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Refrigerator End Panels

15 years ago

My DH and I are attempting to install cabinets ourselves. We are having issues sticking with the plan the KD put together. She has proved difficult and we are avoiding going back to her for any further input. She had purchased tall filler and some really flimsy 1/8th"finished panel to construct an end panel. This solution seems to us not to be one for real support,but rather a cosmetic issue. For the amount of work - and the likelihood that flimsy panel will just bow over time,we are wondering if we can just skip the panel altogether and leave the side of the refrig exposed.

We need to determine if refrig end panels need to be used or if they are purely cosmetic. Our refrig is against a side wall (with 3 inches allowed for opening door) on the left. To the right is a standard 12" deep cabinet. The over the refrig cab is 24 inches deep. (the refrig will be standard depth)

If I attach the 24" cabinet to both the back and left side walls do we have to have a panel on the right side?

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Comments (3)

smilingjudy
15 years ago
Nope, you don't have to use the panel. It is decorative only.

For your peace of mind: my over-fridge cab is attached to the wall behind and a pantry cab to the left. The panel is then attached to it and some lower cabs on the other side. So, the cabs are actually holding up the panel, not the other way around.
Buehl
15 years ago
No, you don't have to use it, but..are you sure you'll like the look of the refrigerator sides w/o panels? I'm surprised your end panels are so thin! Ours are 3/4".

What color is your refrigerator? If SS, are the sides also SS? (Our SS refrigerator has black sides). We actually cut our end panel 27" deep to hide the entire side and leave only the door sticking out beyond the panels (yes, it's "counter depth"). For me, not putting the end panel(s) on would make my kitchen look "unfinished"...but not everyone feels that way.

OK....you say the wood panel you have is 1/8"? Is it really a veneer? Perhaps it's meant to be put over a thicker piece of plywood or something. How wide is it? If it's 30" or so, perhaps you can take the finished piece and put it on a thicker piece...wrapping it around the front and over a couple of inches on the refrigerator side (far enough in so you can't tell it's not the entire piece).

Hmmm...maybe she intended to use a thicker piece of plywood (or whatever), attach the 1/8" piece to the thicker piece on the outside, then cover the end w/the filler.

Just a couple of thoughts/ideas for handling the situation. BTW...what are your cabinets? If all else fails, could you go elsewhere and order a 3/4" piece in the same wood & finish? It might be a bit more expensive, but it might be worth it.

You might also try posting on the Remodeling Forum...they may have ideas as well.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Remodeling Forum
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Rubyfig that is a good idea. I'll talk to my carpenter. My SIL helped us buy the cabinets through her lumber yard so that we could get her builder's discount (I am very fortunate). I assumed that she would be sympathetic when I brought the toe kicks to her attention. I assumed it was the lumber yard's fault. But her response was, "that's how my refrigerator panels are and that is how yours were ordered". The difference between her kitchen and mine, however, is that her refrigerator is in between other cabinets on both sides. My refrigerator is on the end of the row. So the toe kick isn't so bad in her case I guess (I still wouldn't want it). But in my situation if we install that end panel, when you stand beside the fridge you see the toe kick cut out and that is just weird and in my opinion just plain ordered wrong. It took more work for Cabico to cut out the toe kick vs just sending us the panel uncut. So I don't buy that it HAD to be that way as she is telling me. Just for the record, I love my SIL and don't want this to cause a wedge between us. I need to act delicately. So asking for a custom made panel through my carpenter probably is the way to go. I hate to waste these expensive panels . . . I hate to waste God's resources. I wonder if I can have my carpenter fill in the toe kick cut out and have it look okay.
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raehelen
15 years ago
Though it's just cosmetic, if you've already paid for the panel, why not make a 'box' to attach the 1/8" piece to using 1X1" or 2X2"?

If seeing the side of the fridge isn't an issue, will you get your money back for the panel?

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