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Need assistance on sizing for 800 Series Bosch Panel Ready Dishwasher

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Hi!We purchased an 800 series Bosch Dishwasher and installed it. It fits perfectly in our opening measuring 23 15/16". We have inset cabinets measuring 34.5". The toe kick is 4" so the actual face frames are 30.5". I would like the panel to line up with the bottom rail, but if I go based on Bosch specs which says the Max length should be 30 1/8", I will have a 3/8" gap on top. Is this normal? Or would you add another 1/8" or 1/4"?

When I ask the cabinet maker to make an inset door, an lets say there is a gap of 3/8" or less on top, should I just have them make the top rail skinnier so that the drawer and door line up the the adjacent cabinets?

Also, what size gap would you choose for the sides? 1/8"?

Thanks for the help! Super excited.

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Comments (4)

DIY2Much2Do
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
mholtz, I went through this install process, and learned a few things. I'll show you what I did and hopefully it will make it easier for you.

First, the easy part... 1/8" at the sides should be fine. I used about 3/16" but it would work with 1/8".

The Bosch panel template assumes a few things. First, it assumes that you will mount the dishwasher as high as it will go, up against the bottom of the counter. And that you will mount the wood panel flush with the top of the dishwasher door. If you install it like that with a door taller than 30 1/8", it will bind at the bottom baseboard when opening. The bottom is where the problem with the taller panel occurs.

However, for best appearance you want your panel taller, to match the bottom and top of the adjacent doors and/or drawer stacks, with a consistent gap under the counter edge. You should get your panel made to that height, ignoring the 30 1/8" limit.

To make this work however, you need to mount the dishwasher lower, with the wood panel higher than the door, to allow it to fully open. It's tough to explain in words, so I made a couple of diagrams.

Example 1 is following the template directions, but a taller door binds at the bottom.

Example 2 is what I ended up doing to accommodate the taller panel.
DIY2Much2Do
7 years ago
Continued...

First two photos show the 3/4" blocking I added at the top of the cabinet. You need one at the front and back to keep the dishwasher level.

Photo below shows the panel mounted mounted higher than the dishwasher door.

I made the baseboard lower to make sure there was enough clearance to open. It doesn't show at all.

It ended up lining up pretty well with adjacent cabinetry.

Good luck and post back on your results.
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mholtz2323
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks so much for taking the time to write back and making those diagrams!

Is it safe to assume that as long as the bottom rail doesn't go beyond the adjacent cabinets (meaning the bottom of the cabinets line up perfectly) it will function properly and open all the way? Then I can decide if I want less of a gap on top, by ordering a larger panel and just installing it a little bit above the control panel?

My main thing is making sure if I keep the bottoms rails even, it will open all the way...

Thanks!
DIY2Much2Do
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I think that as long as the bottom of the panel is no more than 30 1/8" below the top of the dishwasher door, it should open. Mine is at about 29 1/2". Then you can adjust the dishwasher height with the leveling legs and spacers at the top to align the panel with the adjacent cabinetry. That's how I understand it. You should test and verify.

If your dishwasher is already installed tight to the underside of the counter, it may need to be lowered to make it all work.

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