Accurately measuring your cabinet doors is crucial for installing hidden hinges correctly. The process depends on your cabinet type (full overlay, half overlay, or inset). This guide outlines the steps for each.
Understanding Cabinet Door Overlay
Before measuring, understand your cabinet door's overlay:
- Full Overlay: The door completely covers the face frame, leaving no frame visible when closed.
- Half Overlay: The door partially covers the face frame, leaving some frame visible when closed.
- Inset: The door sits inside the face frame.
Measuring for Hidden Hinges
1. Determine your Cabinet Type: Identify whether your cabinets are full overlay, half overlay, or inset. This dictates the hinge placement and overall measurement approach.
2. Measure the Overlay (if applicable):
- Full Overlay: Measure the distance the door overlaps the face frame. This is your overlay measurement. For example, if the door overlaps by 1/2 inch on each side, your overlay is 1/2 inch.
- Half Overlay: Measure the distance the door overlaps the face frame. This is your overlay measurement.
- Inset: No overlay measurement is needed for inset cabinets.
3. Measure the Door Width and Height: Measure the exact width and height of your cabinet door.
4. Measure the Cabinet Opening (for Full/Half Overlay): Measure the width of the cabinet opening. You will use this measurement to calculate the placement of your hinges, taking into account the overlap.
Example: Full Overlay Cabinet
Let's say your cabinet door overlaps the face frame by 1/2" on each side (1" total overlap). Your cabinet opening is 20". To install hinges on a full overlay door, one might use a concealed overlay hinge that compensates for the 1/2 inch overlap as indicated in one of the references: "As an example, if your cabinet door overlays your face frame 1/2" on all four sides, then you will need a 1/2" concealed overlay hinge". This hinge would be positioned accordingly. Note that hinge placement is further discussed in the next section.
Example: Half Overlay Cabinet
Suppose your cabinet door has a 1/4" overlap on each side (1/2" total). Your cabinet opening is 18". Using similar principles as the full overlay example, you'll want to take into consideration this smaller overlap when positioning the hinges.
Example: Inset Cabinet
For inset cabinets, the door sits within the frame. Measurements would focus on the door dimensions and the recess within the frame. The hinges are positioned to allow the door to sit flush within the frame.
Hinge Placement & Additional Considerations
- Hinge Placement Guides: Most concealed hinge manufacturers provide detailed instructions and templates for accurate placement. Follow these instructions carefully.
- Hinge Adjustability: Many concealed hinges offer adjustability for fine-tuning alignment. This compensates for slight variations in measurements or cabinet construction.
- Number of Hinges: The number of hinges depends on the door size and weight. Larger or heavier doors require more hinges for stability.
- Door Weight: Consider the weight of your doors. Heavier doors require more robust hinges.
The references provided illustrate different approaches and considerations for measuring, depending on the cabinet's specifics. Some references emphasize measuring cabinet openings and utilizing that information alongside door measurements, while others highlight the importance of overlay measurement for proper hinge placement. The key is understanding your cabinet type and then applying the appropriate measuring techniques to ensure the hinges fit correctly and the doors operate smoothly.
