Base kitchen cabinets include any cabinet that sits on the floor
including the bottom cabinets on tall and deep cabinets like pantry or
broom closet cabinets. They come in widths that start at 6", then 10", then 12" to 36" in basic
cabinets (one drawer, one shelf, one or two doors depending on width)
and on up to 54" in specialty items like blind corner cabinets. There are also trash can pullout sizes which are 13.5", 16.5", and 19.5" for standard Rev a shelf top mount trash can pullouts. There is also a 22.5" version for making a tall pantry, a 36" sink cabinet, and a 42" sink cabinet for that odd humongous sink. The standard kitchen depth is 24" to fit
the appliances depths.
Height of cabinets are 30.5" sitting on a 4" tall ABS leg, giving a 34.5" tall cabinet which with a 1.5" countertop puts you at the standard 36" tall kitchen base cabinet.
MDF, Medium Density
Fiberboard is the carcass material of choice due to the stiffness,
uniform thickness, durability, and the lack of internal voids. Plywood
is too unstable, is less stiff, and has internal voids that can cause
problems with modern European hardware.
The
cabinet rails are sold wood as fasteners need to go into the ends of
the rails, MDF would be a very poor choice for a cabinet rail. There are
mid rails for cabinets with double doors below a drawer to provide
solid backing for the top of the doors.
Shelves
and all hardware attach to the system holes, a series of 5 mm holes
spaced 32 mm apart, the heart of a European style cabinet. This allows a
modular approach to making cabinets and allows drawers to be added
easily on existing cabinets. The system also speeds up manufacturing,
assembly, and installation. Accuracy and tolerances are improved as
well as the hardware (slides and hinges) has pre drilled holes.
The backs are 3/16" thick, planted on the back of the cabinet and
secured with staples all around the perimeter of the cabinet. Backs
hold the cabinets square and provide strength as well as protecting the
back wall.
Base cabinets stand on ABS
feet or legs, consisting of a socket that is attached to the deck of the
cabinet and a leg that is tapped in during installation. Each leg can
handle about 300# of weight bearing directly down plus it is screwed to a
wall in most cases. That is 1200# per cabinet plus the weight the back
screws can carry, nearly a ton of weight could be supported on each
cabinet. Plus additional support added by the toe kick and end panels.
Free standing islands need two sections of PVC pipes cut to length and
inserted under the cabinet, preferably with a bolt going into the floor
below. Most hardware stores will have red head bolts, coupler nuts (2"
long hex nuts), and various length bolts needed to secure an island rock
solid with little effort or cost. However, if the island has end
panels that reach the floor and the cabinets are installed before the
floor is laid so the cabinet is trapped, no additional support is
needed.
These are stock cabinets and available
in standard sizes only. For custom sizes you must go with more
expensive custom cabinets which we also manufacture.
Doors and drawer fronts are MDF in this product but we have a soft maple option that gives you five part soft maple doors and slab drawer fronts. Look for the products that end with -SM in the product number.