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Buying new kitchen cabinets is one of the most significant – and expensive – purchases you’ll make in your home. It’s only natural to do your due diligence before deciding where to buy your cabinets. 

If you’ve been researching kitchen cabinets, you’ve no doubt come across a manufacturer with a “CKCA Certified” designation on their website. 

But what is a CKCA Certification? And what are the parameters behind it?

At Deslaurier, we pride ourselves on our 40+ years of experience designing and manufacturing custom cabinets for our clients. And yes, our custom cabinets are proudly designated with a CKCA certification.

With that, let’s dive into the world of kitchen cabinets and one of the key indicators of a quality, reputable manufacturer in Canada: a CKCA Certification. 

What is the CKCA? 

The CKCA is the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association. Developed in 1968, the CKCA is a national association that promotes the interests and conserves the rights of cabinet manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers throughout Canada. 

The CKCA is located in Ottawa, with members of their Board of Directors – all of whom carry years of experience in the kitchen industry – spread throughout the country, with the current President based out of Calgary, Alberta. 

The goal of the CKCA is to uphold the highest standards and quality craftsmanship throughout the cabinet industry, while also promoting progress and innovation. 

What is CKCA Certification?

A CKCA certification is a performance-based examination, and is considered the gold standard for cabinet quality in Canada. 

The CKCA Certification Program is a national voluntary standard, the only one of its kind in Canada for the kitchen cabinet industry. This standard was designed by the industry for the industry and ultimately for the customer, who can be assured of the quality product they purchase.

In order to receive a CKCA certification, a cabinet manufacturer's product line will need to pass this voluntary testing. The certification process costs $5,000 for a manufacturer to partake in.

When searching for kitchen cabinets, you want to ensure that any potential manufacturer is certified by the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association. And if your manufacturer meets those requirements, you know you’re in good hands.

In fact, having a CKCA certified product is actually one of our primary qualities to look for in a cabinet manufacturer. 

Since Deslaurier is a CKCA member as a manufacturer, you can search for us in the CKCA directory: Deslaurier Custom Cabinets Inc. - Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association.

How Does CKCA Certification Work?

Now that we know what a CKCA certification is, what happens once a manufacturer’s cabinets are CKCA certified? 

According to the CKCA Testing and Certification Guidelines: 

“The scope of certification offered by the CKCA only encompasses the single product line being tested and the accompanying finished doors for attachment. Once the single product line has been tested and certification is granted, that product line will maintain certification status as long as supporting documentation, submitted annually, provides evidence that the same manufacturing process is being followed for this product line.”

As you can see, certification is only applicable for the product line being tested, not a manufacturer's entire product catalogue.

That means, if a manufacturer has multiple different lines - for instance: stock, semi-custom, and custom - then the certification only qualifies for the particular line that was tested.

However, there is no limit to the amount of product lines or finishes a manufacturer would like test:

Additional product lines and finish systems may be tested and certified at the manufacturer’s discretion. There is no limit to the number of product lines or finish systems a manufacturer wishes to have tested. 

How Long Does CKCA Certification Last?

CKCA Certification is valid for a period of 5 years from the date of testing.

However, there are caveats that could nullify certification. 

“Once certified, the material or construction methods of the product(s) that have been tested for certification may not be changed. Any change in construction methods or material used may require re-testing or re-submission of supporting documents at the discretion of CKCA.”

Simply put, once a product has been successfully tested for certification, the product and its construction methods must remain the exact same. If any alterations are made – to the materials used or the product’s construction – the product would then need to be re-tested in order to have an up-to-date certification. 

Essentially, as long the materials and construction methods of the product(s) have not changed, the full length of a CKCA certification will last 5 years. 

After that, the credentials are no longer valid and the product(s) in question will have to be re-tested in order to once again claim a CKCA-certified designation. 

Design with Deslaurier Custom Cabinets 

We hope this article provides you with a better understanding of what the credentials you see on cabinet manufacturer websites.

At Deslaurier Custom Cabinets, we’ve been proudly owned and operated in Ottawa and Renfrew, Ontario for over 40 years. We pride ourselves on the personalized service and quality of our cabinetry as certified by the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association. 

If you’re interested in becoming an authorized Deslaurier dealer, visit our Become a Dealer page to get started! Looking for Deslaurier products in your area? You can also visit our Find a Dealer page to connect with a Deslaurier dealer near you!