Types of Cabinets and Doors
First, you need to determine the type of cabinets and doors you have.
Frameless Cabinets
These types of cabinets lack a face frame around the door opening. When you look at the cabinet front, you will see the ends of the cabinet sides.
Frameless cabinet can have doors that are:
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- Full-Overlay Door: The door completely conceals the cabinet frame.
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- Half-Overlay Door: The door partially overlaps the cabinet frame.
- Inset or Flush Door: The door is set into the opening, flush with the side frame.
Face Frame Cabinets
Face frame cabinets have a solid wood frame attached to the cabinet around the door opening. The frame serves to cover the ends of the cabinet sides and add strength to the cabinet.
Face frame cabinets can have doors that:
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- Overlay Door: The door overlaps the face frame. Common overlays are full overlay, 1/2”, 5/8”, or 1 3/8” overlay.
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- Inset/Lipped Door: The door has a rabbet (groove open on one side) cut around the edges, so it’s partially inset into the door opening. The most common inset width is 3/8”.
- Flush Door: The door is completely set into the face frame, so that it’s flush with the surface.
Types of Cabinet Hinges
Now that you’ve determined what type of cabinet and door you have, you can choose the correct type of hinge for the look and function you want. Read on to find out the most common types of hinges.