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susyk_gw

Help-panel ready dishwasher?

16 years ago

So after a long, horrible, dragged out kitchen renovation project, we are 90 percent done. Thought this day would never come after sooo many setbacks.

Anyways, now another setback. They put in my DW that is a fully integrated KitchenAid panel ready and it doesn't close properly. The panel is not completely flush like the rest of the cabinets but at a slant. It looks horrible. The cabinet installers said there's not much they can do.

I hate it and don't know what to do. After spending the thousands of dollars in this remodel, I want it perfect. Any suggestions? Who's at fault?

Comments (15)

  • 16 years ago

    Try leveling the DW.

  • 16 years ago

    Someone else had an issue with their KA not being flush. I'm thinking that if you level, you can get rid of the slant but I don't think that model is going to be flush.
    I'm not sure what the outcome of this thread was, maybe you'll find something useful in here. Here's a link to the thread:
    HTH

    Here is a link that might be useful: KA dishwasher thread

  • 16 years ago

    The dishwasher is already level. I think the problem is the depth. The granite counter top is already installed.
    I am afraid that the DW is too deep. My cabinet designer knew all of the dimensions and didn't say a word. Now she says that the DW should have been completely installed before the granite which is absurd. We're very frustrated.

  • 16 years ago

    Sorry to read of your frustration. In my research for my kichen I found the only panel front DW to be truly flush is Miele. Others correct me if I am wrong.

  • 16 years ago

    This whole project has been one nightmare after another. Shouldn't my cabinet designer have told me this? She should have known that the kitchen aid wouldn't be flush. I would've gotten the Miele at the time but now I have two kitchen aid DW out of their boxes and there's nothing I can do with them. And I can't justify throwing $2000 down the drain and spend another $3000 with the Miele DW.
    It is so frustrating!

  • 16 years ago

    There IS a difference between "panel ready" and "fully integrated". Be sure that you understand what's different about each and that you have the correct KitchenAid for the application you wanted. It could be that the DW is installed perfectly to specs, but that it's not the correct type to give you the look that you wanted. It's also possible that you do have the correct type and that the electrical or plumbing connections are in the way and won't allow it to be pushed back.

    No DW should "slant", even if it sticks out of the hole. Your DW isn't level, or it would be perfectly vertical. Put a level on the front and adjust the legs until it's plumb.

  • 16 years ago

    "The panel is not completely flush like the rest of the cabinets but at a slant."

    If the panel is not in the same plane as the cabinets SOMETHING is out of level/plumb.

  • 16 years ago

    The KA dishwasher being too deep for some applications is a known issue that has been discussed on here many times. How much too deep? If it is on an interior wall you might be able to remove the drywall there to make it fit. Otherwise you need a different dishwasher. I'm assuming it is too deep, I don't really understand what you mean by a slant.

  • 16 years ago

    I was worried about this too and no one could give me a straight answer so I pulled out all my lowers on that wall 2" to make sure I had plenty of space since I had a brick wall behind my KA DWs. See if you can recess the dw into the wall a bit and also check that no cables or plumbing are causing them to come out further than needed.

  • 16 years ago

    Sorry to hear about this, I always spec either Bosch, Miele, and Fisher Paykel dishwashers if customer's want a paneled door. The Kitchenaid DW just dont sit flush, unless you can manipulate the wall behind it or pull the cabinets forward, which in your case is too late.

    Im not too comfortable with the idea of removing the drywall, esp if there is plumbing or anything significant behind that could use the protection of the drywall. If everything is, in deed, completely level and plum, then you may have to purchase another dishwasher, though I would think your KD should have known this.....why dont you talk to them and see what they say....maybe she/he has an idea/explanation.

    I hope everything works out!

  • 15 years ago

    How did this work out for the OP?

  • 15 years ago

    I have a Bosch dishwasher in my kitchen and my cabinets are inset. IT is completely flush. My cabinets have been installed since June, but my husband just got around to putting the panel on it a few days ago. It was a 4-5 hour project. I am so happy because I was worried it would not be flush, but it looks great!! And my cabinets are the standard 24" depth.

  • 15 years ago

    I too have a paneled Bosch that is flush. We also had trouble with our KD. You would think that someone in the business of Kitchens for ten years would know her stuff. Our cabinet for over the microwave was ordered too short! Luckily we were able to work around it until it was replaced. When it was replaced, we there was some damage that needed touching up. We had the KD pick up this cost as well as the cost of the extra cabinet. (Of course she did not do this readily or happily, but she did it.) Your KD should absorb some of this cost.There are not that many choices for paneled DW's and she clearly dropped the ball. Can a Bosch fit in there?

  • 15 years ago

    I was told that the new, soon coming out KAs would be flush when they are paneled. You might ask about that, if you could trade in your KAs for the new ones.