Terminology

Custom Cabinetry
With custom cabinetry, the sky's the limit in terms of cabinet dimensions, shape, wood species, finish and special detailing. Custom cabinetry provides customers an unlimited number of styling options in both their framed and frameless offerings.

Semi-Custom Cabinets
Semi-custom cabinets offer fewer options than “custom cabinets” and are available in a number of different sizes, shapes, wood species and finishes. Semi-custom cabinetry provide customers a limited number of styling options in both their framed and frameless offerings that include such things as reduced depths, increased depths, matching interiors, inverted frames, etc.

Stock Cabinets
Stock cabinets, which offer fewer options than either “custom” or “semi-custom” cabinetry, are also available in a limited number of different sizes, shapes, wood species and finishes. Stock cabinetry provides customers a very limited number of styling options in both their framed and frameless offerings.

Flat Panel
A recessed center panel to a door or drawer design conveying Transitional, Shaker, or Arts and Crafts styling. Solid Wood A door with a solid wood center panel is comprised of boards that are joined or glued together to form the width of the center panel. Because natural woods have variations in color and grain pattern from board to board, these variations will be apparent in a solid wood door. Predictably, a solid wood door is more expensive than a veneered door.

Beaded Door
A flat panel cabinet door design that incorporates vertical beaded texture on the recessed panel area of the door. The wood door frame is more simple and constructed with cane and stick joinery.

Mullion Doors
Mullion doors have glass inserts in place of the typical solid center panel for a more stylish appearance. The inserts have horizontal and vertical dividing bars similar to those in windowpanes.

Thermofoil
Flexible, 100 percent solid-colored vinyl. With adhesive on its underside, it is applied to smooth, engineered wood or MDF which has been formed into a door, drawer or molding design. It has solid, opaque coloration and is easy to clean and maintain. Ideal for durable areas.

Veneer
A veneer is a thin piece (1/32 of an inch) of solid wood which is attached with glue to a substrate (usually “particleboard” in raised panel doors and “hardboard” in flat or recessed panel doors). Veneered components are more uniform in finish and grain consistency. Veneered center panels in doors provide stability by minimizing its shrinking and expansion in dry and moist climates thereby eliminating cracking and splitting.

MDF
(Medium Density Fiberboard) An engineered wood offering an extremely tight and smooth surface. Exceptionally stable, MDF is favored for laminating with thermofoils and melamine.

Framed Cabinets
The traditional framed cabinet has a front frame around the cabinet opening to which the door is attached. These are the most popular type of cabinets in the U.S. and are easier to install than frameless cabinetry because of their recessed end panels and rigid front frame. Framed cabinets are available in Traditional and Full Overlay styling which are explained below. Framed construction utilizes glue, staple and dowel or screw construction

Frameless Cabinets
Frameless, or European-style cabinets, have no front frame. The doors are attached directly to the sides of the cabinet. Frameless cabinets, which are more contemporary in style, offer the advantage of completely unobstructed access to the cabinet interior because there is no front frame. Frameless construction utilizes pin and dowel construction.

Standard Overlay Styling
Overlay is the amount of face frame covered by the door and drawer. The exposed front frame is referred to as the “reveal.” The reveal on Standard Overlay cabinets can vary from ¾” to 1 1/8”

Full Overlay Styling
Overlay is the amount of face frame covered by the door and drawer. The exposed front frame is referred to as the reveal. “The reveal on Full Overlay cabinets is ¼”.

Inset & Beaded Inset Styling
Doors and drawers will sit flush with the face frame of the cabinet. Typically doors and drawers will have an approximate 3/32” reveal between the door/drawer and the face frame. When butt doors are present, there is an approximate 1/16” space between doors (cabinet installation is critical to maintaining proper reveals). Hinge styles available for inset doors are either a decorative “barrel” hinge which will be visible to the exterior of the cabinet or a concealed hinge. Interior depth of cabinet is reduced by ¾” due to door sitting within the face frame of cabinet. Keep this in mind if you have oversized dishes to store. Beaded inset is a decorative profile surrounding the door and drawer front openings.

Soffit
A soffit or “bulkhead” is the area between a ceiling and the top of wall cabinets and usually 12 inches high and extending out over the wall cabinets.

Glazes
The substances used to coat cabinetry that produces enhancements in door detail, wood color and tone. The addition of glaze finish treatments as an added finishing step has revolutionized the cabinet industry, bringing home fashion to the forefront of consumers’ minds. Glazes actually enhance and improve the beauty of the wood and the base finish color. Glaze treatments and techniques can vary from heavy to light. Lighter treatments lend themselves to a more subtle appearance.

Distressing
Distressing will consist of random, hand applied dents, impressions, simulated worm holes and cracks.

Wear Sand
Wear sand will consist of random wear sanding on edges, corners and insert corners of door and drawer fronts prior to staining.

Rub Thru
Rub thru will consist of random sanding of finish to allow wood exposure prior to top coat on edges, corners and insert corners of doors, drawer fronts, moldings, and cabinet frames without doors. This finish option is typically only offered on painted or opaque finishes.

Wood Species
Different types of hardwoods or softwoods. Examples are maple, oak, cherry and hickory.