| Author | Message | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.79.116.133)
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Hey. do you guys all use standard lower cabinet dimensions? 36" High, 24" Deep?? | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.145.138) Rating: N/A |
no answers huh ?...that's because we all know you will want to argue about whatever number | ||
| Michael Lewis (67.160.12.18)
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36" is standard residential height, but some are going to 34" which was considered an ADA (handicapped) height only for a long time, but many find the lower height more friendly. It also allows making the upper cabinets a little larger(taller). Since the cabs are an additional 2" from the ceiling, it seems taller, too. I have seen some "experts" advise making the depth 22" or less to "gain space". This is simply bad advice. Please don't make this mistake unless you absolutely have to. If your wife does not kill you, the next owner will. Making lower surfaces narrower than 24-25" creates its own set of problems with mounting standard appliances such as drop in ranges, sinks and dishwashers. If you have a MC9, don't forget to taper the cabinet bases to accomodate the floor slope. Michael | ||
| David Anderson (168.215.176.172) Rating: N/A |
My bases were all standard household type. It makes for easy countertop fitting. David | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.79.116.133)
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Two Dogs. You are right, but the argument is with my wife. She's telling me I can't use Household cabinets, they are too deep. My interior space is 7'6" Even if I have cabinets on both sides, even counting counter lip. that leaves a 3' aisle. I told her that if her ass (Or mine) gets over three feet wide, we've got other problems. Gary | ||
| Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
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I'm using shorter in my silversides just to keep 'em below the windows and not make a neat little place for junk to pile up in the sill. My depth will be the same as the three burner stove 24" I think. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.79.116.133)
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thankfully, I don't have any stock windows to deal with, all brand new windows in brand new skin. My plan is to do major woodwork like bulkheads and the like myself, but buy good quality, Kraftmaid, etc... stock goods cabinets. For the upper cabinets though, that's a different story. Obviously, the normal cabs won't fit. I'm going to check if there's shallow "Soffit" cabs that I can cut the profile into the ends and just install them. I'm a steelworker. If I make cabinets, they would tend to look a bit.....industrial. Gary | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.95.157)
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OK, you're gonna love this answer. Standard 36" height, BUT Cabinet depth is 18", with opposing cabinets on both walls, leaving a virtual ballroom dance space between. NOW, before you gag, Countertop depth is 24"! Without extending into the aisle! How, you might ask? The extra countertop depth is in the back! That way, the base can be up against the original ac duct, the plumbing on top of that, and the wire chase on top of that! So you get skinnier cabinets, (who cares) wider aisle, and full countertop depth! Weep with gratitude and envy, gentlemen!  | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.79.116.133)
Rating: N/A |
"That way, the base can be up against the original ac duct, the plumbing on top of that, and the wire chase on top of that!" I don't have any of thatstuff though-- I'll use just the 24 I think, thanks anyway. Gary | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.95.157)
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Sorry, Gary. I was being uncharacteristically irrationally exuberant. I'm gonna have running water in a few days! | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.79.116.133)
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that's OK, I'm rigidly ambivalent on the whole deal. Gary | ||
| FAST FRED (4.245.230.4) Rating: N/A |
Your lady will probably be doing most of the chores , so ask her. My bride is only 5 ft , but has accomidated thue std house hight. If baking is part of her cooking , a single lower counter hight helps. We too found that leaving space behind the counters , out from the wall is great for carring long things. Tree pruiner is about 12 ft , and the oars for the brides rowing shell are also 12 ft or so. Seems to be loads of "outsized Cargo" that needs transporting regularly. To that end there is nothing on one ( the pax) side that goes above seat hight or cabinet hight, so carring a 19 ft rowing shell , just requires opening the window & loosing some counter space for the duration. To get the most out of your camper, hard to do things should be easy , ya never know whats next! Works for us , FAST FRED | ||
| madbrit (67.136.104.85) Rating: N/A |
We are using standard height base units, if you have back problems a low counter often causes problems. We also selected a range of cabinets which includes bathroom sizes as we found that some of that range were better for use in the kitchen, bedroom, and living room areas. I am not fully conversant on what was used from where as this is the little lady's dept....... LOL. Peter. | ||
| FishbowlBrian (Fishbowlbrian) (67.165.212.171)
Rating: N/A |
I like Chuck's chase idea. A few access holes through the cabs, and you'd always have space for wiring/plumbing changes. You'll have trouble finding stock 36" high base cabs that are 18" deep, tho. You can raise up 30" high/ 18" - 20" deep bathroom units on a 6" platform (for yet another chase) OR cut back kitchen units. I'd vote for the step way. Not that I have to worry about any of this, since some other busnut hack built my kitchen. J FBB | ||
| don (Bottomacher) (66.216.217.11)
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There are an increasing number of manufacturers who are building bath cabinets of 32" height, 18 and 21" deep. Its simple to build a pedestal/chase platform to provide the 34-1/2" height of traditional kitchen units. | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.139.151.105)
Rating: N/A |
If you want a 18" deep counter/cabinet, you should look into pop-up campers. Not a bus. Give the cook a break and provide ample counter space so things don't fall on the floor because they have to hang off the front. Also, losing 6" of drawer/storage space is an awful lot of cubic feet. As Gary M. said, if you can't pass by a 24" counter and 30" table (that's 36" between them) go on a diet. A standard chair seat is 18" wide!! I would also recommend 8 feet as a minimum length for a kitchen counter. Jim | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.79.116.133)
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that's the weird thing--it's the cook that's telling me that the counters will be too wide. Gary | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (67.136.241.239)
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40 inches tall on the base cabinets. I am tall and it hurts to bend at all at the waist. | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (67.136.241.239)
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Also forgot to add that they are only 22 inches deep, which frees up a little more space for the asle ways. They look a little bit strange, but seem to work for me and she. We only have around 86 inches of inside width space. Thanks. | ||
| FAST FRED (4.245.221.220) Rating: N/A |
A cabinet is simply a box . With plywood there quite easy to custom build , drawer kits make the sliding part very simple. Ply is superior to chip board as it bounces & rattles over the ruts and potholes. Although you have to paint the ply , or formica or wood overlay , at least it can easily be redone. The "factory" finish is kept by some folks decades after it was very yesterday, Washed Oak or Avacado & Harvest Gold ,anyone? Building cabinets assures you that every square inch of space is used , and is the only way if your building over water tanks , hw heaters , furnaces ect to keep the bays pristine. Works for me, FAST FRED | ||
| bruce king (67.170.101.3)
Rating: N/A |
I used oak veneer 3/4 plywood and built my own cabinets. Figure 4 to 5 hours per base unit, starting from plywood and solid stock for corners and edges, and ending with the finished product. I glued and screwed them together, and was able to place structural stuff where the bus structural stuff was. No hunting around for a good spot to screw it. Most large hardware stores have a book area in the front of the store. Before you buy premade, grab one of the books and take a look. you may find that building things like vanity cabinets and upper cabinets are well within your skill set. The most time is spent on the doors, but once you've made one, you can made a thousand, and they can be precisely the size and shape you want. ...and if they get busted sometime down the road, or if you wanna do something a little different, (bunks, washer dryer, etc)...well, heck. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.79.116.133)
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thanks all, I'm REAL familiar with how cabinets are built, but I'm not a woodworker and have about as much inclination for cabinetry as I have for "Do it yourself" brain Surgery. Besides, If I built one, just one, myself, that would set a precident for my wife, who already thinks that building cabinets is no harder then doing the laundry. Gary |