Tips on when, how and where, to set up a delivery drop zone for your cabinet shipment. Plus, what you’ll need to do when they arrive.

Delivery day can feel like a whirlwind of chaos. But with just a bit of preplanning, everything will go much smoother when the truck carrying your new kitchen pulls up to your home.

Before Delivery

While you’re waiting on your new cabinets to arrive, start thinking about how you’ll handle your shipment when it gets there.

• It’s going to be (surprisingly) big. A typical kitchen cabinet shipment comes in dozens of individual boxes of various shapes and sizes. And it will probably take up more space than you might imagine. Keep that in mind as you plan your delivery drop zone.
• Give yourself enough space. Clear out a large, open area. Look for a spot that’s about twice the size of your existing kitchen. You’ll want plenty of room to store and organize all the cartons, plus enough space to inspect and view the items within each box.
• Think out-of-the-way places. Choose a clean, dry and secure spot away from regular foot traffic to prevent any accidental dings. Then clear the path to your drop zone for easy access.
• Cars, not cartons. While your first thought might be to use the garage as your staging area, it’s best to find a conditioned space inside your home to store your shipment until installation. This will protect your cabinets from any moisture or temperature extremes, and allow them to acclimate to the conditions in your home.
• Keep it on the level. It’s also a good idea to find a storage area on the same floor as your kitchen. Your empty, out-of-the-way basement may seem ideal, until you have to carry large, heavy boxes down and back up again. (Consider using your basement for a temporary kitchen instead.)
• Plan for protection. If the room you choose for storage has a finished floor, lay down moving blankets, canvas tarps or old area rugs for protection.
• Stack smart. If you have to stack boxes in order to get all of your new cabinets to fit into your delivery drop zone, always place the smaller, lighter cartons on the top to reduce the chances of damage.
• Who will be home? Of course, you’ll need to be there to accept delivery, but what about the other members of your household? People will be coming in and out, leaving lots of openings for your escape artist cat. Having strangers in the house can stress out your nervous dog. And who will keep an eye on the kids while all this is happening? Think of ways to keep everyone safely out of the way.
• The cardboard conundrum. Lots of cabinets means lots of boxes. Ask your contractor if they’ll haul away packaging materials, or look for a nearby bulk recycling center to responsibly dispose of it yourself.

Delivery Day

When your cabinets arrive, it will be up to you (or your contractor) to verify the order is complete and sign off on delivery.

• Have a copy of your invoice handy. Your delivery driver will hand you a packing slip, which you’ll use to check in all the items coming off the truck. But it’s a good idea to have your original purchase invoice on hand to compare as well.
• Find the shipping labels. Each carton will have a shipping label that displays the SKU of the item inside. Multiple items, like crown molding, hardware or decorative accents, may be shipped in one box with multiple shipping labels.
• Look for obvious signs of damage. You won’t have time to open and inspect each carton during delivery. But you should check each carton for visible tears, crumpled corners or water stains. If you notice any, ask your driver to open that package. Note damaged items on your packing slip before you sign off, then call your designer right away to arrange a reorder.

We’re Here to Help

You can always contact KraftMaid® Customer Care to discuss your order as well. Call our toll-free consumer line at 1-888-562-7744 or use our contact form to email us with your questions.