standard selection will include a certain number of cabinet materials, door styles, and colours available. 

Of course, clients will also be able to “upgrade” outside this standard selection for a number of features within their kitchen design. 

We prefer to have a qualified Deslaurier designer meet with all homeowners. This will be tailored to suit the individual Volume Builders’ processes and timelines but will typically include two design sessions and a target completion date within 30 days of being introduced to a homeowner. 

Visit our Learning Centre for an in-depth breakdown of the Deslaurier Builder Design Process.

2. Custom Home Builders

Custom Home Builders are builders that offer their clients a fully customized experience, from start to finish. They will typically produce as little as 2 houses to as many as 15 houses in a year. 

Since each home is custom, every project is unique; meaning no two homes, or kitchens, will be the same. 

As custom cabinet manufacturers, Deslaurier will work in unison with custom home builders and their clients to design and construct entirely unique and personalized projects. This includes kitchens, bathroom vanities, laundry rooms, home offices, and other custom millwork such as wall-units, home bars, and entrance ways, to name a few. 

3. Kitchen Renovators

Kitchen Renovators are contractors that focus primarily on kitchen remodels. 

Like Custom Home Builders, Kitchen Renovators will generally require unique project designs for each individual homeowner they’re working with.

Their projects will be one-of-a-kind suited to each home’s individual layout, and a Deslaurier designer will work in conjunction with them to satisfy all of their clients’ cabinetry and design needs. 

4. Multi-Unit Builders 

Multi-Unit Builders develop apartment complexes, condo buildings, or multi-unit houses. 

Since they produce so many units, their projects will typically be limited to a selected base catalogue of kitchen designs and products. 

Deslaurier will work in conjunction with a Multi-Unit Builder’s architect or designer to decide on several different cabinet selections to be incorporated throughout their projects. 

What Builder Category Do You Fall Under?

Whether you build volume, custom, or anywhere in between, Deslaurier custom cabinets can handle your project. Visit our Builder Page to get started today!

If you have your eye on custom cabinetry, Deslaurier Custom Cabinets has everything you need. With over 70 different door styles, hundreds of stains & paints, and various wood species to choose from, the Deslaurier catalogue offers the potential to create thousands of unique cabinet configurations. 

With over 40 years of experience to our name, we provide our clients with a fully customized design process with our talented team of designers. Book a consultation with a Deslaurier kitchen expert at our Ottawa showroom!

Interested in becoming an authorized Deslaurier dealer? Visit our Become a Dealer page to learn more!