Inset Cabinet Installation

The following information is from Wellborn Cabinetry pertaining to their Estate Inset Cabinetry. I thought this was very informative and I would share it with you. Most of the information will pertain to all inset cabinetry, but warranty information does vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.


There are many differences in the design and the installation of inset cabinetry. Sue to the cabinet design with doors and drawers inset into the face frame, many design rules are different than in standard overlay cabinetry including pull dimensions, door opening tolerance for adjacent cabinets and interior accessories and many more. Installing inset cabinets has many differences from standard overlay.

The effects of moisture are more noticeable on inset cabinetry than on overlay door styles due to the tight tolerances of the door set inside the face frame. It is very important to store and install inset cabinetry in climate controlled environments. Heating and air should be in place to maintain an acceptable range in relative humidity. Relative humidity should be maintained in the 40% to 45% year round during storage, installation, and use to prevent door panels from shrinking and swelling. Inset cabinets leave the factory with a preset gap of 3/32 of an inch. If inset doors are tight in the frame, this is an indication that these doors have taken on moisture from the surrounding environment.

Prior to installation, cabinets should be placed on a level surface, door spacers removed and each door and drawer inspected for proper opening and closing. If there are any issues with operation of the cabinet parts, contact us prior to cabinet installation. The door and drawer front opening and closing operation will be voided from warranty if the cabinet has been installed prior to full inspection and notification.

Inset cabinets must be carefully installed with proper shimming to walls and floors so that cabinets are level and plumb when fastened, to avoid racking the cabinet out of square, which could cause binding and malfunction of the doors and drawers.

Cabinets must NOT be racked in any way during installation.

Cabinet doors with Barrel hinges should not be removed from cabinets during installation.

Check cabinet for squareness when fastening together and to the wall, visually monitoring door and drawer front "gap" to frame opening.

Final adjustment for proper door and drawer front alignment is the responsibility of the field installation crew.

Failure to comply with the above listed design and installation guidelines will void the cabinet warranty relative to the door and drawer front opening and closing operation.