The more traditional-looking face-frame cabinets differ only slightly from frameless cabinets in terms of
installation. The opening of the cabinet is surrounded by vertical and horizontal frames called “stiles” and “rails.” The face frame typically overhangs the cabinet case on the outside by 1⁄16" to 1⁄8". Because of this
overhang, the frames must be the connection point rather than the cabinet case. Use 21⁄2" No.10 wood
screws to connect the frames (or use special 21⁄2"- or 3"-long cabinet screws). Do not screw the cabinet
sides together at any other point than the face frame, as this will skew the cabinets and create structural
stress.
Most face-frame cabinets use overlay doors. The hinges for these doors simply attach to the back of the door and to the side or face of the cabinet faceframe with screws. They are called “overlay wrap” or “partial wrap” hinges if they attach to the side of the face frame, and they are called “semi-concealed” if they attach to the front of the face-frame. Cup or Euro-style hinges are available for face-frame cabinets, but are somewhat more difficult to install if the doors have not been predrilled for this hinge style. The best way to attach the door hardware uniformly is to use a drilling template. You can usually purchase one where you purchase the cabinets or hardware.
Tools & Materials
Drill
No. 10 counterbore bit
5⁄64" self-centering vix bit
Cabinet screws (or 21⁄2"
No. 10 screws)
Filler strip (if needed)
3⁄4" finish-grade plywood
Finish materials
Drilling template
To join face-frame cabinets, set the cabinets in position, aligned with the frame faces flush and the frame tops flush. Clamp the frames together at the top and bottom. Using a drill with a No.10 counterbore bit, drill two pilot holes through the sides of the frame into the adjoining frame. Attach the frames with cabinet screws or 21⁄2" No. 10 screws.
Start at the corner when installing a bank of cabinets that includes a blind corner cabinet. Attach the cabinet adjoining the corner by driving screws through the face frame. If a filler strip is necessary to fill a gap between the two cabinets, attach the filler strip to the base cabinet first and then run screws through the corner cabinet face frame and into the filler strip only after the adjoining cabinet is positioned and shimmed.
To install partial wrap overlay hinges, use a template to mark the hinge locations on the back of the door. Drill 5⁄64"-dia. pilot holes no more than 3⁄8" deep using a self-centering vix bit. Screw the hinge to the door back. Place the hinge against the face frame and mark the screw holes. Drill 5⁄64" pilot holes. Drive all the screws for both hinges partially, then tighten all.
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