Cabinet Training Internal Resource Guide

CABINET TERMINOLOGY

Basic Cabinet Terms (Continued)

• Mortise - A groove cut in a piece of wood, while a tenon is a peg. The resulting joint is created when the two are secured together, typically with glue • Mullion - Also called a Center Stile. A raised rail in the middle of the doors that is enclosed by stiles and rails. • Onlay – A carved or etched decorative ornament installed on the cabinet face. Also referred to as an applique. • Overlay - Refers to how much the doors and drawers cover the face frame: Full Overlay, Partial Overlay (Traditional), or Inset. • Partial Overlay Cabinets - A style where the cabinet doors and drawer fronts cover only a portion of the cabinet’s face frame, leaving a visible frame around the doors and drawers • Pulls - Also known as a cabinet handle, is a piece of hardware with a bar-like or elongated design that attaches to the surface of a cabinet door or drawer at two or more points, allowing for a more substantial and comfortable grip to open or close it. (See also knobs) • Reveal – On a framed cabinet, the distance between the outside edge of the face frame and the outside edge of the door. • Scribe Molding – A generic piece of molding, usually 1/4” thick and up to 1” wide, for the purpose of trimming and concealing any discrepancy where the cabinet meets a sheetrock wall. • Semi-Concealed Hinge – A term used to describe a cabinet hinge that is barely visible from the outside. Some types are called kerf or knuckle hinges. • Shelf - A horizontal surface of various materials that provide space to store or display items. They can come in adjustable or fixed, as well as varying depths. • Sink Base - A floor-standing cabinet designed to support a kitchen or bathroom sink and provide storage underneath, often featuring a “false” drawer front to accommodate plumbing. • Skin Panel - Skin panels cover the unfinished sides of the cabinet so that they will match the paint or stain chosen for your cabinet doors. Skin panels are attached to the unfinished cabinet sides so that they sit flush with the edge of the face frame. • Shimming - Using small pieces of wood or plastic to level cabinets on uneven walls or floors. • Rail - The horizontal components of a cabinet door/drawer frame. • Raised Panel - A door style where the center panel is elevated above the surrounding frame. • Recessed Panel - A door style with a flat center panel, often called a “Shaker” style.

• Slab Door - A flat, single-panel door, popular in modern designs.

• Soffit – A box-out at the ceiling typically 12” high and 14” deep. Often used for AC ductwork. Kitchen cabinets are installed up to it creating a step effect. Also called a fur-down or bulkhead.

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