Anatomy of a Cabinet...
The floor of the drawer is usually quality plywood, but some manufacturers use pressboard or veneered particle board that can warp from weight.
Tip: Look for Dovetail Jointed Hardwood sides with plywood drawer bottoms.
Tip: Look for full extension, self closing, dampening drawer glides. This option usually is inexpensive.
Plywood stretchers and corner blocks maintain the frame of the cabinet over it's lifetime, from shipping to installation.
Tip: Look for front to back plywood stretchers and wood corner blocks.
Particle board or MDF (medium density fiberboad) construction is usually found in less expensive cabinets. Water leaks or heavy loads of dishes can cause the cabinet parts to fail when inexpensive materials are used.
Tip: Look for 1/2" or 3/4" plywood sides (All Plywood Construction)
3/4" plywood shelves are used in the highest quality cabinetry, while veneered particle board or MDF (medium density fiberboard) is used in less expensive cabinetry.
Tip: Look for 3/4" plywood shelving
Less expensive cabinets use particle board or MDF (medium density fiberboard) here to save money.
Tip: Look for plywood cabinet bottoms
Think of how often you open and close a cabinet door...cheap hinges are the first thing to fail on a cabinet.
Tip: Look for quality brands in the hardware of the cabinet
For opaque stains or paint, less clear grained or less expensive wood can be used since there is no grain showing through. Often MDF (medium density fiberboard) is used in the panel portion to limit shrinkage of painted surfaces.
Tip: Look for fine wood, quality joinery and proper fit and pin nailing. Also, interior bumpers on the panels are used in higher quality cabintry to ensure expansion is cushioned.
Tip: Look for quality joinery and good construction to limit splitting and cracking of the joints.
The anatomy of a cabinet
Choose a number with your cursor on the diagram at left. Drawer Boxes
The sides
of the drawer box are usually dovetail jointed hardwood for the strongest durability. Less expensive cabinets are made with metal sides or simple lap construction which can come apart over time from repeated use.The floor of the drawer is usually quality plywood, but some manufacturers use pressboard or veneered particle board that can warp from weight.
Tip: Look for Dovetail Jointed Hardwood sides with plywood drawer bottoms.
Drawer Glides
There are different type of glides available when selecting cabinetry.
Self-closing ballbearing glides provide the longest lasting trouble free option. Nylon roller glides are usually found in less expensive cabinetry and will wear over time. They also increase the likely hood of drawer construction failure since the drawer can be slammed shut, causing the contents to move abruptly into the sides and back of the drawer.Tip: Look for full extension, self closing, dampening drawer glides. This option usually is inexpensive.
Hanging Rail, Stretcher and Corner Blocks
The quality of cabinet construction starts here. Inexpensive cabinets have plastic corner blocks and less expensive brackets or parts to hold the cabinet together.Plywood stretchers and corner blocks maintain the frame of the cabinet over it's lifetime, from shipping to installation.
Tip: Look for front to back plywood stretchers and wood corner blocks.
Cabinet Sides
The sides of the cabinet affect the overall performance of the cabinet during it's lifetime. Plywood sides are optimum. Quality here improves the the way the cabinet is installed as well as aesthetic differences such as interior finish.Particle board or MDF (medium density fiberboad) construction is usually found in less expensive cabinets. Water leaks or heavy loads of dishes can cause the cabinet parts to fail when inexpensive materials are used.
Tip: Look for 1/2" or 3/4" plywood sides (All Plywood Construction)
Shelves
Low quality materials here can cause cabinet shelves to droop or sag under the weight of dishes and stored items.3/4" plywood shelves are used in the highest quality cabinetry, while veneered particle board or MDF (medium density fiberboard) is used in less expensive cabinetry.
Tip: Look for 3/4" plywood shelving
Cabinet Bottoms
Just like shelving, this is an important part of cabinet construction. The floor of the cabinet should be made from the quality of materials the sides and shelves are made.Less expensive cabinets use particle board or MDF (medium density fiberboard) here to save money.
Tip: Look for plywood cabinet bottoms
Hinges
Quality cabinet construction doesn't stop with the frame or doors. Quality hinges ensure that the cabinet will endure a lifetime of use. Think of how often you open and close a cabinet door...cheap hinges are the first thing to fail on a cabinet.
Tip: Look for quality brands in the hardware of the cabinet
Doors
The most viewed portion of the cabinetry in your home. Quality doors are made with detailed joinery and quality materials. Solid wood is the name of the game when choosing stains or clear finishes.For opaque stains or paint, less clear grained or less expensive wood can be used since there is no grain showing through. Often MDF (medium density fiberboard) is used in the panel portion to limit shrinkage of painted surfaces.
Tip: Look for fine wood, quality joinery and proper fit and pin nailing. Also, interior bumpers on the panels are used in higher quality cabintry to ensure expansion is cushioned.
Face Frames
The face frame of the cabinet is usually made from the quality of wood used in the door construction. Pay close attention to how the face frame is joined to the cabinet box. A plywood to wood connection ensures a strong cabinet box.Tip: Look for quality joinery and good construction to limit splitting and cracking of the joints.
©2008
North Metro Design/TAPEG, LLC
