How important is the construction?

Well its certainly easy to overlook the cabinet construction when you see dazzling displays at showrooms. However, underneath the surface the differences from one cabinet to the next may shock you. How is the cabinet constructed? 

Framed Cabinet Construction
Framed cabinets incorporate a wood ‘frame’ around the front outer edge of the cabinet box. That’s in contrast to a frameless cabinet which doesn’t have this feature.

If you visualize a basic wood box, the face frame is made up of several pieces of wood that are fastened to the forward edge of the cabinet, framing the cabinet box. The outside edges of the frame are flush with the outside surfaces of the cabinet box whereas the inside portion of the frame extends past the inside edges of the box slightly. The face frame provides some rigidity to the cabinet box, helping it to remain square and sturdy.

Example of the basic structure of a framed cabinet

Framed cabinet construction is generally considered more traditional looking and offers some style variety based on the amount of door overlay. Door overlay just means the extent to which the door covers or “lays-over” the face frame.

• Full-overlay means the doors and drawers completely cover the face frame
• Partial-overlay simply means that the doors and drawers cover only part of the frame.
• Full-inset means the doors and drawers are made to fit within the face frame opening.

 

Different manufacturers offer varying styles in the extent of door-to-frame overlay. Framed Cabinet Construction
Framed cabinets incorporate a wood ‘frame’ around the front outer edge of the cabinet box. That’s in contrast to a frameless cabinet which doesn’t have this feature.

If you visualize a basic wood box, the face frame is made up of several pieces of wood that are fastened to the forward edge of the cabinet, framing the cabinet box. The outside edges of the frame are flush with the outside surfaces of the cabinet box whereas the inside portion of the frame extends past the inside edges of the box slightly. The face frame provides some rigidity to the cabinet box, helping it to remain square and sturdy.

Example of the basic structure of a framed cabinet

Framed cabinet construction is generally considered more traditional looking and offers some style variety based on the amount of door overlay. Door overlay just means the extent to which the door covers or “lays-over” the face frame.

• Full-overlay means the doors and drawers completely cover the face frame
• Partial-overlay simply means that the doors and drawers cover only part of the frame.
• Full-inset means the doors and drawers are made to fit within the face frame opening.

 

Different manufacturers offer varying styles in the extent of door-to-frame overlay.

LKN Cabinets and Remodeling serves the entire Charlotte region. We can be contacted by visiting our website www.LKNcabinets.com  and clicking “Contact Us” link

What You Need to Know Before Buying Kitchen Cabinets

Your home is a representation of you, and in it you have probably spent thousands of man hours and thousands of dollars to make it the home that you always wanted. Many people focus on their bedrooms and basements before turning their eye to the kitchen, but when the inevitable comes it is almost certainly a home-changing event. The kitchen, as you can imagine, is the most popular room in your home. Yes, the kitchen and the main bathroom are the two rooms that will be the most trafficked. Your kitchen, of course, will be used by all members of the household, and the bathroom will be as well. These two rooms should be the two that look the best, even if it’s just for appearances sake.

When it comes down to choosing kitchen cabinets that suit your needs there are a few things that you should know beforehand:

1. Ensure that proper support is in place

Different materials and types of wood have different weights, so it is important that you verify (or have your contractor verify) that the new cabinets can be installed without error. The last thing that you want to see is your brand new kitchen cabinets suddenly becoming dislodged for seemingly no reason.

The area that they are going to be installed should have appropriate amounts of supporting materials in and behind the wall, and everything should be quite snug and strong.

2. Have an overall vision in mind

Chances are that you may be buying your cabinets before you have finished the countertops, paint, floors, etc. It’s important to have an overall idea of what you are trying to achieve, as any one piece may look out of place until you’ve made the whole

3. Durability is an important factor

When you are choosing your kitchen cabinets you should base that decision on a few things: value, price, aesthetics, function, and durability. Kitchen cabinets are a rather expensive addition to your home, and you want to know that the $10,000 or more that you’ve just spent on cabinets will last you more than a couple of years.

Look for cabinets that are well made, treated in advance to avoid warping, and are coated to prevent damage from small amounts of water or other liquids. The cabinet doors should be relatively solid and stable, and the hinges should also be well made.

Knowledge is power, so be sure to research before you jump into a decision-making process. Learn as much as you can about the cabinets that you are considering before you put any money down, and definitely check on the history of the contractors who will be installing them as well as the company that will be supplying them.

SOURCE: www.elegantcab.com

www.LKNcabinets.com offers FREE estimates and FREE initial design for the greater Charlotte area

Affordable Kitchen Cabinets

 Kitchen cabinets are an important part of any kitchen design. The cabinets lend a trendy look to the kitchen and the right cabinets enhance the overall look. It is worthwhile to spend some time and effort in planning the cabinets in the kitchen. It is observed that many people consult professionals to help them plan the cabinets in the kitchen. It is important that the finish of the cabinet flows smoothly with the theme or color scheme adopted.

Cheap kitchen cabinets are often available at discount home stores and with cabinet retailers in the neighborhood. These cabinets are generally made of photo-simulated wood and thin laminates. Even if real wood is used, it is generally of very poor quality. The drawer construction of these cabinets is very poor and the pieces do not fit in snugly with each other. The drawers do not generally glide in and out very smoothly. It also helps to know if they are on metal extensions or on cheap plastic tracks. The creaking of the hinges is also associated with poor kitchen cabinets that are cheaply available.

Many big manufacturers, who make the cabinets in bulk, sell them at discounted rates. At times small retailers are also known to sell these cabinets cheap, as they do not fit the grade. The laminating and edging of panels require good precision machining quality. This is not available in hand- made cabinets.

It is important to plan the available budget for kitchen cabinets in redesigning the kitchen. There are countless styles and designs available that can be bought at fair prices. It may seem a good bargain at first, but in the long run, they are a more expensive proposition. They need to be repaired and even replaced sooner or later. The additional expenses incurred are than the discount.

www.LKNcabinets.com has some of the most affordable cabinets in the Charlotte NC area. They offer FREE quotes for kitchen and bathroom remodels.