Resources

The Door Company

Drawer Kit Assembly Instructions

Materials needed for assembly: drawer sides, drawer bottom, wood glue, and a mallet.

1 Lay Out Your Pieces:

• Organize all components of the drawer box before starting.

2 Apply Glue to the Front:

• Take the front piece and apply a small drop of wood glue to one set of dovetail pockets.
• Remember: Less is more! Too much glue can create a mess that needs sanding after it dries.

3 Attach the First Side:

• Choose one of the sides and insert the front with the glue into it.
• Lightly tap the two pieces together using a mallet (avoid using a regular hammer to prevent damage).

4 Glue the Back:

• Apply glue to one set of dovetail pockets on the back, similar to the front.
• Tap the back into the side.

5 Insert the Bottom:

• Place the drawer box bottom into the groove on the inside of the drawer.

6 Attach the Last Side:

• Apply a small dab of glue to each remaining dovetail pocket on the front and back pieces.
• Lightly tap the last side into the front and back.

7 Check for Squareness:

• Use an engineer square to check each corner for squareness.
• If gaps exist, gently push the corner until both sides touch the square.

8 Optional Wood Putty:

• If desired, apply wood putty to each joint according to the manufacturer’s instructions and let it dry.

9 Final Sanding:

• Once fully assembled, sand the dovetail joints to remove excess glue (and putty, if used) for a smooth finish.

Measuring Cabinet Door Overlay

The overlay refers to the distance a cabinet door or drawer front extends beyond the opening to fully cover it. This measurement may not be uniform on all four sides, making it somewhat challenging to determine. If you’d like assistance, feel free to contact our office to schedule a visit from one of our associates who can measure for you. Alternatively, if you’re up for a DIY project, here’s a guide on how to measure:

1. Check the Hinge: Check the hinges attaching your doors to the cabinet. Some hinges have the overlay size engraved on the part attached to the cabinet. This tells you the overlay for the hinge side of the door. If no overlay is visible, this can be calculated the same as the remaining sides.
2. Ensure Proper Closure: Make sure the door or drawer is fully closed and aligned properly. An opened or misaligned door can lead to incorrect overlay measurements, impacting the fit and function of your cabinetry.
3. Mark the Sides: With the door or drawer closed, take a fine-point pencil and lightly draw a small mark on the other 3 sides of the door. Ensure these marks are precise and visible without damaging any of the finish on your cabinet. If the hinges did not have a size indicated, be sure to mark that side of the door as well. All 4 sides of the drawer front should be marked for reference.
4. Measure the Overlay: Open the door or drawer then take a measuring tape or ruler and measure from the inside edge of the frame out to your marked line, keeping your tool flat against the frame to avoid errors. This will provide you the overlay measurement for each side, which typically ranges from 1/4″ to 1-1/2″. Be sure to measure to the nearest 1/16″ for the most accurate results.
5. Double-Check Measurements: After measuring, double-check your measurements. Measure each side twice and compare the results before proceeding to ensure accuracy. This will ensure that what you order will be the right fit and size for your cabinet.
6. Document Your Measurements: Write down your measurements in a clear format for future reference. This will help when the time comes to calculate door sizes, order your new doors and drawer fronts, and reinstall back on the proper cabinet.
   

Measuring for New Cabinet Doors and Drawer Fronts

All orders must be for actual doors and drawer front sizes. The size you give us is the size we will make for you.

If your cabinet openings are not square, make sure you use the larger of the two measurements. Round all measurements off to the nearest 1/16 of an inch.

For a single door covering the opening: Take the overlay of the door or front times 2 plus the opening width. Next take the overlay of the door or front times 2 plus the opening height. This will give you the dimension of your new door. See Example A. (The overlay is the distance that the cabinet door extends past the door opening in all four directions in order to cover it).

For two doors covering a single opening: Take the overlay of the doors times 2 plus the opening width minus 1/8”. Divide this number by 2. Next take the overlay of the doors times 2 plus the opening height. This will give you the dimension of your new door. See Example B.

Example A: If the rough opening is 16 inches wide and 32 inches tall and the overlay is ½”, your door would be 17 inches by 33 inches.

(½” x 2) + 16 = 17” wide

(½” x 2) + 32 = 33” tall

Example B: If the rough opening is 32 inches wide and 34 inches tall, the overlay is ½”, and you want two (2) doors for that opening, then the two (2) doors would be 16 7/16” inches wide and 35 inches tall each.

((½” x 2) + 32 – 1/8”) ÷ 2 = 16 7/16” wide

(½” x 2) + 34 = 35” tall