Millwork and casework are both specific forms of carpentry interconnected with building architecture and construction. While most people may use these terms interchangeably, they are not the same.

Millwork is any woodwork manufactured in a mill, such as doors, wall paneling, molding, and trims. It is typically custom-made for both decorative and practical purposes. In contrast, casework is a form of modular carpentry. It involves manufacturing box-shaped items such as cabinets, storage boxes, and bookshelves.

While they have certain similarities, they also have distinct features that set them apart in terms of CAD drafting and manufacturing perspective.

The main difference between them is that millwork is custom-made—built to solve a client’s specific needs. For example, custom wood bulletproof doors, created to provide security, but also maintain aesthetics.

On the other hand, manufacturers make casework from a range of materials in finishes and colors.

Understanding the differences between millwork and casework will help you determine the best fit for your needs and budget.

Overview of casework

What is casework?

Casework means making boxes or box-shaped furniture. It typically involves manufacturing prefabricated or modular wooden parts that are delivered for final assembly on-site.

Typically, casework is mass-produced using standard sizes, materials, and designs, which makes it affordable.

Clients or designers choose from various vendors and styles to get the functionality and look they want. Movable casework is referred to as modular casework.

What are some examples of casework?

Common casework construction examples include storage spaces, lab cabinets, racks and drawers, cupboards and other similar furnishings.

What are the advantages of casework?

• Consistency and repeatability. Casework provides simple solutions that allow consistency and repeatability, especially when working on large projects with several phases.
• Flexible and interchangeable. Modular casework is available in various coordinated components, which makes it easy to change or adapt the furniture to new configurations. Also, because it’s not a permanent installation, moving modular casework to different locations is easier.
• Lower cost. Casework is more cost-effective because of the mass-production element.

What are the disadvantages of casework?

• Assembly is required. Manufacturers ship most mass-produced casework as flat-mass, ready-to-assemble furniture. The process of assembling it can be a hassle if there are lengthy and confusing instructions.
• Generic design. The cabinets are typically available in limited designs and colors depending on popularity.
• Often low-quality materials. Modular casework manufacturers tend to use low-quality materials, which can affect the casework’s durability. Also, the high production speeds involved often mean there may be less attention to detail.

Overview of millwork

What is millwork?

Millwork refers to any wooden object manufactured at a lumber mill. It is custom-made to a client’s specifications, often resulting in unique designs that are also aesthetically pleasing. It usually involves building items intended for both practical and decorative purposes, such as displays for museums, galleries, and other prestigious buildings.

What are some examples of millwork?

Examples of millwork include armoires, embellishments, mantels, trims, wall paneling, doors, display counters, and crown moldings.

What are the advantages of millwork?

• Unique in design. Since they are custom-made, millwork items are often one-of-a-kind in dimension, form, and materials.
• Wide range of applications. You can create architectural millwork for any industry or property, including healthcare, retail, and hospitality, as well as commercial, residential, and industrial real estate purposes.
• Aesthetically pleasing. Millwork allows clients to add details and a personal touch to the design aesthetic. You can get custom paneling or cabinet drafting done to create beautiful pieces with intricate designs that enhance both interiors and exteriors.
• Quality. It gives you the freedom to choose and control over the quality of the materials in terms of the type of wood, texture, staining, or color. It also has a high return on investment.

What are the disadvantages of millwork?

• Higher cost. It can be expensive.
• Intensive. Not flexible or interchangeable. There is no leeway to reconfigure a millwork design since it has location-specific dimensions,  measurements and is permanently anchored.
• Longer lead times. You can experience delays and longer lead times during peak renovating periods because every part is made to order.

What are the differences between casework and millwork?

Production

Manufacturers make millwork according to client specifications, including design and measurement. Hence, most millwork items are often a solution for a specific construction problem. On the other hand, casework pieces are pre-manufactured and readily available off the shelf. They are mass-produced, standard-sized items, typically available in various popular material designs and colors.

Fit

Wood casework takes a one-size-fits-all approach. Unfortunately, the item may not always fit where it needs to, which may affect the general aesthetics of your design.

Also, you may end up incurring additional costs to make needed adjustments. In contrast, millwork is made for the specific dimensions and measurements of the available space. It will always fit into the geometrical space intended for it and blend with the existing aesthetic, becoming a natural part of the environment.

Installation time

Since casework items are pre-fabricated, all you need to do is take them out of the delivery boxes, set them up, and consider your project complete. So, casework installation time is short. Traditional millwork products have a longer installation time because they have a longer process.

It starts by measuring the dimensions of the space, which are then translated into technical drawings that form the basis for fabrication. These products may also require professional installation, which can further increase installation time.

Materials

Millwork gives the client control over all the aspects of the product, including the materials used. For wooden casework items, the manufacturer has control. However, in most cases, the manufacturer will provide an item in different types of wood, colors, materials and finishes, giving you a variety to choose from. The cost of the products will vary depending on the type of materials used.

Architectural drawings

Millwork pieces with complex designs and specific measurements depend on detailed and precise diagrams for accuracy. These diagrams, known as architectural drawings, provide the additional guidance needed by the woodworker about the design and the finished product. For casework, manufacturers build the furniture according to a set of predetermined standards.

They do not rely heavily on drawings from the customer. For example, if the wood item needs QCP (Quality Certification Program) certification, it must meet the required AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute) standards for wooden casework.

Customization

Another significant difference is the manufacturing process. For millwork, each piece is custom-made, so two pieces will never be alike. In contrast, wooden casework pieces are mass-produced and boast consistency and repeatability.

Price

Millwork requires skilled professionals because of the level of complexity, even more so if the design is ornate and requires handcrafting. CAD drafters need time and detailed attention to decide the space decoration, utility, and uniqueness. So, the compensation for work done tends to be higher. Casework products are faster to produce and tend to be reasonably cheap due to the mass-production element.

The final state of the product

Once custom millwork products are installed, they become permanent fixtures that cannot be easily removed or changed. In contrast, the modular or semi-finished form of casework pieces gives you more flexibility to move or swap products.

Retrofitting

Customer needs are ever changing, and wear and tear are inevitable with constant use. Hence, as time goes by, you may need to replace, renovate, or upgrade your wooden items. It is easier to remove and replace old wooden casework with newer, much-improved products since they have been made in similar standard dimensions. However, since millwork is custom-made, it will be much harder to retrofit.

Are there reasons to consider casework over millwork or vice versa?

Both casework and millwork have their advantages and disadvantages. Mass production is the main factor that dramatically reduces the cost of each piece of casework. However, casework is frequently constructed from low-quality materials and lacks uniqueness since the customer has to accommodate the manufacturer’s design.

By comparison, millwork tends to be more expensive, but it caters to a customer’s needs and is generally made from higher-quality materials.

So, purchasing casework items is the ideal choice if you want to keep costs down. Millwork is the correct choice when you want customized cabinetry or woodwork. Other reasons for choosing one over the other are outlined below.

Which is right for you?

Whether millwork or casework is right for you will depend on where you want to install the piece, your intended use, and your budget. Both millwork and casework are found in various industries and institutions, such as laboratories, the hospitality industry, office spaces, and commercial buildings.

Modular casework provides a cheaper alternative. Here, if you work with a reputable manufacturer, designers can choose reasonably high-quality options from multiple vendors to maximize the potential of the overall design concept. This allows you to create a custom-built millwork look without sacrificing modular casework’s cost and flexibility advantages.

While millwork can be more expensive, it provides high-quality products with beautiful finishes that are far better than casework. What is right for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements.

How can CFI help?

Since 1959, we have been providing casework and millwork solutions for various applications, including healthcare, clinical, diagnostic, laboratory, and academic projects. Our experts will help you develop high-quality millwork drawings that help you get the best quality and display the uniqueness of your space. Also, our installations are engineered and built to the precise specifications of your designer or architect. If casework will be best for you, we have long-term relationships with AWI quality casework manufacturers, ensuring you get only the best.