Education Center

How to Install Kitchen Cabinet Handles

Once you get the hang of it, installing kitchen cabinet handles is a simple process, with just a few key tips. Do-it-yourself beginners will love this project, because it is easy and makes your kitchen, new or old, have a fresh new look. Shop our discount kitchen cabinet pulls or purchase them at your local hardware store. Step 1 – Determine the placement of the handle on the door. Depending on the orientation and level of the door, you may want to place the handle in different locations. See the image below. For most drawers (A), the proper place to install the kitchen cabinet handle is in the center of the door panel. However on larger wall cabinets (B), it is a good idea to keep the pull at arms reach, just above the bottom of the door panel. Base cabinets (C) we also would recommend keeping the handle at arms reach, towards the top of the door panel. For smaller cabinets like the oven wall cabinet shown below (D), we recommend placing the handle in the middle (vertically) of the door panel. Of course these are just suggestions, and you can place them however you see fits best. Read More

Oak Kitchen Cabinets - Know Your Oak Grain Types

Cheap Kitchen Cabinets without Sacrificing Quality

The key to making a great kitchen cabinet purchase is to BUY the cabinets cheap but don’t buy CHEAP Kitchen cabinets! At Kitchen Resource Direct we offer cheap prices without sacrificing the quality of the cabinets. It’s important to review all the specs of the cabinets that you are purchasing and make sure that you know what you are buying. Just because a company offers a great price doesn’t mean that it’s a great product. The best purchase comes with the best value; you get a great product for an affordable price.

Kitchen Cabinet Finishing Process

Sanding – From medium to very fine grit sequence Sanding follows a strict sand paper ‘grit’ sequence to provide a uniform base. Vacuum clean wood to remove all dust Vacuum & air systems to ensure that the wood surface is free of all particles.

Kitchen Cabinet Finish Characteristics

Stain toner characteristics vary with different wood species, grains and end cuts. Once the stain is applied it is hand wiped to remove excess stain. There can be small amount of residue build up in small notches and were door panels and frames come together. This is a normal part of the stain finish and cannot be prevented. No matter which species you choose, please keep in mind that no two pieces of wood are exactly the same. Stains are likely to exaggerate the difference between open and closed grains and other markings in wood. Grain variation and color change should be expected. As hardwood ages, it will darken when exposed to different types of light. Color differences or changes in wood can also be caused by exposure to harsh chemicals, extreme heat or other contributing external conditions. Based on independent testing, discoloration will occur to doors, drawers and cabinet parts after prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke. This is especially noticeable on white and other lighter finishes. However, we do not warranty any of our finishes against discoloration due to exposure to smoke.

Inset Doors vs. Full Overlay Doors

Inset doors are virtually part of the cabinet face frame. This provides a smooth cabinet front alignment. Inset cabinets have visible hinges and will need additional adjustment after each heating and cooling season. Door/Drawer hardware is required.

Different Wood Characteristics

Kitchen Resource Direct kitchen cabinets are constructed using many pieces of solid wood and wood veneers. Graining differences, as well as normal color change can be expected. Wood species in all finishes will exhibit color change when exposed to different types of light. Color differences in wood are caused by variations in minerals found in the soil in which the tree was grown and the absorption of these minerals. End grain surfaces and softer areas of the wood may accept more stain an often appear darker than other surfaces, this is a natural reaction when finishing wood product and potential variances cannot be controlled. Additionally, every wood species exhibits other characteristics, including: knots, pinholes, sap runs and darkening with age. It is the beauty and nature of wood to have these characteristics, as well as natural variations in graining and color which will be present throughout our cabinetry.

Particleboard Cabinets vs. Plywood Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets consist of many different materials; particle board, MDF, plywood, and solid wood are the most common. All of these woods have very different characteristics, so it’s important to know what you are buying and to be educated on the different types of materials. Most manufactures still use solid wood (maple, Cherry, oak) for the cabinet face frames and doors. Since it’s not economical to use solid wood for the entire cabinet due to availability and cost, manufactures have to find an alternative wood for the cabinet sides and backs. Most manufactures will turn to particleboard or plywood to keep costs down and still affordable.

What is a 10x10 Kitchen?

A 10'x10' Kitchen is a sample kitchen used for universal price comparisons across different cabinet types and styles. The kitchen industry uses the 10’x10’ kitchen layout to give the consumer a general idea of what that particular cabinet door style costs.

Benefits of Dovetail Drawers

Throughout their lives, kitchen cabinet drawers are opened and closed around 7-10 times a day, or up to 3500 times a year! Making sure that you pick a drawer joint that can withstand this type of wear and tear is crucial to the longevity of your kitchen cabinets. There are many different types of drawer joints including stapled drawer boxes, screwed drawer boxes, and rabbet joints; however, none of these will hold up like a dovetail joint. Dovetail joints are considered one of the strongest joints used in kitchen cabinetry construction and are the best solution for a kitchen cabinet drawer box. The dovetail joint is constructed from interlocking channels created from wedge shaped cuts on the ends of the drawer box sides. The wedge shaped cuts are called tails and pins and are extremely durable and resistant to force after they are assembled. Dovetail drawers are not only the highest quality drawer but are also the most decorative and attractive with the cleanest appearance.

Purchase Kitchen Cabinets Online

Buying new kitchen cabinets is a big investment for a homeowner. You want to make sure that you are making the right decision for your home in order to capitalize on the added value that a new kitchen can achieve. For years, kitchen cabinets have been traditionally sold in a local showroom or design center where consumers would pay anywhere between $15,000 to 50,000, on average, to remodel their kitchen -- those days are over!

Pros & Cons: Assembled Cabinets vs. Ready to Assemble (RTA) Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are usually purchased and delivered in one of two ways: Assembled or Ready to assemble (RTA).

Assembled kitchen cabinets are delivered already assembled, built from the manufacturer and ready to be installed in the home. Assembled cabinets do not require the homeowner to build the cabinets; everything is complete, including all the drawers and hardware components.

RTA kitchen cabinets are delivered in a form that is commonly referred to as “flat packed” or unassembled. RTA cabinets require the consumer to put together and build the cabinets at the location that they are being installed. The cabinet is in a broken down form and will require a little extra work from the installer, however, are generally offered at a lower price.

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