Cabinetry and Casework
Summary
Cabinetry and casework are shop-built boxes, doors, drawers, and shelves installed as storage and work surfaces, in stock, semi-custom, or custom architectural grades. Specify the quality grade, construction type, finish, and hardware up front, and coordinate counter heights and clear floor space with the accessibility requirements in the parent note.
Cols
Terminology
- Frameless: cabinet box with no front frame; doors and drawers cover the box edge
- Face frame: cabinet box with a solid-wood frame on the front; more common in residential work
- Grades (Economy, Custom, Premium): AWI aesthetic quality levels; Custom is the usual commercial default and Premium is for focal-point work
- Duty levels 1 to 4: structural performance ratings added in the 2019 ANSI/AWI 0641 standard, separate from the aesthetic grades
- Base cabinet: floor-supported unit under the counter
- Wall cabinet: unit hung above the counter
Standards
Sizes
- Base cabinets: about 34-1/2 in. high and 24 in. deep, which gives a 36 in. work surface with a 1-1/2 in. top
- Wall cabinets: about 12 in. deep
- Counter to wall cabinet clearance: about 18 in. minimum
Test and quality standards
- ANSI/AWI 0641: architectural wood casework, with aesthetic grades and structural duty levels
- ANSI/KCMA A161.1: performance and construction of kitchen and vanity cabinets
- ANSI A208.1 and A208.2: particleboard and MDF used for cabinet boxes and doors
Materials
- Particleboard, MDF, and plywood boxes: most casework boxes, with laminate, veneer, or paint faces
- Hardwood: face frames, doors, and exposed edges
- High-pressure laminate: durable faces for commercial and laboratory casework
- Hardware: hinges, drawer slides, and pulls selected for the duty level
Detailing
- Fix quality grade and duty level in the specification instead of naming a brand
- Choose frameless or face frame at the start, since it sets door overlay, reveals, and filler pieces
- Block and reinforce walls for wall cabinets and heavy loads
- Plan counter, sink, and appliance cutouts with the cabinet layout
- Reserve removable base cabinets or clear knee space where accessible work surfaces are required
Uses
Specific uses
- Kitchens, baths, and laundries
- Reception desks and nurse stations
- Laboratory and classroom casework
- Retail fixtures and display units
- Built-in shelving and storage walls
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fits the room dimensions exactly
- Grade and duty level give a clear way to set quality
Cons
- Custom work has long lead times
- Quality grade and duty level must both be specified
Manufacturing and cost
Construction
- Panels are cut, edge-banded, and assembled in the shop; doors, drawers, and finishes are added before delivery
- Units are shimmed level, fastened to the wall and to each other, and trimmed on site
Main manufacturers and suppliers
Trade associations: Architectural Woodwork Institute, Woodwork Institute, and Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association.
Sources
- Architectural Woodwork Institute: Design Solutions, summer 2017, https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/awi/designsolutions_2017summer/index.php?startid=50
- Woodworking Network: AWI releases new architectural wood casework standard, https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/architectural-products/awi-releases-new-architectural-wood-casework-standard
- Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association: ANSI/KCMA A161.1 2022, https://kcma.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/KCMA A161.1 2022 High Res.pdf
- Shenandoah Cabinetry: standard cabinet specs, https://shenandoahcabinetry.com/content/dam/sites/shenandoah-site/documents/catalogs-guides-and-planning-documents/Standard_Cabinet_Specs.pdf.coredownload.inline.pdf
- Composite Panel Association: medium density fiberboard, https://www.compositepanel.org/products/medium-density-fiberboard/