First Things First

It's my recommendation to you, and what I do myself, that you draw every plane of your cabinets. You don't have to be an artist, but use a ruler and try to draw to scale. Draw each and every opening for doors and drawers. Draw side panels, in 2-dimensional fashion like the drawing you see here. Click the image for a larger version.

Measure the entire length of the cabinet and it's height. If there is existing crown molding, measure to the top of the crown to insure you have enough material. Draw this, scaling down to something usable, on your paper. Measure the width of each face-frame segment and draw it and write the width on the drawing, right where the face-frame appears. Your length and height measurements for the cabinet itself should prove sufficient for the lengths of the face-frame pieces.

Now measure the openings for each door and drawer. Always put the height first and the width second, for doors and drawers. Write these dimensions in the openings on your drawing. It is best if you can just give the manufacturer the opening dimensions and let them figure the size of the doors or drawer fronts. They know the best overlap for the doors and hinges you will use, typically about ½"- ¾", all the way around. So, for example, say a cabinet opening is 16" X 10" and they recommend a ½" overlap, they will give you a door that is 17" X 11". Drawer fronts are a little different and will also depend on whether or not you are replacing the entire drawer.

Trim and Valance

Another area to check and measure is the top of upper cabinets if you intend to install crown molding. A popular treatment over a sink is a valance, measure from cabinet to cabinet, but you'll likely get some extra on each end.

Figure It All Up

Double check that you have a dimension on your drawing for every cabinet and every stile and rail, as well as side panels and door/drawer openings. Right down each side panel dimension and keep them individual. Add up all the face frame pieces of the same width and right down that width and the total length. You may have 2 or 3 different widths, so keep them separate and keep track. Next, write down each drawer opening and then each door opening. Be sure you always us width X height and denote that on the order form or when you talk to the sales rep.

The next article will focus on preparing your existing cabinets for refacing.