Cabinet Drawers and Slides

The kitchen is an important aspect to the home inspection process and is usually a top priority for our clients.  The kitchen is the hub of a home and is where most families spend the majority of their time.  This post will focus on the different types of drawers and drawer slides found in common North American kitchens and how they compare with each other.  

Drawers in lower cabinets improve both accessibility and usable storage volume of the cabinet. Materials and construction vary considerably depending on the quality and price of the kitchen. Melamine on particle board sides usually with nailed corners are commonly used in mass produced kitchens. These are the least expensive available and are normally used with roller & track or side mount slides. This combination allows the drawer to be pulled out only part way from the cabinet leaving approximately one quarter of the drawer hidden in the cabinet. Most slide manufacturers will provide full extension slides at a slightly higher price.  Full extension slides allow the drawer to fully extend beyond the cabinet and make the rear of the drawer more accessible.

Side mount slides.

Standard roller & track style slides.

A step above the melamine/particle board drawer is a Russian/Baltic birch drawer.  These are also nailed together and are commonly built using dado construction.  These drawers can be used with roller & track style slides, side mount slide and under mount European style slides.

Russian/baltic birch drawer with European under mount slides.

European drawer design has evolved using metal and plastic and since 1990 have become increasingly popular in North America. German innovation has brought about a different breed of drawers with space saving full extension under mount self closing non slamming push to close push to open mechanisms. Some of these are available integrated into the sides of the drawer to make an easily cleaned smooth faced combined drawer slide and drawer side.

European style drawers. 'Blum tandem box'

However the most durable drawer design is still the traditional dovetail jointed hardwood drawer. Most bespoke cabinet making companies now offer these drawers with the European under mount slide systems providing durability and function.  

Dovetail drawer with soft close under mount slides.

Another popular feature in a kitchen is a full height pantry cabinet with a combination of upper shelves and lower drawers up to almost eye level that gives much better access to items at the back of the cabinet.

Pantry with dovetail drawers on under mount slides.

Drawers may not seem to be that important to the home inspection process or the overall look of the kitchen, but they are an integral part to the overall function of the kitchen.  Considering the amount of time families spend in the kitchen, we believe having properly functioning drawers is just as important as the look of your kitchen. 

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