Kitchen Cabinet Blueprints: Your Guide To Measuring and Applying a Cabinet Hinge Overlay
Installing new custom cabinets is a significant undertaking that requires meticulous attention to detail. Fortunately, if you’re new to the realm of DIY home improvements, Harper’s Hardware is here to serve as your guide. We’re here to share the kitchen cabinet blueprints you need to measure and apply your cabinet hinge overlay. With a step-by-step walk-through, a tool list, and a warning of the common mistakes to steer clear of, we’re here to empower you and facilitate project success.
Cabinet Hinge Overlay Basics
Before we dive into the more intricate portions of our kitchen cabinet blueprints, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the basics. Cabinet overlay, or hinge overlay describes how much the cabinet door covers the frame when closed. The overlay is a crucial factor in the final installation of your cabinets as it determines the type of hinges required to get the job done right. There are three types of cabinet overlays, including:
- Inset: No overlay, meaning the cabinet door is flush with the cabinet frame.
- Full cabinet overlay: The door covers the entirety of the cabinet frame.
- Partial cabinet overlay: The cabinet door covers only part of the frames
Cabinet Hinge Overlay Measurements: Your Tool Kit
To mitigate the risk of wonky cabinets, overlay measurements must be precise. As such, it’s important to have the right tools on hand to ensure accuracy, leaving no room for error. We recommend the following:
- Ruler or tape measure
- Paper and pencil
- Painter’s tape or masking tape
The Five Step Measurement Process
To ensure optimal results that eliminate the risk of having to redo your measurements, we recommend completing your cabinet hinge overlay measurement process using our five step guide. Our five-step process goes as follows:
- Step One: Select the cabinet door you wish to measure and close it before beginning. Make sure that it is shut entirely and positioned properly.
- Step Two: Place masking tape or painter’s tape vertically along the side of the cabinet frame directly beside the hinge portion of the cabinet door. Pay close attention to ensure that the tape is properly aligned with the edge of the door, this will be important for the following steps.
- Step Three: Open your cabinet door to verify that the tape is peaking through the bottom
- Step Four: Use your ruler or tape measure to measure the distance between the inside edge of the cabinet frame, meaning the area the door would rest against when closed, to the inside edge of the tape. This space will represent the cabinet hinge overlay.
- Step Five: Grab your paper and pencil and jot down the measurements and the cabinet door the measurement corresponds to.
Once you have completed steps one through five, you will repeat them for each cabinet until you have the exact measurements for each cabinet hinge overlay in your kitchen.
Eliminate The Risk of Error: Common Mistakes To Steer Clear Of
With decades of cabinetry experience, our team at Harper’s Hardware has seen it all. Unfortunately, that means we have seen a lot of repeat cabinet hinge overlay measurement mistakes. To save you time and hassle, keep these tips in mind to avoid common measurement errors:
- Make sure the cabinet door is properly closed and aligned before starting your measurements
- Double-check that your tape is aligned with the door’s edge
- Measure the right edge of the tape
- Always repeat the process for each door, even if you think they are all the exact same. Subtle differences lead to major headaches
How To Choose Hinges Using Your Overlay Measurements
Now that you have your cabinet hinge overlay measurements on hand, it’s time to select hinges to pull your look together. First, you will want to choose a cabinet hardware store known for their expansive selection of aesthetically-pleasing, yet high-performing hardware, such as Harper’s Hardware. Once you arrive, you will use your measurements to match hinge options. Hinges often have the overlay measurements on the packaging or in the product specifications. Furthermore, if your kitchen is equipped with frameless cabinets, you will need to find European hinges.
Simplify Your Kitchen Cabinet Blueprints Today
Whether you’re a seasoned contractor, DIY enthusiast, or first-time homeowner, Harper’s Hardware is here to help you bring your cabinet projects to life. Backed by over seven decades of time-honored cabinetry experience, our experts are here to help you discover the best products for your remodeling projects while offering unrivaled guidance to simplify your kitchen cabinet blueprints. Get started by contacting us today.