Cabinet Allowance for refrigerator

13 years ago

Can some professional out there please tell me how much allowance I need for around a French door refrigerator?

If the standard cabinet is 36", then would I use fillers on either side, or is this not necessary? The fridge itself is 35 3/4" wide. Thank you all in advance.

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Greenthumz
Original Author

13 years ago

Thanx. That is exactly why it got moved to the other side. Wall doesn't interfere with door handle. BUT, when doors are open, there is appx. 1/2" beyond the sides of fridge. Their Wordsworth an email:

I would say that in at least 95% of the jobs that we do, the space left for a 36” Refrigerator is 36”.

That does not make any sense to me. Especially when their contract states you must have your appliances before they start. I would believe so that they would know clearances. We're scratching our heads.

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Comments (11)

lefty47
13 years ago
HI -- Fridges are the one appliance that has changed it's sizes in the last few years . It will depend on what brand and so on. If you get a counter depth french door fridge it could be about 33 inches or more wide . Look up several brands and see what the stats are for the ones you like . You will need a 1/2 inch of space on each side allowance. If you are having a cabinet above the fridge that may have to be a custom made unit or filler pieces might be needed.
Greenthumz
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks. Already have the fridge. Not counter depth.. Plan on having cabinet above and side panel. The other side is a wall.
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Greenthumz
Original Author
13 years ago
Isn't 1/2" awfully tight?
Greenthumz
Original Author
13 years ago
Please , anyone out there?
yvonnecmartin
13 years ago
Go to the owner's manual for your exact refrigerator. It should give the minimum allowance needed. Also you can meaure how much width is added when the top doors are opened fully.
Greenthumz
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks. We read manual and it said to have at least 1" on each side as well as back. Contractor said he does all cabinets same width as refrigerator with 1/2" total extra clearance. That is, opening is only 36 1/2", leaving 1/4" on each side. Sounds tighter than Spandex to me. So I wanted other opinions
yvonnecmartin
13 years ago
Read the manual just to be sure. Also from the look of the refrigerator it seems that when the doors are full open they might require extra width. This only matters if there will be a solid wall next to the hinges of the top doors.
yvonnecmartin
13 years ago
Follow what the manufacturer says, otherwise your warranty might not be good. The contractor would be long gone when your refrigerator konks out before its time
Greenthumz
Original Author
13 years ago
Best advice yet. Thanks, you are absolutely right. Nice to have other people supplementing our own brains. Guess we're too close to the forest.
Janet S
6 years ago
" Especially when their contract states you must have your appliances before they start. I would believe so that they would know clearances." -- not really. The reason to have all the appliances is so that you don't say "I have this 34 1/2" refrigerator" one day, and "I have this 36" refrigerator" on the next day, after they have already built the walls. Also, makes for better efficiency if they are installing the stove and dishwasher, etc.