Cabinet Construction Methods:

In this article we will discuss the construction methods associated with most types of cabinet construction. There are three main methods of cabinet construction including Frameless, Frame Overlay, and Frame Flush Construction. The main distinguishing feature of cabinet construction is the use of a face frame. Both Frame Overlay and Frame Flush Construction incorporate a face frame which your cabinet doors will need to be mounted to.


Frame Overlay Construction:

Frame Overlay Construction is one of the most widely used forms of construction seen today. The main aspect of Frame overlay is the use of a face frame that the doors are attached to. By using a face frame, the cabinet box becomes very rigid and durable which arguably makes the cabinet last longer.



The styling of this type of construction tends to be more classical and ornate therefore leaning away from contemporary applications. The doors are applied to the cabinet face frame resulting in a typical 5/8" overlay. By allowing the doors to overlay (sit in front of) the face frame we create the Frame Overlay method of cabinet construction.


Cabinet Makers Notes:
   Many cabinet makers enjoy the fact that this cabinet construction method can be built in long lengths of up to 98" long. This length can includes doors in virtually any combination you can think of. As well, longer lengths eliminate the need to attach many smaller cabinets together (i.e. Frameless Construction) to create the longer cabinet equivalent.  This makes installation much easier when compared to other construction methods due to the guarantee that the cabinet length will be perfectly square.
   Dislikes of this form of construction include the fact that delivery of these longer cabinets can be very difficult. Longer cabinets usually require more attention to doorway openings and hallway widths. Many cabinet makers that do not pay attention have learned the hard way and are unable to get a cabinet into a room without cutting the cabinet down in length or height. In addition, longer cabinets tend to be heavy and are therefore harder to maneuver and install with only a few installers. The time it takes to construct a Frame Overlay cabinet can be up to twice as long. The longer time to construct is attributed to having to generate a face frame from raw material. As well, since the hinges are attached to the face frame, the holes must be pre-drilled by hand before the hinge can be attached to the cabinet.

Frame Flush Construction:

Frame Flush Construction is similar to Frame overlay in every way except how the cabinet doors interact with the cabinet face frame. Rather than having the doors "overlay" the face frame, the door will sit on the same plane or flush to the front of the frame. This allows the cabinet maker to create a very elegant and streamlined cabinet design.



This style of construction tends to show a more built-in and simple look. You can add a bit of detail to the cabinet by adding a bead to the inside of each face frame opening (Beaded Frame Flush Construction). Adding the bead creates more detail associated with framing the doors in each opening.


Cabinet Maker's Notes:
Using Frame Flush Construction in a project is the most expensive way to build a cabinet. The added expense arises from the possibility of problems ranging from warped doors to improper door sizing (doors must be perfect to create a perfect cabinet). Flush Construction can make any small mistake into a large visual problem which reiterates the fact that every door and cabinet box must be built to precise standards. Many cabinet makers will simply not build Flush Construction for these very reasons.
   Benefits to building this style of cabinet are numerous. Building a flush cabinet can create some of the most beautiful cabinet configurations in the world. The box is very strong and rigid, the styling is top notch, and your cabinets will have the high end custom feel that cannot be achieved with Frameless construction. The price tends to match the amount of skill needed to construct this form of cabinet construction.

PROS

• Extremely durable cabinet box
• Cabinets can be constructed up to 8' in length
• Fast Installation
• Enhanced design options (high-end styling)
  

CONS

• Cabinets are often very heavy
• Difficult cabinet delivery
  
• More handwork involved in building
• Perfect door sizes are mandatory
• Material used must be perfectly straight (no warped material can be used)
  

Frameless Construction:

Frameless construction is a relatively new form of cabinet construction that is seen in many homes built today. The main feature of a Frameless cabinet is its lack of a face frame in cabinet construction. By eliminating the face frame you are able to apply doors directly to the inside case of the cabinet.



By eliminating the face frame of the cabinet, the style of the cabinet is made almost completely from the cabinet doors (cabinet doors are almost all that is seen when the project is finished). This is why many cabinet makers use Frameless construction to sell contemporary cabinet designs. As well, the cabinet doors can be replaced rather easily to create a completely different style and feel.


Cabinet Makers Notes:
   Many cabinet makers prefer Frameless cabinet construction due to the ease of construction. Frameless cabinets are built in individual segments meaning that the average width of each cabinet stays around 24". This makes delivery of the cabinets rather easy. Designing a kitchen with Frameless construction is simplified as well. A cabinet catalog can be created (e.g. pair of doors cabinet, three drawers cabinet, one drawer and a pair of doors cabinet, etc) and saved into their computer system for future use. This catalog creates a finite amount of cabinet variations which makes training new cabinet designers very simple. Another benefit is the ease of construction. A CNC machine is used to automatically drill holes for everything from drawer guides to hinge mounting holes. By having a computer drill holes, it eliminates the human error element from the equation and therefore eliminates mistakes and in turn lowers the cost of building the cabinets.
   There are problems with Frameless construction as well. Due to the fact that the cabinets are built in smaller widths, the amount of cabinets that must be constructed can almost double when compared to a cabinet that has a face frame. The design of the cabinet project is also limited by the style of the cabinet doors. Since the entire design and feel of the cabinet is shown through the details associated with the doors, you are limited on the amount of detail you can add to each cabinet configuration.