Attaching the front panel to the dishwasher

After purchasing a built-in dishwasher, users are faced with not only the task of connecting it to the drain, water supply, and electrical connections, but also how to hang the door panel. Most people entrust this task to cabinet makers, and only a few install the panel themselves. We'll answer the questions about what's needed for this type of work and how to install it.

The facade and its purpose

A dishwasher front is a decorative panel, usually made of the same material as kitchen cabinet fronts. It is attached to the door. The front allows you to hide the dishwasher so that it is not always possible to understand that it is a dishwasher hidden behind it, and not a cabinet.

Fully built-in dishwashers 45 or 60 cm with a hanging facade have some advantages:

• They make the choice easier from a design perspective; there is no need to match the dishwasher's color to the kitchen or other furniture; it will be hidden anyway, which means it will fit perfectly into the interior;
• the control panel is not visible, which means that small children will not have to press buttons unnecessarily;
• Thanks to the facade, the noise of the machine during washing is not as audible.

The front is most often made of 16 mm thick MDF, which can be laminated or coated with colored film, meaning the color and texture of the front can be anything. Another point: in some built-in dishwashers, the door is only secured after the front is installed.

Dimensions of the decorative panel

The size of the front panel will primarily depend on the size of the dishwasher. These are typically 45 and 60 cm wide, while most built-in dishwashers are 82 cm high. However, compact models are also available with heights of 60 and 50 cm.

Important! We've provided average machine sizes (60 and 45 cm); models may vary in width and height by a few millimeters to several centimeters.

Experts recommend choosing a 60 cm or 45 cm dishwasher first, determining its size, and then ordering kitchen cabinetry. This way, you're less likely to make a mistake with the dishwasher niche size and, consequently, the cabinet front dimensions. After all, in reality, a dishwasher width may be 59.2 cm instead of 60 cm, or 44.6 cm instead of 45 cm, which is a significant difference. An incorrectly manufactured facade can no longer be trimmed, as its appearance will be spoiled, since the end parts of the facade, like its front side, are laminated or covered with film.

The height of the dishwasher's front panel also needs to be carefully calculated. The height of the dishwasher's front panel is slightly higher than the height of the dishwasher door. To ensure the front panel is flush with the countertop, you'll need to adjust the dishwasher's feet, not the front panel, to ensure it fits neatly under the countertop. The front panel height of a partially integrated dishwasher will depend on the width of the control panel located on the door. Installing this type of front panel is slightly easier than with fully integrated models.

Hanging a decorative panel yourself

The dishwasher front should only be installed after the dishwasher has been connected to the water supply and drain. Additionally, the dishwasher must be installed in the designated niche. This work may require:

• roulette;
• screwdrivers;
• fasteners;
• door opening handle;
• the facade itself.

Note! Many built-in dishwashers come with instructions for installing the front panel and a special template for marking. Bosch and Siemens models even include a special screwdriver.

So, Before installing the front, the dishwasher is attached to the side walls of adjacent cabinets and to the countertop. Next, screw the door handle onto the front of the cabinet. To do this, carefully drill holes for the screw. The drill bit should be thinner than the screw, and the holes should be drilled from the front. This will prevent the cabinet from chipping.

Next, you need to determine the distance (Z) between the front mounting points. This is necessary to ensure that the edge of the dishwasher front is flush with the edges of the adjacent cabinet fronts. Using a tape measure, measure the gap between the countertop and the adjacent cabinet front (distance x), then measure the distance from the top mounting point of the front to the countertop (distance y). Now calculate Z = y - x, which is the required distance from the mounting point to the edge of the dishwasher front.

After taking measurements, take the template from the kit and attach it to the inner surface of the facade with tape, according to the calculations obtained. It’s better to double-check everything several times, and if possible, practice on a piece of unnecessary MDF.So, using the template, mark the locations for the mounting holes. Then, drill the holes so that the drill bit doesn't go all the way through. A hole that's three-quarters the thickness of the façade is sufficient, otherwise you'll end up with holes. You can do this without drilling, but this method is more secure.

Finally, secure the door panel with screws. Some models require removing the short screws and replacing them with longer ones, which will tighten the door and panel panel together. Installation may not be complete. First, check how the door opens, whether it hits the base at the bottom, or how tight it is.

Important! The dishwasher door tension is adjusted using the bolts located on the sides of the machine.

If the cabinet front hits the baseboard when opening, which can happen if miscalculations are made, a small gap will need to be created in the baseboard. This gap will be equal to the thickness of the cabinet front plus 2-3 mm. This is a perfectly acceptable option, especially when adjusting the legs of the furniture and dishwasher to ensure that all cabinet fronts are level.

So, installing a decorative panel on the door of a 60 or 45 cm built-in dishwasher shouldn't be difficult if you calculate everything correctly and adjust the door panel size to the appliance's dimensions. We hope our tips help you with your project. Good luck!

   

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