Do you want to update your kitchen? Add some class? Give it a fresh, new look and feel? Whether you wish to remodel your entire kitchen or only replace your cabinetry, there are several important factors you should know and take into consideration before doing so. By making informed decisions when it comes to replacing your cabinets, you’ll get more value for your money and a better ROI if you choose to sell your house in the future.
Buying new cabinets is a large investment, perhaps one of the biggest you’ll make in your entire home. New cabinetry can make a huge difference in your kitchen, so make sure you are well educated before you set out to make your purchase.
Framed vs. Full Access Cabinetry
Framed cabinetry and full access cabinetry are the two primary categories of cabinet construction. You will hear these terms many times as you begin searching around for a cabinet dealer or start working with a builder. In this article, we’ll define each type for you so you’re familiar with the differences between the two and the benefits of each.
Framed Cabinetry
Framed cabinetry is a common construction type for American manufacturers. This traditional method of construction can be implemented in three different ways: standard overlay, full overlay, or inset.
Standard Overlay: The door overlaps the face frame by ½ inch while 1 inch of the face frame remains exposed.
Full Overlay: The door overlaps the face frame by 1¼ inches while ¼ of an inch of the face frame is left exposed.
Inset: The door is flush with the face frame, so the whole frame is exposed.
Framed cabinets consist of rails (horizontal portions of the frame) and stiles (vertical portions of the frame) that form a 1½-inch frame around the front of the cabinet. This is what the door is attached to. This border makes the cabinet strong and sturdy and hides the edges of the cabinet box.
Full Access (Frameless or European) Cabinetry
Frameless cabinetry, originally manufactured in Europe, doesn’t have the border mentioned above around the front of the cabinet box. This makes it more accessible and gives a kitchen a more modern and simplistic look. It also typically offers you more room to work with, without the extra framing to account for, which gives you more storage space and takes up less room in your kitchen. The door on a frameless cabinet is attached directly to the side panel of the cabinet box.
With full access cabinetry, you are taking full advantage of the cabinet’s space by eliminating the additional piece of face frame that overhangs inside the cabinet. The two primary advantages of choosing frameless over framed cabinetry are accessibility and storage capacity. When there isn’t a face frame sticking into the cabinet space, you will have an additional 1½ inches of open space in the face of the cabinet. This allows for an additional 1¼ inches of storage capacity in your drawers.
In fact, you can take a framed cabinet drawer and fit it inside of a full-access drawer! Choosing frameless cabinets is a great way to gain some extra space. Every little bit will add up in your kitchen, and it will give it a more modern look and feel as well.
Custom Cabinetry in Ames and Story County
Cyclone Contracting remodels kitchens and installs custom cabinetry for Ames and Story County homeowners! Contact us if you have any questions about cabinetry or home remodeling. We’d love to discuss either with you!
Also be sure to check out our cabinet line, Dura Supreme Cabinetry, to learn more about what we offer and the differences between framed and frameless cabinetry. Dura Supreme manufactures both framed and frameless cabinets. Which type you choose will depend on your budget and which look you personally prefer.