Millwork Vs. Casework

Here at True Millwork, we’re known for our custom cabinetry—so what does our name mean? What is millwork, and how does it differ from casework—another method of building kitchen cabinets and other cabinetry?

Both millwork and casework can be used to build cabinets, drawers, and other wooden structures. There are a few key differences, though—let’s take a look at each in detail so you can decide which one is right for you: 

Key Takeaways

• Custom millwork refers to wood features that are custom-built from the ground up; millwork can be thought of as another term for woodworking.

• Modular casework involves using prefabricated wood cases to build modular furniture.

• Casework is less expensive than millwork—but it’s also less customizable, and somewhat less durable

• Custom millwork gives you the option to incorporate a variety of design features like wine racks and Lazy Susans, as well as aesthetic flourishes like crown mouldings.

• Millwork is longer lasting than casework—casework, on the other hand, is easier to replace. 

What Is Millwork?

Millwork is a type of wood construction that uses hardwoods and softwoods to create high-quality, custom, and aesthetically pleasing building features, from mouldings to cabinetry. Architectural millwork is a specific type of millwork that uses high-quality lumber to create anything from stairs to shelving units. It tends to be particularly ornate but serves both functional and decorative purposes.

Examples Of Millwork

Stairs, mouldings, doors, cabinets, and more can all be considered millwork if they’re not mass-produced in a factory. Here are a few examples of custom millwork:

Benefits Of Millwork

Millwork design uses high-quality materials—and it’s all custom-made. This means that your millwork will always fit perfectly in your space, whether you’re installing it in your house or one of your retail stores. Millwork is more durable than casework, and you can incorporate features you may not find in casework, like wine racks, built-in LEDs, mirrors, and much more. 

Drawbacks

The biggest drawback to millwork is the cost—because it’s all custom-made with high-quality lumber, the price point is higher. Millwork is also harder to install and replace—it needs to be handled by a professional. 

What Is Casework?

Casework refers to a type of woodworking that uses prefabricated, modular units. These units are often box-like or case-like, which is what gives casework its name. 

Examples Of Casework

Casework construction is typically used for projects like pre-fabricated cabinets, drawers, and shelving; think “things that you can find at IKEA”. Here are a few examples of casework:

Benefits Of Casework

The main benefit of casework is that it’s extremely affordable. Working with prefabricated cases takes a lot of the time and skill out of casework when compared to traditional millwork. That means that casework isn’t just affordable—it’s also incredibly easy to assemble, unlike millwork. There’s a whole industry of casework that can be assembled by the consumer (which is why IKEA is the prime example of casework). 

Drawbacks

To keep costs low, casework is often built using less expensive materials; we’re talking about MDF, HDF, and other engineered woods, rather than pure hardwoods and softwoods. The modular, pre-fabricated nature of casework also limits the spaces in which casework can fit—you can’t find a square peg into a round hole, after all. 

Core Differences Between Millwork And Casework

Production And Manufacturing

Millwork is designed and manufactured to the client’s specifications—it’s always custom-made, which makes it fully customizable. Casework, on the other hand, is made of pre-fabricated, modular pieces. You’ll find casework in a few standard sizes and in a number of popular designs and styles; it may not always be the best for your needs, but it will often be good enough! 

Fitting

Casework, as discussed, comes in standard sizes; it will rarely fit perfectly, but will often fit well enough. 

Millwork, on the other hand, is literally made to fit. Millworkers will measure your space, then construct cabinets, drawers, or whatever else you need to fit within that space—and in many cases, they’ll install the items they’ve created for you. 

Installation

Casework installation is pretty straightforward. You may need to assemble the casework, or someone else may assemble it for you. From there, you simply place the casework where you want it (or build it where you want it) and just like that—it’s installed!

Millwork, on the other hand, is perfectly fitted—and that means installation can take some time. There are usually few or no gaps between the millwork and any surrounding cabinetry, which means careful, professional installation is a must. There’s no room for error! 

Materials Used

Casework typically uses more affordable—engineered wood is a common choice for casework. The goal of casework is to create mass-produced, easily replicable products that are easy to install—that’s because they’re trying to keep costs low. Well-built casework can still last for decades, even though the materials aren’t as high quality as what you might see in millwork. 

As a premium option, millwork is often built using hardwoods and softwoods. Exotic woods are quite common, and millwork is typically sealed and stained, rather than painted, in order to show off the wood grain. Thanks to its custom nature, there are a range of materials and styles in millwork; though millwork is more costly than casework, with the right materials, it can be a lot less expensive than you might think. 

Which One Is Right For You?

Most people reading this article are trying to decide between casework and millwork. We’re here to help; here’s a table showcasing which you should choose depending on your priorities:

Woodworking Type	Casework	Millwork
Cost	✅	❌
Ease of installation	✅	❌
Replaceability	✅	❌
Quality	❌	✅
Customizability	❌	✅
Fit	❌	✅
Features	❌	✅
Durability	❌	✅

In short, if you’re looking for an inexpensive solution that’s easy to install and easy to replace, casework may be for you. Those looking for a more durable solution that will fit perfectly into their home or business should look into millwork—especially if quality, aesthetics, and custom features are important to you. 

How True Millwork Can Help

At True Millwork, we offer custom cabinets and closets in Winnipeg and the surrounding area. As our name suggests, we’re all about millwork. That means most of our cabinets are custom-designed and built by hand—with custom sizes, custom shapes, and custom features. 

We know that not all of our customers are in the market for millwork. For some, customized casework that’s professionally installed is exactly what they’re looking for. We can help with that, too; we’ve modified and installed plenty of casework for customers over the years. We can apply custom colours and finishes, giving you more customizability than you’d see in off-the-shelf casework. 

If you’re looking for functional storage solutions that are designed from the ground up to fit your needs, contact us today.