Ordering Cabinets from Lowe's & Home Depot

    I have installed cabinets for Lowe's and Home Depot. I know most of the in-store kitchen designers. I have seen how the lack of knowledge can have you washing your dishes in the bathtub for weeks.

    I take the guess work out of the design equation. I come to your home, look at your kitchen, listen to what you want, and do the design before I send it out to the store. Then I bring the store design back and check it with what the customer wants & verify the measurements.

        When dealing with the big stores on your own this what you should know.

1. Most all big store designers have never installed a kitchen. Most all the training they brag about is on how to operate the computer design program.
2. A good designer would never design a kitchen without looking at the kitchen.
3. If you are not planning to change the floor or floor covering the new cabinets most likely will not cover the exact same footprint of your old cabinets. The toe kick depth is bigger on the newer cabinets.
4. If you are moving any appliances or sinks, who is going to move the plumbing or electrical? Not the store installer. Not without a large additional fee.
5. Who is going to fix the drywall under the old cabinets before the new cabinets are installed?
6. Is the new cabinet design going to cover the same pattern of where the old cabinets were on the ceiling? If not who is going to correct the ceiling? Not the store installer.
7. Before the old cabinets are torn out, who is going to inspect the condition of the new cabinets and make sure all the parts are on site needed to completely install the new kitchen?   The designer? If the design is wrong you will only receive the parts that were ordered. It doesn't mean that is what is needed to make it work.
8. If the designer tells you you can have 42" wall cabinets if you have a 8' ceiling,  Leave!, find a designer that knows what they are doing! Add it up 36" to top of the counter top, 18" minimum clearance, 42" wall cabinet = 96".  Wow. and they told you could still put crown molding.............where? Still Questions?  Call me 843-209-8055.
9. How to take cabinets to the ceiling. Order 36" wall cabinets flush mount 6" filler boards across the top of the cabinet run. Use a narrow batten molding NBM8 to cover the seam & install the crown at the top. Always order one extra F696, NBM8 & Crown. 
10. If you are ordering solid surface counter tops, the cabinets has to be installed before a template can be taken. After that it will be at least two weeks before they can be made & installed. Custom Laminate tops can be fabricated on site and as soon as the cabinets are set.
11. If installing a built in oven cabinet, the cabinet opening has to be custom cut to fit your oven.
12. IF you are trying to save a few bucks, don't do it by ordering American Woodmart cabinets. You will be sorry.

    Design Item checklist.  This is a list of the most common mistakes. This list in no way should take the place of a designer or contractor that knows what they are doing. This list applies mainly to Kraftmaid cabinets.

1. Always upgrade (FPEB) or apply skins to any cabinet sides that is visible on wall cabinets. This is to prevent gaps in crown or batten molding when returning down the sides.
2. White cabinets can not be upgraded and skins must be ordered.
3. Tall cabinets 96" high can not be ordered FPEB and must always have skins ordered for both sides due to detached toe kicks.
4. Always order one extra crown molding.
5. Never order 42" wall cabinets for a 96" high ceiling. No ceiling is straight. Dropping the cabinets drops the bottom of the cabinets below the required 18" between the counter top and the bottom of the wall cabinet. (see 8 above)
6. Cabinets to the ceiling for a 8' ceiling (see 9 above)
7. Order toe kick WMTK8
8. Order shoe molding QM8
9. If a appliance garage is ordered skins must be ordered to attach it to the wall cabinet above it.
10. It is not advisable to install the upper cabinets until after the counter tops are on is a appliance garage is ordered.
11. A dishwasher must have on either side a cabinet or dishwasher return end panel.
12. The minimum clearance for a refrigerator is 36" wide and 72" high. If you have a  smaller refrigerator fillers and batten molding should be used to close in the gaps. If you ever buy a larger refrigerator the fillers can be taken out without having to replace the cabinets.
13. A sink base cabinet 33" wide (SB33) should not be used with a stainless steal or under mount sink. Use a SB36.
14. If peninsula cabinets are used, they can not be mixed with regular cabinets. A wall angle cabinet (WA) or Easy Reach Super Susan (ERSS)  can not be mixed with peninsula cabinets. They have to be peninsula cabinets also.
15. When using a appliance garage, post form counter tops can not be used because of the back splash.
16. Order wall end shelves with square tops.
17. When ordering spice filler pullouts, (wall or base) they can only go between two cabinets and not beside appliances.
18. Order filler overlays for filler pullouts even if you have to change to a special order for the overlay to another door style. (Filler overlays are not available in all styles) 
19. When using full overlay door styles, use a 1" filler or more against the wall for door & drawer Clarence.
20. Do not order drop in range panels (DIP30) they do not work.
21. Oven cabinets, 27" oven order a 30" cabinet, 30" oven order a 33" cabinet.
22. If you have a 45degree angle wall, the back of the cabinets starts at 10 5/8" either side from the angle for a 24" cabinet to meet at the front.
23. Do not confuse end panels (MBEP, UBEP, VBEP, WBEP) Consult the book to ensure the proper item.
24. Wall end panels do not work if you are using crown. Upgrade the cabinet side (FPEB) or use skins and add a 12" replacement door.
25. When ordering a tall oven cabinet and planning to install a oven & microwave order a double oven opening kit (DOK).
26. Do not mix kitchen and vanity cabinets, the toe kicks are different.
27. WPL is 3/8" thick and particle board. fits directly on the back of a peninsula run or island.
28.  WSK is 3/16" & wood. Can be installed with laminate glue on a 1/4" plywood.
29. WPL & WSK should be ordered correctly. The grain should run up and down on a Peninsula or Island (9648 would be correct)
30. If a cabinet is to have glass doors order the cabinet with a matching interior.
31. Order ISC8 & OSC8 molding if you have a Peninsula or island.