Common Woodworking Terms and Cabinet Terminology

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

The following are some of the most common cabinetry terms and woodworking phrases you’ll find when searching for replacement cabinet & doors & accessories. From the parts of a cabinet construction to the different styles of construction you might find, this guide covers nearly all the cabinet terminology you might encounter.

A

Accessories – Supplemental parts of cabinets that are not necessary but improve the appearance or function. Examples of accessories include nonessential components like rollouts, pullouts, tilt-outs, molding, and hardware.

Adjustable Shelves - Adjustable shelves are most commonly held in place using movable pegs that are fitted into one of a series of holes on the sides of the cabinet. This design allows them to be raised or lowered to accommodate items of different heights. While convenient, adjustable shelves are only as strong as the pegs and the holes in the cabinet base. 

Adze-An Axe - type tool that has a curved handle that is mounted 90° to the blade. Adzes are used in rough dressing, shipbuilding and wheelwrights' shops.

Angled Corner – Any cabinet type designed to fit on an end of an upper or lower cabinet creating a fixed angle.

Appliance Panels - Wondering how to hide large appliances in your kitchen so they blend in with the rest of your cabinetry? Ask your contractor about a dishwasher, microwave, oven, or refrigerator overlay panel. Appliance and cabinet manufacturers frequently sell these products to match cabinets, creating a seamless appearance, but they can also be custom-built.

Arch – A curve shape added to a cabinet door to provide a decorative design.

B

Base Cabinet – Cabinet types that install directly on the floor. These types often have a top material applied in the field, such as laminate, wood or granite.

Base Molding - More commonly known as a baseboard, base molding is applied at the bottom of the cabinets where they meet with the floor. Baseboards add visual interest while also protecting the bottom of the walls and cabinets from damage.

Beadboard - Paneling that incorporates beaded, routed detail and conveys relaxed, casual styling. Beaded styling adds texture and design to flat panel wood coverings, and is noticeably accentuated by glaze finishes.

Beaded Door - A flat panel cabinet door design that incorporates vertical beaded texture on the recessed panel area of the door. The wood door frame is more simple and constructed with cane and stick joinery.

BERP – (Base End Raised Panel) A decorative panel, usually matching the door style, designed to be applied to the side or back of a cabinet, an island for example.

Bevel – A portion of material removed from the edge of a piece of wood. This technique can be used to create a natural finger-pull such as on a beveled-edge door. Also is used to create a specific angle when two pieces of wood are joined together. For example, when two pieces have a 45-degree bevel they create a right angle when joined.

Blind Corner – Any cabinet type that installs next to the corner of a cabinet box setup and has space that is not easily accessed by the cabinet opening. Often, another cabinet is installed next to the corner, hiding the space, known as a blind corner.

Box or Carcass - These terms refer to the entire body of the cabinet, including the back, sides, top, and bottom. Similarly, a drawer box creates the shape of a drawer but with an open top.

Bumper Pads – A small spongy material placed on any cabinet door designed to soften the noise as the door is closed.

Bun Foot – A round decorative furniture grade foot used on the bottom corners of base cabinets.

Butt Doors – Two cabinet doors that cover a single opening that is normally too large for one door. The edges of both doors nearly meet in the middle without a center mullion.

Butt Joint – A joint construction where the edges of two pieces of wood are joined together. Unlike a lap joint, where two pieces of wood are placed over one another, a butt joint is made by simply gluing or screwing the ends of two pieces of wood together perpendicularly. These joints are not very strong, so they are not frequently used in cabinetmaking.

C

Cabinet Box – The structure of your cabinets where the items are stored inside, including the complete box shape of the cabinet from the depth to the width. Your cabinet doors rest over the cabinet box.

Cabinet Joinery - In woodworking, joinery is the process of securing two or more pieces of wood together. Around 46 types of joints are used in cabinetry, and each type bonds the materials together in a slightly different way with varying levels of durability and differing aesthetic properties. Some of the most common include:

Cathedral Arch – A term used when the top cabinet door has a curved shape in the panel and frame.

Center Stile – Also referred to as a mullion, the center stile is a vertical strip of hardwood that is part of the face frame. It usually divides a cabinet opening directly in the middle.

Cherry – A moderate hardwood having a fine to medium uniform grain. Cherry is an elegant, multi-colored hardwood, which may contain small knots and pin holes. Natural or light stains accent these color variations making a distinctive statement in a full kitchen. Cherry wood will darken or “mellow” with age. This mellowing is a natural occurrence and the benefit of owning a solid cherry kitchen.

Close Grain – Having fine and closely arranged fibers or fine texture. Maple is considered to have close grain.

Color Variation – A natural variation of color inherent in any wood species. Soil type, mineral deposits, water levels, temperature and geographical location are all factors in the degree of variation.

Cope & Stick - Sometimes called a stile-and-rail joint, this joint method uses mortises and tenons to secure the molded edges of cabinet doors. While more attractive and sturdier than a square edge, forming these intricate joints requires advanced carpentry experience, meaning that adding them will often dramatically increase the budget of a cabinet system.

Concealed Hinge – A term used to describe a cabinet hinge that is not visible from the outside. Referred to as a cup hinge.

Corbel – A decorative wooden bracket used as a support mechanism for mantels, bar tops, etc.

Corner Blocks – Any type of wooden, plastic or metal component used to strengthen any joint. The typical application is where the face frame and end panel are joined.

Crown Molding – A term for any molding that is applied to the top of upper cabinets. This term refers to trim that’s used on the tops of cabinets. Adding toppers to cabinets improves their appearance by providing an interesting transition and reducing gaps at the top of the cabinet box.

Custom Cabinets – With custom cabinetry, the sky's the limit in terms of cabinet dimensions, shape, wood species, finish and special detailing. Custom cabinetry provides customers an unlimited number of styling options in both their framed and frameless offerings. Sales of custom cabinets are much less than those of either semi-custom or stock cabinetry in the industry. Cabinets built to suit very specific needs. They are generally not limited to product lines, dimensions or design. They are typically more expensive but don’t necessarily offer the best value available in the marketplace.

D

Dado – A 1/4" +/- deep channel or groove cut across the wood’s grain is called a dado. A dado joint is formed when a cross member is fitted perpendicularly into the channel. A dado joint is made by cutting a groove into a piece of wood and then placing another piece perpendicularly into the channel so it is snug and secure. In most cases, these joints are both glued and nailed, creating a very strong joint ideal for holding a lot of weight.

Dentil Mold – A decorative tooth-like pattern used on trim molding. Dentil molding is a kind of molding that features a decorative square pattern, somewhat resembling teeth.

Distressing - Distressing refers to methods of finish that appear slightly damaged for a time-worn, antique look. Techniques include rubbing, glazing, burnishing, wire-brushing, and more.

Door Styles – A variety of cabinet door designs the consumer has to choose from when choosing their cabinet doors. Some common styles are:

• Arched raised panel (arch can be any of several arch designs)

• Square raised panel

• Arched flat panel

• Square flat panel

• Mitered raised panel

• Mitered flat panel

Dovetail – A term used to describe a joining process of two pieces of material. Both pieces have wing-shaped notches that interlock. Generally known as one of the strongest joints typically used in furniture and cabinet drawers. 

These interlocking joints consist of trapezoidal pins that fit into the “tails” between the pins on a second piece of wood. Dovetail joints have been used for centuries because they function well even without glue. In modern times, most cabinet makers secure these joints with glue, but they are never nailed.

Because these joints resist wear from pulling, they are ideal for adding durability to drawer boxes. Their attractive appearance can also enhance the beauty of furniture and cabinets, making them one of the most popular joint types.

Drawer Face – Finished front panel of the drawer assembly. The profiles will match the door chosen.

Drawer Glides - Also known as slides, these are runners that allow a drawer to open and close. They have to be incredibly strong so as not to collapse under the weight of a drawer’s contents—which, in a kitchen, can include pounds of heavy silverware. Glides can be undermounted or side-mounted; if they are full extension, they’ll allow you to open the drawer all the way. Avoid loud slams when shutting drawers with soft-close drawer glides that catch and slow drawers before they hit.

E

End Panel – The panel forming the cabinet side, supporting the rails and other parts of the cabinet.

Engineered Wood – A term used to describe several new types of construction material. Fiberboard, such as MDF and HDF, is more dimensionally stable than solid wood.

Exposed Hinge – A term used to describe a cabinet hinge that is visible from the outside. Some types are barrel hinges.

F

Face Frame – The front facing of a cabinet typically constructed of hardwood. The vertical pieces, called stiles, and the horizontal pieces, called rails, reinforce the cabinet structure and provide mounting support for doors and drawers.

Fillers – Pieces of hardwood matching a chosen cabinet color. Sizes range from 1" to 6" wide and 30" to 96" long. The common use is to fill the space where a modular cabinet does not fill a specific wall dimension. Often called a filler strip, this type of molding covers gaps around a cabinet. Sometimes, fillers can increase the functionality of a cabinet system. For example, they allow a cabinet box to be spaced further from the wall so the door doesn’t bonk against the wall.

Filler strips can be simple, beaded, or fluted, but they should be made from the same material and same finish as the rest of the cabinet. While they are sold in standard pre-made sizes, cabinet makers often make their own strips for the specific project.

Finishes – A term for the surface treatment of a wood product to enhance the beauty of its natural wood color and grain definition. Usually applied in steps, such as stain, sealer and a clear top coat such as a catalyzed varnish.

Fixed Shelves - Fixed shelves are built into a cabinet during the construction process and cannot be moved. While they are sturdier and can hold more weight than adjustable shelves, fixed shelves can be inconvenient when someone wants to store objects that are too tall for the storage space. They often work best for cabinets designed to hold items of standard height, such as mugs or dish sets.

Flat Panel - A recessed center panel to a door or drawer design conveying Transitional, Shaker, or Arts and Crafts styling.

Flute – A concave shallow groove milled into a wood surface, usually vertically along a shaft. A flute is often used to provide a decorative effect as an overlay on a cabinet stile or filler.

Framed Cabinet – A traditional style of cabinetry. The box is built behind a picture frame-like structure on which the doors and drawers are applied. The traditional framed cabinet has a front frame around the cabinet opening to which the door is attached. These are the most popular type of cabinets in the U.S. and are easier to install than frameless cabinetry because of their recessed end panels and rigid front frame. Framed cabinets are available in Traditional and Full Overlay styling which are explained below. Framed construction utilizes glue, staple and dowel or screw construction.

Frameless Cabinets – Often referred to as European-style cabinets. Components, doors and drawers are applied to the inside of the box thus eliminating the traditional face frame. Frameless, or European-style cabinets, have no front frame. The doors are attached directly to the sides of the cabinet. Frameless cabinets, which are more contemporary in style, offer the advantage of completely unobstructed access to the cabinet interior because there is no front frame. Frameless construction utilizes pin and dowel construction.

French Leg – A furniture-grade decorative leg used on the bottom corners of base cabinets.

Full Overlay – Doors and drawers are sized large enough to cover the cabinet face with only minimal clearances between them. Cabinet door styles that cover most of the face frame, giving prominence to the door and drawer design.

Furr-Down – A box-out at the ceiling, typically 12" high and 14" deep. Often used for AC ductwork. Kitchen cabinets are installed up to it creating a step effect. Also called a soffit or bulkhead.

G

Galley Rail – Any molding using tiny spindles to create a front retainer along a plate rail cabinet top. It gets its name because of its likeness to galley rails used on ships.

Glaze - The substances used to coat cabinetry that produces enhancements in door detail, wood color and tone. The addition of glaze finish treatments as an added finishing step has revolutionized the cabinet industry, bringing home fashion to the forefront of consumers’ minds. Glazes actually enhance and improve the beauty of the wood and the base finish color. Glaze treatments and techniques can vary from heavy to light. Lighter treatments lend themselves to a more subtle appearance.

Glaze Finish - An additional furniture finish treatment that is applied to improve a standard stain, enhance door detail and even-out wood species variation.

Grain Variation – A term used to describe the inconsistent nature of a species of wood’s grain pattern.

H

Hickory – A heavy, strong, and rigid hardwood with a fine uniform grain. Hickory is a strong, open grained wood that is known for its wide variation in color. It is not uncommon to see doors or parts of doors that range in color from light to a deep brown when finished in light or natural stains. Darker stains will mildly tone these color variations. These characteristics are what makes each hickory kitchen unique and the preference of those who love wood.

Hinge – A mechanical device used to attach a cabinet door to a cabinet box so it can swing open and closed. There are many styles offering different applications, degrees of swing and visibility.

I

Inset - In partial and full overlays, the doors and drawers rest on the cabinet frame or box when closed, but with inset cabinets, they rest completely flush inside the face frame. Homeowners seeking the strength of framed cabinets and the sleek look of frameless designs often appreciate the look of inset doors. These designs usually require some kind of hardware, such as knobs or pulls, to open doors and drawers, though some systems utilize a push-opening system to maintain a fully smooth face.

Of all cabinet door-hanging options, inset is the hardest to install because the doors and drawers must be aligned perfectly in the cutout and sit flush with the face frame.

J

Joint – A construction term used when two pieces of material are joined or attached together. Common types of joints are:

• Cope and Stick

• Dado

• Dovetail

• Miter

• Mortise and Tenon

• Rabbet

• Tongue and Groove

  

K

Kerf – A saw cut that is made on the surface to relieve stress. It is used to create a curve, such as with a toe kick around a curved base cabinet.

Kiln Dry – The process of oven-drying fresh-cut lumber. The process removes excess moisture so raw lumber can be fabricated into a finished product.

Knob – A hardware item, typically round in shape, that attaches to doors and drawers, allowing you to open the doors and enjoy a decorative element.

Knot – A hard node and visible imperfection in any type of wood species, indicating where a branch once grew.

L

Laminate – v. A term used when layers of wood are bonded together through a process of heat and pressure. n. The plastic product used to fabricate kitchen countertops.

Lap Joint - When two pieces are connected by overlapping, they form a lap joint. The four most common types of laps used in woodworking are the half lap (rabbet), mitered half lap, cross lap, and dovetail lap. Each lap has unique benefits, so cabinet makers need to use their best judgment on which will be the most appropriate for a particular situation.

Lazy Susan – A corner kitchen base cabinet utilizing shelves rotating on a center poll for easy access.

M

Maple – A hard closed grain, light-colored wood. Hard maple is a strong, close grained wood that is predominanttly off-white in color; although it also contains light hues of yellow-brown and pink. Hard maple occasionally contains light tan or small dark mineral streaks.

MDF – (Medium Density Fiberboard) A common grade of engineered construction material that uses pieces of wood fibers packed into a rigid board. An engineered wood offering an extremely tight and smooth surface. Exceptionally stable, MDF is favored for laminating with thermofoils and melamine.

Melamine Laminate – A durable, easy-to-clean, and plastic-like material that covers a piece of engineered wood or MDF. This is a material used on drawer and doors surfaces to cover substrate of either particleboard or MDF. All laminate is durable and easy to clean. Melamine laminate is also a material used for fabricating countertops since it is thicker than vinyl and provides a hard, durable surface.

Millwork – Any type of machined woodwork.

Mineral Streak – A discoloration in wood caused by mineral deposits in the soil during the life of the tree.These streaks are commonly noticed as a blackish-blue color within the grain.

Miter – A joint made when two beveled surfaces connect and form a right angle. For example, two pieces of wood each beveled at 22 1/2” will form a  45-degree angle when joined together. A miter joint, sometimes spelled mitre, is similar to a butt joint, only rather than placing the two wood pieces perpendicularly, they are cut at precise angles, usually 45 degrees. The two pieces are then glued, nailed, pinned, or screwed together.

Modular – A standardized increment of measurements specific to a product. Modular cabinets are generally manufactured in 3" increments.

Mortise and Tenon – A technique used to join two pieces of wood, where the mortise groove is cut into a piece of wood. Then, a piece called a tenon is inserted into the groove, creating a joint. A mortise is a groove cut in a piece of wood, while a tenon is a peg. The resulting joint is created when the two are secured together, typically with glue, but occasionally with a nail, pin, or screw as well. Mortises and tenons can be different shapes, most commonly squares, rectangles, or circles. In cabinetry, tenons are often added to the end of rails.

Mullion Doors – Doors without a solid center panel that feature horizontal or vertical mullions, or pieces that divide the open panel into smaller panels. Mullion doors are often great for inserting glass or glazing. Mullion doors normally have glass inserts in place of the typical solid center panel for a more stylish appearance. The inserts have horizontal and vertical dividing bars similar to those in windowpanes.

N

Nomenclature – A string of letters and numbers used to identify specific cabinet types or accessories.

O

Oak – A durable open grained hardwood. Red oak is a strong, open grained wood that has a range in color of white, yellow and pink. Red oak is sometimes streaked with green, yellow and black mineral deposits and may contain some wide grain.

Onlay – A carved or etched decorative ornament installed on the cabinet face. Also referred to as an applique.

Open Grain – Large pores or course texture in grain. Oak is an example of an open-grained wood. (See Oak.)

Overlay – When cabinet doors or drawer fronts rest over the face frame of the cabinet boxes. Doors can have a full overlay or partial overlay. This style is the most common cabinet style in the US.

P

Pantry - Also known simply as tall cabinets, these provide extra height for storing everything from bulk food items to mops and brooms. You can also design them to accommodate small appliances such as microwaves.

Partial Overlay - Many framed cabinets use a partial overlay design, meaning that a portion of the face frame remains visible even when the doors are closed. Partial overlays most commonly leave 2 inches of space around the entire face, though designers may leave more or less depending on the aesthetic they wish to achieve.

Partical Board - Made from a fusion of sawdust or wood chips and glue bonded under pressure, particleboard is not as strong as MDF but is slightly more affordable.

These cabinets are some of the most forgiving designs for amateurs to install because the pieces do not have to be precisely matched.

Peninsula – Similar to a kitchen island except it is only open on three sides. This construction is often used in L-shaped kitchens as a breakfast bar that divides the kitchen from another room.

Plywood – Multiple layers of wood veneer bonded by an adhesive forming panels of varying thickness.

Pull – A hardware item, usually crescent shaped, attached to doors and drawers for function and decoration, allowing you to open and close drawers and cabinets.

R

Rabbet – A technique for joining two pieces at right angles. A portion of the material is removed from the edge of one piece similar to the thickness of the other piece. When the two are attached the joint is strengthened. Also called a half-lap joint. In woodworking, a rabbet is a recess cut along the edge of a board. When making a rabbet joint, also called a half-lap joint, the cut should be the width of the adjoining piece. These joints are stronger than simply gluing two boards together because they increase the surface area for glue. A double rabbet joint is an even sturdier connection wherein a rabbet is cut into each adjoining board.

Racking – Generally caused by poor installation. The cabinet is twisted out of square resulting in poor door and drawer alignment and operation.

Rail – The horizontal piece of a cabinet door or cabinet frame component.

Recessed Door - A flat panel held inside the perimeter of a door. A flat panel recesses between the stiles and rails.

Reveal – The exposed portion of the cabinet face frame when the cabinet door and drawer are closed.

Rope Molding – A piece of molding milled in a pattern to appear twisted like strands of rope.

Rout – To drill or gouge out an area of wood, either for decoration or to join another piece of wood.

RTF – (Rigid Thermo Foil) Used as a laminate in the process of fabricating a one-piece door.

S

Sapwood – The younger, softer outer portion of the tree trunk, just under the bark.

Scribe Allowance – Face frame extensions beyond the cabinet box for trimming to ensure proper fit.

Scribe Molding – A generic piece of molding, usually 1/4" thick and up to 1" wide, for the purpose of trimming and concealing any discrepancy where the cabinet meets a sheetrock wall. Scribe molding is a thin, flexible piece of finished trim that can cover any gaps, seams, or raw edges after installation. Because it is flexible, it works well to seal gaps along uneven surfaces, such as slightly curved ceilings or floors, so it is often applied to the top of crown molding or the bottom of toe kicks.

Semi-Concealed Hinge – A term used to describe a cabinet hinge that is barely visible from the outside. Some types are called kerf or knuckle hinges.

Semi-Custom Cabinets – Cabinets built in 1/8" increments, as opposed to modular cabinets built in 3" increments. Most have certain limitations in their product lines but are usually more flexible in dimension and design than a typical modular or stock cabinet product. They are typically more expensive but don’t necessarily offer the best value available in the marketplace. Semi-custom cabinets offer fewer options than “custom cabinets” and are available in a number of different sizes, shapes, wood species and finishes. Semi-custom cabinetry provide customers a limited number of styling options in both their framed and frameless offerings that include such things as reduced depths, increased depths, matching interiors, inverted frames, etc. Sales of Semi-custom cabinets are much less than those of stock cabinetry in the industry.

Skin – A 3/16"-thick veneer panel generally used on the ends or backs of upper or base cabinets.

Soffit – A box-out at the ceiling typically 12" high and 14" deep. Often used for AC ductwork. Kitchen cabinets are installed up to it creating a step effect. Also called a fur-down or bulkhead. A soffit or “bulkhead” is the area between a ceiling and the top of wall cabinets and usually 12 inches high and extending out over the wall cabinets.

Solid Wood - A door with a solid wood center panel is comprised of boards that are joined or glued together to form the width of the center panel. Because natural woods have variations in color and grain pattern from board to board, these variations will be apparent in a solid wood door. Predictably, a solid wood door is more expensive than a veneered door.

Standard Overlay – A door style designed with a specific hinge type. The cabinet door overlaps the cabinet opening 1/2" on all four sides.

Stile – A vertical piece on a cabinet door or cabinet frame component.

Stock Cabinets - Stock cabinets, which offer fewer options than either “custom” or “semi-custom” cabinetry, are also available in a number of different sizes, shapes, wood species and finishes. Stock cabinetry provides customers a very limited number of styling options in both their framed and frameless offerings. Sales of stock cabinets are greater than those of either custom or semi-custom cabinetry in the industry.

Stretcher or Nailer – A structural component of the cabinet box. They are hidden horizontal members connecting the end panels at the back of a cabinet. During the installation process, 2" to 3" screws are used to mount the cabinet to the wall through the stretchers.

Substrate – The original surface or the structural material beneath the layer of veneer or laminate.

T

TERP –  (Tall End Raised Panel) A decorative panel, usually matching the door style, designed to be applied to the side or back of a cabinet, a pantry or refrigerator end panel.

Thermofoil – A 100% flexible vinyl laminate that is applied to the substrate by using an adhesive or heat and pressure. Flexible, 100 percent solid-colored vinyl. With adhesive on its underside, it is applied to smooth, engineered wood or MDF which has been formed into a door, drawer or molding design. It has solid, opaque coloration and is easy to clean and maintain. Ideal for durable areas.

Tilt-Out Trays – A popular accessory item ideal for storing sponges and other dishwashing supplies. They are plastic trays attached to the back of false fronts at the sink area.

Toe Kick – The recessed area at the bottom of base cabinets that is usually 4" high and 3" deep.

Tongue and Groove – A specific joining technique, the groove is cut into one piece of wood. The joint is made when an opposing piece cut with a tongue (a collared protrusion) is slipped into the groove. Tongue and groove assembly is made by cutting a long groove into one piece of wood and a protruding “tongue” in another piece that slips into the groove. This type of joint does not require any fasteners, though glue can help secure the pieces in place. These joints are very strong and cope well with wood expansion due to fluctuating humidity, but they are time-consuming to make, so carpenters often prefer using other joints.

Traditional Overlay - Overlay is the amount of front frame covered by the door and drawer. The exposed front frame is referred to as the “reveal.” The reveal on Traditional Overlay cabinets is typically 1 inch. The width of the front frame in Cabinetry is 1 1/2 inches.

U

Unfinished Cabinets - Unfinished cabinets feature completely raw wood. They’ll need to be sealed to preserve the appearance of their natural wood grain—the natural swirling rings and lines in the wood.

V

Valance – A hardwood panel installed above an open area for décor, like desks, sinks, or windows.

Varnish – A hard, transparent coating used to protect the cabinet surface.

Veneer – A thin layer of wood (1/32") of solid wood that is applied with an adhesive to a substrate, usually to improve the appearance of the wood. A veneer is a thin piece (1/32 of an inch) of solid wood which is attached with glue to a substrate (usually “particleboard” in raised panel doors and “hardboard” in flat or recessed panel doors). Veneered components are more uniform in finish and grain consistency. Veneered center panels in doors provide stability by minimizing its shrinking and expansion in dry and moist climates thereby eliminating cracking and splitting. Some matching interiors in cabinetry are wood veneers as opposed to vinyl.

VERP – (Vanity End Raised Panel) A decorative panel, usually matching the door style, applied to the side or back of a cabinet, a vanity end panel.

V Groove - A vertical beaded or grooved door style design. Works well to highlight finish techniques.

Vinyl Laminate - This is a material used on the interior of all cabinetry as well as most cabinet exterior end panel surfaces. Typically 2 mils thick, it is very easy to clean. Since vinyl is thinner than melamine, it can easily wrap various cabinet components while providing the highest degree of resistance to moisture and abrasions. The vinyl used in the interiors of some cabinetry is natural wood-grain in appearance.

W

Wainscot – A wooden facing or paneling that is generally applied to a wall or large end panel of a cabinet.

Wall Cabinet – Any cabinet type designed to install at or above eye level. Common application is 18" above the kitchen base cabinets. Also referred to as an upper cabinet.

Warp – Any wood product that distorts or twists out of shape. The general cause is excessive heat or moisture.

WERP – (Wall End Raised Panel) A decorative panel, usually matching the door style, applied to the side or back of an upper cabinet.

Wood Grain - Pattern and texture produced in wood.

Wood Species - Different types of hardwoods or softwoods. Examples are maple, oak, cherry and hickory.

Wood Veneer - Wood veneer refers to thin sheets of real wood that get glued to a substrate such as MDF. This material can provide you with the appearance of solid wood cabinets at a lower cost.