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Helpful Tips On Full-Overlay Fit

Monday, December 28, 2020 9:44 AM

A "true" full-overlay door style leaves roughly a 1/8" clearance on the left and right edge with 1/4" reveal top and bottom. Often when referring to full-overlay many manufacturers have a 1/4" reveal on the left and right which is most common. The exception here is with a base cabinet which may have a 1/2" reveal above the drawer only.


It's also important to consider the thickness of the door itself which can be 1/2", 7/8" 3/4", and in some cases a full 1". If you have a 1/8" - 1/4" reveal (frame material) and open a door that's 1/2" thick the door can stick out further than the frame material because the 1/2" is wider/thicker than the available reveal of 1/8"-1/4". 


When installing directly against a wall, a wall where there's a door casing within the pull of a drawer, deeper panel/cabinet with a cabinet door opening of at least 90 degrees is desired, filler or even scribe molding should be installed between the cabinet and the wall or deeper panel/cabinet. If this is not done, the door may not open a full 90° and your hinges can fail prematurely. Keep in mind there are many hinges offering a 110° opening as well. For full opening, a space of at least 1/4-1/2" or more is necessary. Consider your door hardware when making this decision as it may stick out an inch or more. 


One benefit of a full-overlay cabinet is that is typically utilizes butt doors on double door pieces and does not have a center mullion which allows for full access to the space inside. There is also value built in when your cabinetry has more door material than frame. Doors/fronts are the most expensive part of a cabinet and can make up 55% - 75% of overall cabinet cost depending on the manufacturer.


Cabinet dimensions are typically from right to left edge of face frame (not cabinet box) on framed cabinets because the face frame has a "lip" that overhangs the cabinet box itself allowing for a dado or routed construction where the side panels fit on/into the face frame. Specifications are subject to change based on the manufacturers processes without notice. Dimensions are typically converted from metric to inches with manufacturers often rounding up to the nearest 1/4" in specifications. This may cause measurements to be off by a fraction which is considered normal within industry standards.

-Tips By Melissa

Posted in Helpful Tips