This document provides information about cabinets, including their types, materials, and applications. It discusses the main types of cabinets used in kitchens such as base cabinets, wall cabinets, and pantry cabinets. It also describes cabinet components and materials like hardwood, plywood, MDF, and veneers that are commonly used. Finally, it lists some common applications of cabinets beyond kitchens and bathrooms, including in other rooms of homes, offices, stores, hospitals, and garages.

1. BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION AND
MATERIALS IV
REPORT ON CABINETS
SUBMITTED BY-
SHRUTI GARG
B. ARCH 2 - A

2.  INTRODUCTION
A cabinet is a case or cupboard with shelves
and/or drawers for storing or displaying items.
Some cabinets are standalone while others are
built in to a wall or are attached to it.
Cabinets sometimes have one or more doors on the
front, which are mounted with door hardware, and
occasionally a lock.
Cabinets may have one or more doors, drawers,
and/or shelves. Short cabinets often have a
finished surface on top that can be used for
display, or as a working surface, such as
the countertops found in kitchens.

3.  TYPES OF CABINETS
1. Base Cabinet -
A cabinet that sits on the floor. These cabinets
usually support the countertops. They differ from
wall cabinets which hang on the wall. Base
cabinets are typically 24" deep, and vary by
width. They are the most important because they
support one of the most important and one of the
heaviest items in any kitchen. Therefore, they
need to be strong, sturdy, and well-balanced. Base
cabinets rest atop a four-inch recessed riser –
toe kick.
2. Wall Cabinet -
Wall cabinets, upper cabinets, or wall-mounted
kitchen cabinets. They contrast base cabinets and
position above them. While base cabinets are
important because they support countertops and
give you a lot of storage options, wall cabinets
are the most important for remodelling
processes. Upper or wall cabinets are most visible
and carry the most of the looks and functionality
of any kitchen. At the same time, wall cabinets

4. also provide much-needed storage space. Upper or
wall cabinetry is usually 12 inches deep.
3. Pantry (Tall) Cabinets for More Storage -
Pantry or Tall Cabinets feature full height. They
start from the floor and extend to the ceiling.
The height of pantry cabinets guarantees the
maximum of storage usage. Pantry or Tall cabinets
usually range in height from 84 to 96 inches per
unit. They give the kitchen a dramatically
vertical look and can serve as a broom storage
because of their size.
4. Specialty Units –
Specialty units maximize square footage and
organization efforts. They include corner
cabinets, sink/cooktop fronts, suspended units,
hutches, bottle racks and appliance garages. An
18-inch backsplash creates usable workspace
between countertops and the bottom edge of upper
cabinets.

5.  TERMINOLOGIES
Cabinet Carcass - The entire box of the cabinet.

6. Concealed Hinge - A hinge that is not visible on
the front door of the cabinet. Concealed hinges
are attached to the inside of the door.
rawer Face - The front piece that is attached to
the drawer box. Can also be called the drawer
front. This is where the drawer handle is
attached.
Drawer Box - The box of the drawer - typically
excluding the front face, but sometimes the
front face is part of the drawer box.

7. Exposed Hinge - A hinge that is visible on the
outside edge of the cabinet door when the door
is closed.
Face Frame - The wood frame that is attached to
the front edges of the box of the cabinet. The
frame adds strength to the box and the cabinet
doors are inset into the face frame for a clean
look. Face Frame cabinets differ from frameless
cabinets by adding this wood frame around the
front of the cabinet, frameless cabinets have no
front face frame.

8. Frameless Cabinet - A cabinet that does not use
a frame on the front edge of the cabinet. the
front of the cabinet exposes the sides, top and
bottom of the cabinet box, the full width and
height doors then cover the cabinet box to the
edges.
Full-insert - A cabinet style where the doors
fit inside of the face frame when they are
closed (as opposed to sitting on top of the face

9. frame which is what you have in a frameless
cabinet).
Full Overlay - A cabinet style where the cabinet
door or drawer covers all of the cabinet frame
so that only the cabinet door is seen with no
part of the face frame visible.
Partial overlay - A cabinet style where the
cabinet door or drawer partially overlaps the
cabinet face frame. When the drawers or doors
are closed part of the face frame remains
visible.

10. Rail - The horizontal pieces of a face frame or
door frame
Stile - The vertical pieces of a face frame or
door frame
Panel - The centre section of a door
Toe Kick - The set back or cut-out at the bottom
of a cabinet that allows room for feet when
standing in front of the cabinet.

11. Centre Panel: The raised or flat panel in the
middle of cabinetry doors enclosed by stiles and
rails.
Centre Stile: Sometimes called a mullion, this
is the raised rail in the middle of the
cabinetry doors that is enclosed by stiles and
rails.
Edge Profile: Shape put on the outside edge of
the cabinetry doors or cabinetry drawers.
Reveal: On a framed cabinet, the distance
between the outside edge of the face frame and
the outside edge of the door.

12.  MATERIALS –
Hardwood - The wood from leaf-dropping trees is
the hardest strongest and most durable wood that
nature produces - the choices also make great
kitchen cabinets. Examples include: oak, maple,
hickory, cherry, alder and possibly exotic
hardwoods like lupus.

13. Plywood - Layers of medium to softer woods glued
together to form a strong cabinet building
material. The wood grains of each successive
layer run at different angles; this creates
strength that exceeds solid hardwoods.
Relatively easy to work with.
MDF - Medium-density Fibreboard - MDF wood is
fine wood fibers and glue that have been fused
together with pressure and heat. The material is

14. strong and relatively inexpensive - especially
when compared to hardwoods. Does not expand and
contract, and readily accepts wood veneers.
Particle Board - Is basically sawdust and glue
that have been fused together with pressure and
heat. The material is not as strong as MDF.

15. Wood Veneer - Is thin sheets - typically of real
wood - glued to a substrate like Medium-density
Fibreboard. Veneer gives you the appearance of
solid wood cabinets, without costing as much.
Melamine - Is thin sheets of plastic - fused to
a substrate material like MDF board. Plastic is
more scratch and stain resistant than wood.
Melamine comes in an almost endless assortment
of colours.

16. Metal - Most often stainless steel, steel or
aluminium - metal doors are known for their
strength and durability.
Thermofoil - A thin layer of vinyl that is
vacuum-pressed onto cabinet doors and drawer
fronts that are typically constructed of medium-
density fibreboard. Creates an easy to clean
surface, wide range of colours and the option
for high gloss finishes. Used mostly in foreign
countries.

17. APPLICATIONS
Cabinet or Case Work Cabinets commonly found in
1. Kitchens and Bathrooms
2. other home areas: family room, walk-in-
closet
3. library
4. Office’s store
5. Buildings
6. Hospitals
7. Laundry room
8.Garage