Pull Out Shelves Measuring and Mounting Style Guide
This is for the standard drawers only
( Dovetail Drawers See The Measuring Guide on The Product Page )
Quick link to our: INSTALLATION GUIDE
3 EASY STEPS TO MEASURING FOR SLIDE OUT SHELVES
1. Determine which type of cabinet you have ( framed or faceless)
2. Determine which clear opening applies to the area you want to install the shelf in (see a, b & c)
3. Determine which mounting method you will use to mount your shelf
Take time to read other information on this page that explains other details about drawer slides and other product information. Prior to ordering, read the installation guide available by clicking here for "installing pull out shelves"
If you have questions concerning how to properly measure your cabinet,, please contact or call us at: 866-374-3583 prior to ordering. We do not employ a phone call center but can answer 1 or 2 quick questions
1. THERE ARE TWO BASIC TYPES OF CABINETS,
FRAMED AND FRAME-LESS
Framed Cabinets
Framed cabinets have a face frame usually made of a hardwood. When the doors of the cabinet are closed you can still see the cabinet face frames around the doors and drawer fronts and usually you can see the hinges. The interior of the cabinet is wider on both sides than the cabinet opening. The face frame usually extends into the opening about 3/4" or more. Framed cabinets are the traditional style of cabinets in the United States and they are found in more homes than the newer Euro style. Some newer cabinets are hybrids, meaning they have a face frame but hidden hinges like the Euro style
"Euro" or Frame-less style"
Frameless cabinets do not have a face frame. The front edge of the cabinet sidewall is the front of the cabinet. When the doors and drawers are closed they cover almost the entire cabinet. The hinges are totally concealed when the doors are closed. Euro style hinges are larger than the traditional framed cabinet hinge and tend to interfere more with the cabinet opening. Frame less cabinets often use a 32mm hole system for the hinge mounting and shelf support. The interior width is the same as the opening minus the door and hinge interference. Many newer homes have frame less style cabinets. Frame less cabinets always have "side mount" mounting style. See the video on how to measure for pull out shelves for faceless also see the instructions below
2. Clear opening (the area required for the slide out shelf to slide through) is measured typically in three different ways, depending on your cabinet style and hinge placement.
Opening (a) is typical for a middle cabinet installation and will not have door hinge interference. Measure this distance from frame to frame on a face frame cabinet, and from inside wall to inside wall on frame less cabinets (open door and check if any part of the door edge protrudes into the opening, subtract this amount if it does) Typical mounting style for frame-less cabinets in this area is side mount, see mounting definitions
Opening (b) is a base mount and because of the hinge protruding into the opening, the clear opening is measured from the edge of the hinge to the other side
Opening ( c ) is a base mount and has two hinges protruding into the opening, in this case the measurement is from hinge to opposite hinge.
Clear Opening Fraction: This is the part of a whole, for example: if your clear opening is 8 3/8 wide then the clear opening fraction would be 3/8
Variance: if the hinges do not protrude more than 1/2" and are 2 3/4" or more above the cabinet floor, then they do not become a factor and the measurement would be clear opening (a)
All pull out shelves are custom made in 1/8"widths, if you are in doubt always round down
Our Shelves are available with standard drawer slides which are 3/4 extension slides or Full Extension Ball Bearing slides with standard extension or soft close feature there are several mounting methods and hardware that make installing easier that are optional and explained below
Measuring Length: Measurement should be from cabinet back wall to cabinet front minus 1", Typical base cabinets will be 23-23 1/2" deep, in this case, we recommend ordering a 22"long shelf
3. Mounting Definitions
SIDE MOUNT: With this style the drawer slides are mounted directly to the cabinet wall in frame-less cabinets. In face frame cabinets either spacers or other methods to build out the cabinets inner walls to match the cabinet reveal on framed cabinets ( cabinet reveal is the distance from the inside cabinet wall to the edge of the clear opening. This is typically 3/4"-1")
Base Mount :Drawer slides are mounted directly to either the base of the cabinet or to a full depth shelf with the use of Zinc L brackets.
Half Shelf Mount: Drawer slides are mounted onto the cabinets half shelf and into the face frame in the front.
Rear Socket Mount: Drawer slides are mounted to the back of the cabinet and to the face frame in front. When this option is chosen at time of ordering, we will attach the drawer slides to the rear sockets and will arrive ready to install with screws provided. Rear socket have a 2"adjustment allowance, so a 22"deep shelf with rear sockets can be mounted inside of a cabinet up to 24"deep
Drawer Slide Sizes: Drawer slides are in even increments so if a 19"long shelf is ordered then it will come with a 18" drawer slide, 21 with a 20"slide etc.
3/4 Extension Slides, extend the drawer 3/4 out ( a 22" slide will extend the drawer 16")
Full Extension Slides extend the drawer fully out the length of the slide.
Full Extension with Soft Close(available in 14-22" lengths) is a full extension slide with a gas cylinder that softly closes the drawer itself in the last 1"of inward travel. These slides have to be installed properly or will not work as intended. If the slide is too tight it will not retract properly. Nice slide, but for confident installers
Rear Sockets: 3/4 extension rear sockets are a plastic nylon and subject to stress fractures, Full extension rear sockets are a zinc alloy and not subject to stress fractures
Drawers are made 1" less than clear opening size to accommodate the drawer slides that according to drawer slide manufacturer specs must have a 1/2" allowance on either side. Do not take the allowance into consideration as we will at time of production.
We find the largest mistake made by customers is in ordering the correct clear opening as some customers think for example that if the opening is 15" wide that they can order 16" clear opening to get maximum benefit. This does not work as the drawer slide has to come through the clear opening. Please do not attempt to cheat the system. If you have any questions we have a toll free number 866-374.3583 or a contact page to get your questions answered.
Note: If you are working with a faceless cabinet or any similar cabinet and are using base mount brackets, reduce your clear opening by 1/2" to accommodate the base mount hardware. Faceless cabinets are typically side mount so we would not know to reduce for the hardware in this situation
FRAMED CABINETS
Hinges mounted on door and face frame
Hinges mounted on door and frame edge
"EURO" OR FRAMELESS STYLE"
A Typical Frame less Cabinet- Notice The Hinges Are Attached Directly To The Cabinet Inside Wall Click On Picture To Enlarge
FULL SHELF (FRAMED CABINET)
FULL SHELF OR BASE MOUNTING IS THE EASIEST METHOD OF INSTALLING SLIDE OUT SHELVES. . THESE L BRACKETS ALLOW YOU TO ATTACH THE SLIDE OUT SHELF HARDWARE DIRECTLY TO THE CABINET BASE FOR THE BOTTOM SHELF OR ON TO AN EXISTING FULL DEPTH SHELF. NOT FOR FACELESS CABINETS.THE FULL SHELF INSTALLATION IS NOT ONLY THE EASIEST WAY TO INSTALL PULL OUT SHELVES, IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE STRONGEST INSTALLATIONS.
HALF SHELF (FRAMED CABINET)
MANY BASE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM CABINETS HAVE A SHORT "HALF" SHELF FOR THE UPPER SHELF. THIS SHELF IS USUALLY ABOUT 10" TO 12" DEEP. YOU CAN INSTALL A FULL DEPTH SLIDE OUT SHELF WHERE YOUR HALF SHELF IS. THIS L BRACKET CAN BE SCREWED TO THE EXISTING HALF SHELF. THE FRONT OF THE GLIDES CAN BE ATTACHED TO THE CABINET FACE FRAME.
REAR SOCKETS (FRAMED CABINETS
REAR SOCKETS ARE NYLON OR (ZINC ON FULL EXTENSION BRACKETS) WHICH THE DRAWER GLIDE SLIPS INTO FOR ATTACHING THE GLIDE TO THE CABINET BACK .THE FRONT OF THE GLIDES CAN BE ATTACHED TO THE CABINET FACE FRAME, THEY CAN BE INSTALLED AS DESCRIBED IN OUR INSTALLATION GUIDE VIDEO OR THEY CAN BE MOUNTED USING EUROSPACERS. REAR SOCKETS WILL NOT WORK WITH SHELVES OVER 22" DEEP SO A 24" DEEP CABINET IS THE MAXIMUM AS THE REAR SOCKET ALLOWS FOR 2" ADJUSTMENT
SIDE MOUNT (FRAMED OR FRAME LESS CABINETS)
AS THE NAME IMPLIES SIDE MOUNTING USES YOUR CABINET SIDEWALLS TO MOUNT YOUR SLIDE OUT SHELVES. SIDE MOUNTING USUALLY REQUIRES MORE WORK THAN THE FULL SHELF INSTALLATION BUT IT IS THE MOST SPACE EFFICIENT. IF YOUR CABINET HAS A LARGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OPENING SIZE AND THE INSIDE DIMENSION SIDE MOUNTING MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT CHOICE. AS THE DISTANCE FROM THE SIDEWALL INCREASES SO DOES THE LEVERAGE ON THE MOUNTING SCREWS. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR SIDEWALL THICKNESS BEFORE PLACING ANY SCREWS. SIDE MOUNTING CAN BE DONE WITH SPACERS OR YOU CAN USE WOOD STRIPS TO BUILD UP THE SPACE AS NEEDED. THE STANDARD SPACERS ARE AVAILABLE IN 1/8", 3/8" AND 1/2".
THERE ARE ALSO EURO SPACERS THAT CAN BE USED ON FRAMED OR FRAME LESS CABINETS.
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