Sub Zero panel trouble - can you help?

13 years ago

My Sub Zero arrived - it's the over under 36inch. I wanted a panel for it. It has a silver trim around the door. My cabinet maker says this will have to show because he has to put the panel inside the trim.

I don't want that thing showing! I want the panel to completely cover the fridge. Is it my cabinet maker or did SZ change something?

My fridge:

From amac's kitchen

Close up:

From amac's kitchen

What I want:

From amac's kitchen

Would appreciate any advice on what to do...

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Comments (5)

darbuka
13 years ago
Amac, there are two types of Sub Zero door installations. One is overlay,
flush inset...which is what you want. The other is framed, where the metal
frame shows around the panel...which is seems you received.

Go to the SZ page where you got the pic you included. Look at the pic
below it, on the bottom. That is framed.

HTH
plllog
13 years ago
Just be aware that if you go full overlay you'll limit the amount the fridge can open. If it's flush with the other cabinets, and perhaps even if it sticks out a little, you may be limited to a 90 or 100 degree opening. This isn't a big deal, but it makes it harder to remove the drawers.
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Thanks everyone for the information. What we're planning (although it could change yet) for the outer "show panels" is to have 6 panels to match our cabinets. They will be 2 panels wide, and have a "door" panel, a "drawer" panel, then another taller "door" on top of that. Here's a SketchUp drawing of how we think it will look: I also posted this in the woodworking forum, and got this response: I make my door inserts as two pieces. One piece is the 'show panel', usually 3/4' thick, it's the door that you actually see. The assembled stiles, rails, raised panels, etc. All painted or stained up purdy. The second set of pieces I make combine the .10' spacer and the .25' panel in one. I usually rip roughly 2' to 3' wide strips of 3/4' poplar on my table saw. I'll rip a 3/4' thick poplar board to say about 3' wide. I then reset the fence to just a tad under 3/8', flip the board up on edge, and run it through so I now have ~3/8' shy thick by 3' wide strips of poplar. Now I rest the fence to 1/4' from the blade and raise the blade to about 5/16' high. I then run the strips through. This will waste away something like a rabbet, roughly .10' by 5/16'. This poplar strip now serves as both my .10' shim and my .25' thick backer panel. I attach them to the back of my door panel, around the perimeter of the panel. I'll certainly post pictures once it's done.
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sageviews... short answer is I have no idea. Longer answer: I'm not familiar with Kitchenaid built-in models, so I can't say for sure, but... It's not so much the depth with a built-in, or the space you allow beside it, as it is the hinges on the refrigerator door. While you could leave a 1/2" clearance all the way around (and please don't let anyone tell you that looks bad, many current refrigerators require that space, and lots of people have them and it sure doesn't bother them) - your doors may still jut out a bit. Depending where you live and your personal tastes, this might be perfectly fine, or it might not suit you. Sub Zero realized a while back that integrated (flush with cabinetry) was becoming popular, so their built-ins, which are not true integrated, had hinges that operated in such a way that the door does not need to extend beyond the cabinetry beside it to open completely. Thus, if someone had the depth and space, they could install the SZ built-ins very similar to an integrated... flush with the cabinetry. I don't think Kitchenaid did this with their built-in hinges. You'd really have to go look at them, and inquire. The easiest way to tell is to take a piece of flat wood (a 1 x 8 or a small piece of plywood - or even a stiff notepad), hold it just beside the door - flush, and open the door the way. Does it hit the wood? If yes, you can't flush install. Is that horrible? If one really wants panels but can't find integrated or it's beyond the remodel budget, no, I don't think so. Just my opinion. It's kind of hard for me to explain the difference in hinges, but the SZ's allow the door to open in place, it does not need side-room. I can't tell by looking at Kitchenaide's site, but I'm pretty sure they require a non-flush install. Basically, the difference is this: SZ built in flush inset: kitchenaide built in flush inset: Hope whatever you decide, you are happy with it : )
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angieszen
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you darbuka, I have been trying to read all the instructions in the SubZero install guide and you confirmed it - I want the overlay installation.

Thank you Plllog... I was told by Sub Zero rep that there is a 90 degree catch on the fridge - they don't want you to open it any further than that, so I was already prepared to be limited. My appliance guru has the same fridge and she says she can get all the drawers out at 90 degrees. I did homework on this because where fridge is in my kitchen there is not much more space for it to open if it could.

The only issue I might have is the install isn't flush - it does stick out a few inches past the one cabinet run it is next to...will have to see tomorrow. My cabinets are looking good coming in but I do sense the cabinet maker has not done many appliance panels. He is also worried about the Meile panel. Sigh.

I just want it to all be over!!!

Thanks again everyone...
plllog
13 years ago
Yes, there's a trick to getting the drawers out, you have to angle up on them.

Good luck with the cabinetmaker!!
mamabear2010
13 years ago
Amac - I just got my fridge and it too has that silver trim around the doors! I am curious if you were able to get the full overlay look and not have the silver trim showing? Was it just a matter of the panels being made correctly? It doesn't seem like there are different model options to order for framed vs. full overlay as darkuba mentioned.

Thanks much!

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Sub Zero panel trouble - can you help?

Comments (5)

darbuka

plllog

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angieszen
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plllog

mamabear2010

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Sub Zero panel trouble - can you help?

Comments (5)

darbuka

plllog

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angieszenOriginal Author

plllog

mamabear2010

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angieszen
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