skip to main content

How to tell if soft close were installed on kitchen cabinets?

4 years ago

Hello,

I am having a new kitchen installed. With the cabinet maker, the cabinets were advertised as "Gentle Touch Doors." My understanding is that this means they can't slam due to hinge or at least have some type of absorber installed somewhere (like something sticks out and absorbs the door as it closes).

When I went to close the cabinets with a bit of a push it sounded and felt like they slammed. Am I missing something?

What should I be looking for to ensure they provided what I paid for or am I assuming that "Gentle Touch" means more than I should?

Featured Answer

Michelle misses Sophie

4 years ago

A Google search will show you what "gentle touch" for hinges is supposed to be. Here is one resource I found that you might check against (especially if these are your cabinets)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

gtcircus
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
When you close or try to close the door to a kitchen cabinet, it won’t slam shut with a thud. It gently closes. Think of it as anti-anger campaign cabinet, you generally can’t slam the doors shut and when you push in on drawers they generally close/retract quietly. I’m not saying by this post that if you try to use unusual force you can’t slam a cabinet shut, I’m just saying with normal use, cabinet doors close quietly.
Related Discussions
I need some soft close dampers for my cabinet doors
Q
Comments (36)
I installed these on all my kitchen cabinet doors after a facelift remodel: https://www.rokhardware.com/hardware-fasteners/soft-close-add-ons/blumotion-soft-close-with-spacer-screws-polybag.html I think I got mine from Rockler for about $3 each, but a lot of places sell them. I installed them all using a Dremel stylus. My cabs are full overlay. No problems. It's been 5 years and nary a slam. I wasn't sure if I'd need the adapter piece, so I ordered one. Ended up not needing the adapter so saved some money getting devices without. Laurie, my doors are painted maple shaker with MDF inserts. They are not super heavy. The door doesn't just up and close on its own. You give it a bit of a shove, as you would with a door that doesn't soft close, and momentum does the rest.
...See More
Installing Ikea/Blum soft close hinges
Q
Comments (5)
Are you doing the 125 degree door hinges? I was trying to install some last night and was struggling also. I am able to do it if I come from the back going in at slight angle. (Like this video, which you have probably already seen.) But sometimes I have to actually put my entire palm on the damper to get it to engage some of the time. I installed all of the door hinges already, but I had the same experience with the doors. Sometimes they snap in real easy, and occasionally, there needs to be more force than you would think to make it work. Of course, I don't like forcing these things because that seems wrong, so I try to be careful.
...See More
Blum overlay compact soft close hinges - cabinet not level
Q
Comments (9)
The longest I have - which is 24". I have 2 of those that length. I will say that prior to the countertops being installed, we used the contractor's long level (a long one that spanned several cabinets) - and we checked out the leveling of the base cabinets. They were spot on, side to side, front to back, wherever we laid the level. I will say that is the one thing he seemed to do well. I was thinking about contacting Kraftmaid, as we had this issue with the pull out trash. A Kraftmaid rep happened to be at our house for something else - and the rep fixed the pull out trash as we told him our contractor said he had done everything he could to get it level (one side was not level). The rep fixed it. I don't know exactly what he did to fix it though, I was speaking with the other person there with him about the issue they were there about.
...See More
Should the tilt out tray on the kitchen sink cabinet also soft close?
Q
Comments (26)
@Sunshyne, here is mine. I have a large single bowl sink in an island, with a 4" countertop rim on the front. My cabinets are partial reveal. I retrofitted a tilt out, I think it was the RevAShelf one at Lowe's but I'm not sure. It closes completely, so the false front looks exactly like it did before I took it off. I do remember it was challenging to be able to install the hinges with a big sink, because it made it hard to get my drill in there. It doesn't have soft close, I just shut it with the cabinet handle and don't let it slam shut (those hinges are plenty strong!). And I never have issues with ickiness growing in there, I just wash out my brush and give it a good shake before I put it away. I'm not a sponge person so I can't speak for how that would be. I do have to buy certain brands of the scrub brush that will fit in the tilt-out....some have handles that are too long.
...See More
ck_squared
4 years ago
If you gently close it part way, the mechanism should pull it shut the rest of the way whether it's a drawer or a door. Mine have no "thud" when they close.
jdesign_gw
4 years ago
That a picture. Look for a name on the hinge. Blum and other quality hinges have mechanis built in to the hinge you don't see anything.
User
4 years ago
From the Pdf that Michelle linked to:

The soft-close of the hinges is adjustable and you get to control it.
Joe Blow
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you. I will take some pictures when I am on site and try to compare against these photos and the brand.

When I tested the cabinets last time they had no resistance.

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Soft Green Cabinets and a Wood Island

By Jeannie Matteucci

A Seattle designer helps a couple rethink their layout and create a fresh palette that honors the home’s Craftsman roots

KITCHEN DESIGN Ecofriendly Kitchen: Healthier Kitchen Cabinets

By Ivon Street Studio

Earth-friendly kitchen cabinet materials and finishes offer a host of health benefits for you and the planet. Here's a rundown

INSIDE HOUZZ Top Kitchen and Cabinet Styles in Kitchen Remodels

By Erin Carlyle

Transitional is the No. 1 kitchen style and Shaker leads for cabinets, the 2019 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study finds

MOST POPULAR Is This the Year Blue and Green Kitchen Cabinets Edge Out White?

By Mitchell Parker

Neutrals still dominate cabinet color. But some of the most popular recent kitchens on Houzz tell a different story

INSIDE HOUZZ Inside Houzz: Refaced Cabinets Transform a Kitchen

By Annie Thornton

No walls came down. No windows were added. But this once-dark kitchen looks completely different, thanks to bright new surfaces

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Red Cabinets Wow in a Midcentury Modern Home

By Becky Harris

Smart storage, extra countertop space and soft lighting make this kitchen a perfect fit for a designer and her husband

BEFORE AND AFTERS Kitchen of the Week: Gray Cabinets, Mixed Metals and Italian Love

By Kathleen McCleary

Bold white, soft gray, touches of wood and brass, and a European-style coffee station enliven a new kitchen

KITCHEN DESIGN Clean Lines and Soft Colors in a South London Kitchen

A pared-back Shaker kitchen has a fresh feel and functions as a bright, well-ordered family hub

KITCHEN STORAGE Kitchen of the Week: Bamboo Cabinets Hide Impressive Storage

By Carol Crotta

This serene kitchen opens up to reveal well-organized storage areas for a family that likes to cook and entertain

KITCHEN CABINETS How High Should You Hang Your Upper Kitchen Cabinets?

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Don’t let industry norms box you in. Here are some reasons why you might want more space above your countertops

Sponsored

EK Interior Design

5 Reviews

TIMELESS INTERIOR DESIGN FOR ENDLESS MEMORIES

More Discussions

I’m already over it. This kitchen trend is everywhere and overdone.

94

quartzite countertop suggestions

6

Calacatta quartzite

5

Kraftmaid Cabinet- warm white vs cottage

1

Starmark vs WF, US Cabinet Depot, Tedd Wood

6