Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Archive for the ‘About Cabinets’ Category

People use cabinets to store all sorts of items. Besides helping people get organized and put things away, cabinets are a great place to secure valuable items such as documents, jewelry, and money.

Locks are what make cabinets a secure location for these items. They are inexpensive and provide the security you need.

Types of Cabinet Locks
You will find a wide selection to meet your individual needs. Some of the types of locks available today include sliding door locks, filing cabinet locks, pin tumbler and drawer locks, bolt type locks, keyway cabinet locks, and showcase locks. You will find top quality locks produced by a variety of manufacturers. Your local hardware store or home improvement center will have a wide selection of the various types of cabinet locks.

Using Locks to Secure Your Items
Those that are designed for use with sliding glass doors will often have a ratchet bar and an adjustable clamp. They are perfect for use when the doors are thick. These are ideal for all sorts of display cases with glass doors. You can also find disc tumbler locks which can be surface mounted onto cabinet doors and drawers. Pin tumbler metal drawer locks are great for those with metal desks with a center drawer.

Safe and Secure
You can have locks installed at the same time as the cabinets themselves or add them onto cabinets that have been in place for years. Many people wait to install cabinet locks until it becomes obvious that they are needed. It is always best to get locks installed at the same time as your cabinets so your valuable items are not vulnerable. It will also save you time and money to have them put in as the cabinets are being built. Cabinet locks that are installed after the cabinets are built can damage the doors or drawers of your cabinets if they are not installed by a skilled professional.

The most important accessories in almost any home or office are cabinets. There are many different styles and types of cabinets that are specifically designed for different purposes.

Types of Cabinets
The main purpose of a cabinet is to provide a place to store items. Kitchen cabinets, for instance, have a wide variety of uses. You can have a pull out drawer with a cutting board, a drawer specifically designed to keep knives and other accessories easily accessible, and pull out cabinets used to store small appliances such as mixers, measuring implements, and serving dishes. Some cabinets have special inserts to organize cutlery. Depending on how it is to be used some cabinets will feature doors while others will not. Cabinets in office spaces are often designed to hold files full of important documents. Cabinets can really be used to store just about anything, from your television to your bath towels.

Cabinet Structure
A wooden slab door can be found on most general cabinets. Often these doors are constructed using adhesive to join different layers of solid stock lumber. Some doors will have knobs or handles. Often the cabinet is constructed using either plywood or greenwood. Many cabinets feature decorative elements such as raised panels. Many different types of wood can be used to make cabinets, with some of the most popular being cherry, pine, birch, maple, and oak. Either knife hinges or concealed hinges can be used to attach the doors to the cabinet.

Before You Purchase a Cabinet
Take a good look at the space you have before buying a cabinet. Knowing the amount of space you have available will help you buy the right type of cabinet. You also want to find cabinets that will complement the décor of the rest of your home.

Cabinets can make a big difference in the look and feel of any room. Cabinets should always be the last thing installed, as they provide a finishing touch for any room. Prior to ordering your cabinets, either pre-made or custom built, you need to have a clear idea of where they will be placed. Base cabinets should always be installed after any wall mounted cabinets.

Cabinet Installation
Prior to installation you will need to determine the exact location of the wall cabinets. The corner is the best place to begin. Wall cabinets should always be installed prior to base cabinets. Begin by marking the location of the cabinet bottom on the wall with a pencil. The top edge of the support rail will need to be aligned with this line before you screw it into the wall stud. The wall stud locations should be marked inside the cabinets using your pencil. Holes can now be drilled in the location of the stud and the cabinet can be screwed to the wall using screws which are long enough to go into the wall studs. The next cabinet will need to be adjusted so that the top and front edges are flush with the first cabinet, then use a C clap to attach them together. Two piece connecting screws should be used to connect frameless cabinets together. After completion of the wall cabinet installation it is time to prepare for the base cabinet installation by taking measurements. Place marks around the wall indicating where the cabinets are to be placed, using the floor plan as your guide. To avoid damaging the cabinet doors they should be removed prior to installation. Mark the doors so that you know which cabinets to place them
on when you are finished. The following tools will be needed to install your cabinets: screwdriver, level, drills, drill bits, tape measure, carpenter’s square, touch up pens and putty to match cabinet finish, and glue.

Installation of Ready Made Cabinets
No matter what your budget, style, or space requirements you should be able to find ready made cabinets that meet your needs. They are much less expensive and easier to install than cabinets which have been custom made. You will probably be able to install these cabinets on your own with limited skills and just a few tools. They can give a great makeover to just about any room.

Cabinets should be strong, straight, and square after they have been installed. Always carefully screen a cabinet installer prior to hiring them. Any problems that do arise will be easily handled by a professional cabinet installer using their experience and creativity.

You would probably be surprised to learn about all the different types of cabinet latches.

For example there are cabinet door earthquake latches and child safety door latches. There are a variety of different designs and styles available, from intricate antique motifs to modern and sophisticated. You can get them in almost any finish to add beauty and sophistication to just about any cabinet. Bathroom cupboards and kitchen drawers are most in need of cabinet latches. These latches can be easily installed with nothing more complicated than a screwdriver and drill. While cabinet latches were once used to keep the doors of cabinets closed, they are now used to keep them locked, especially when there are children in the home.

Reasons to Install Cabinet Latches
Keeping important documents protected is one of the main reasons to install a cabinet latch. They are also important for keeping toddlers, kids, and pets away from garbage bins, fine china, and harmful chemicals. They are great in both the bathroom and kitchen for keeping medicines and cleaning supplies out of the hands of children.

Various Types of Latches

1. Earthquake Safety Latches – These are designed to keep your children and pets safe in the event of an earthquake. They are constructed using tempered stainless steel. They are very durable and built to last for years.
2. Cabinet Locking Latches – These are designed especially for cabinets with glass doors. Used most often to lock bookshelves, they feature an adjustable latch.
3. Sliding Spring Latches – These feature a spring loaded latch that closes a load center cabinet. These will usually feature a sliding latch body with a sunken top surface for facilitating engagement of the latch body.

Many materials are used to make latches, including cast iron, plastic, and stainless steel. You can give your cabinets an antique look by installing either brass or copper latches. Often how the latch functions will determine the type of material that is used. You can also find latches constructed using rubber and elastomers. There are a variety of types and styles of latches on the market these days. Some commonly installed latches include safety latches, spring latches, draw latches, and rotary latches.

One of the first things that people notice when they enter a room is the cabinets. The right cabinets can really improve the appearance of your entire home.
Not only do they look great, but they are functional as well helping you organize all the materials in your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, garage, etc. When it comes to cabinets you have a wide selection of choices, from inexpensive pre-assembled cabinets to custom designed and built cabinets.

Types of Custom Cabinets

1.Semi-Custom – These cabinets have standard designs but can be customized to fit the needs and dimensions of your space.
2.Custom – These are made just for you. They are designed and built to perfectly match your room’s dimensions and your design specifications. They are the most expensive type of cabinet.
3.Traditional Custom Built Cabinets
4.They cabinets come in a wide selection of woods and finishes. They can improve the look of your home with a rustic and traditional feel. You can add design elements such as carvings, moldings, and trim to further enhance the look of these cabinets. Some of the most popular woods for traditional cabinets include mahogany, cherry, oak, and pine.

Contemporary Custom Built Cabinets

This is the design trend of the last century. Rather than solid wood these cabinets use modern engineered materials. They maintain the same high level of craftsmanship you see with traditional custom built cabinets. They will usually have less trim and decorative elements than traditional cabinets.

How to Tell the Quality of Custom Cabinets

Almost all cabinets are subject to regular use, and those that are made poorly will soon show the results of this use. The following tips can help you avoid damaged cabinets. Always ensure that the face frame of your cabinet is constructed from solid wood and that your cabinet has a closed back to keep out insects and other vermin. A cabinet constructed from wood should be able to resist water, chemicals, and heat. You should be able to easily open and shut doors and drawers. Joints should be reinforced with high quality adhesives. The finish should be smooth and even, without any scratches or chips. The doors will not sag if the hinges are properly attached.

You want to find a cabinet that matches the decor and style of your home whether you are purchasing pre-assembled or custom made cabinets. Contemporary homes will look much better with modern cabinets and furniture, for example.