Pros and Cons of Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Tony ThomasAugust 14, 2021

Frameless cabinetry is not a new concept and has been popular for many years in Europe.  This trend in cabinetry is nothing anywhere and many homeowners are now opting for frameless cabinetry instead of traditional framed cabinetry.  Framed kitchen cabinets have a cabinet box that is visible around the exterior and sometimes down the middle of cabinet doors and drawers.  The doors and drawers are attached to the exterior of cabinet box.  With frameless cabinets, the doors are inset into the cabinet box, leaving a flat surface on the exterior of your cabinets.  Both styles have unique advantages so below we look some of the pros and cons of frameless cabinets to help you determine which type of cabinetry is best for your home.

PROS & CONS of Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

• PRO – Clean & Streamlined Aesthetic Appeal
  • If your home’s aesthetic is transitional, traditional, or modern and you want a mire streamlined appearance for your cabinetry, frameless kitchen cabinets are a great option. Their contemporary aesthetic will blend seamlessly with your home’s decor.
• PRO – Higher Level of Craftsmanship
  • Because the doors have fit perfectly within the frame so that they can open and close without problems there tends to be a higher level of craftsmanship that goes into their manufacturing.
• CON – Higher Cost
  • As aforementioned, the build of this type of cabinet requires more craftsmanship and time to look and perform as desired so this means they do tend to cost more than framed cabinetry.
• CON – Higher Maintenance
  • Things like humidity or even just closing cabinets too hard can impact their alignment within the frame so they may require more adjustments and maintenance than other cabinetry where the door sits on top of the frame.

How to install frameless kitchen cabinets

Planning and preparation

The first few steps of this involves completely planning the work and performing complete preparation. Take care of plumbing and electrical installations as well before starting to installing the cabinets. Notably, most uneven walls will require smoothing, patching, and repainting. Since the project requires some fundamental cabinetry skills, it is best to hire professionals. Their steady hands and knowledge is vital to make the things fit without any hassles. Moreover, homeowners can also avoid spending excessively on new tools like circular saws or hammers.

Before installing the new cabinets, remove the old ones and fix the imperfections on the wall. Make sure to focus on realigning the electrical layouts as well. Most remodeling projects also involve removing old vinyl and laying new underlayments. Since it is easier to paint a finished surface, leave that step during las stages. Frameless cabinets are quite heavier than conventional ones, but they give a cleaner look with tight door locks and clearances.

Layout the room

Start by locating the high spots in the room. Draw a line from the highest point around the kitchen. Other appliances also helps to find the right size. This step is essential to avoid any stubborn installations. Most kitchen layouts may also have range hoods. The venting possibilities are endless for this appliance. Venting through the ceiling is the most common for all kinds of house. However, check the local building codes before proceeding any further.

Get started

There are many ways to install frameless cabinets. Some techniques involve setting the upper decks first, while others are straightforward. Either way, mark the location of every part and remove doors and shelves. Lift the cabinet structure and level it exactly in the marked height. Make sure to have a packet of shims before screwing it to the wall. Once screwed, each the level in every direction. One can also use a helper box to hand wall cabinets with studs. This tool helps to properly align the cabinet in its place. Remember to loosen adjoining screws while aligning the front faces together.

Finishing touches

Some cabinets require a simpler piece of trim at the top to prevent any loose fits. When there is no easy access to top ends in a kitchen, technicians will use their expertise to fasten the moldings and make the space tight. In some cases, they may even use silicone adhesives to shim cabinets in place. Once completed, make sure to adjust the doors and drill holes for knobs. Specially designed jigs can help to fix knobs and pulls properly. These are available in home improvement stores.