Custom kitchen cabinets...no back panel?

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Jul 13th, 2021 5:20 pm

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Jul 12th, 2021 9:06 pm

slowtyper [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 2, 2008; 12451 posts; 2207 upvotes

Jul 12th, 2021 9:06 pm

Custom kitchen cabinets...no back panel?

Just had some kitchen cabinets installed and I was stunned to see the base cabinets against the wall have no back panels. It's just drywall. I can't recall if I've never noticed this before but....is this semi normal at all?

10 replies

Jul 12th, 2021 9:17 pm

Drthorne: Deal Fanatic; Nov 18, 2005; 5081 posts; 1498 upvotes; Kitchener

Jul 12th, 2021 9:17 pm

Even Ikea cabinets have rear panels

+1

Jul 12th, 2021 9:49 pm

slowtyper [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 2, 2008; 12451 posts; 2207 upvotes

Jul 12th, 2021 9:49 pm

The boxes that have drawers has a back panel.

However the cabinet which houses the sink has no back. And there are no pipes running through the back of this cabinet, they go through the side.

The one next to that also has no back, but that one does have lots of pipes coming through the back.

So strange.

Jul 12th, 2021 9:53 pm

thriftshopper: Deal Fanatic; Jul 7, 2017; 9221 posts; 4733 upvotes; SW corner of the cou…

Jul 12th, 2021 9:53 pm

Someone forgot to tack on the panel?

I smile when I see container ships sailing past my house laden with stuff made in China

Jul 12th, 2021 10:24 pm

SubjectivelyObjective: Deal Addict; Jun 26, 2019; 2034 posts; 1772 upvotes; GTA

Jul 12th, 2021 10:24 pm

I've seen a number of guys build lowers like this, well they usually have a 3 or 4" piece at the top and bottom, but basically the whole back panel is open to the wall.

Its a bit easier to move around and saves them some money.

This said, I'm a big fan of over engineering, and feel like the added cost of a bit of plywood isn't that much considering how much you can charge for custom cabinets. Also, it just looks way better. If you used prefinished birch @ $90 a sheet, it would be like $15 extra a cabinet. If you used walnut ply and finished it with a coat or two, maybe it would be up to $50 a cabinet.

+1

Jul 13th, 2021 1:33 am

Chickinvic: Deal Fanatic; Dec 27, 2009; 7835 posts; 5350 upvotes; Victoria, BC

Jul 13th, 2021 1:33 am

No, not normal in my experience. I've never seen that. I think that is unacceptable if you paid big bucks for custom cabinets. What did your contract say?

Jul 13th, 2021 7:19 am

GoodFellaz: Deal Fanatic; Jun 24, 2015; 7909 posts; 2655 upvotes; 0 downvotes

Jul 13th, 2021 7:19 am

when you ordered the cabinets, did the cabinet company give you a 3D render of the cabinets how they look? where you can zoom in, rotate, pinch, spin, etc and see them from all angles? if you had this opportunity you could have noticed there was no back panels. it does seem weird to not have back panels, so i would call them up and ask them to check for you

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Jul 13th, 2021 11:26 am

sherwoodRFD: Sr. Member; Aug 22, 2012; 599 posts; 650 upvotes; Mark Town

Jul 13th, 2021 11:26 am

the cheapest sink cabinet in home depot has no back panel.

+1

Jul 13th, 2021 11:29 am

gr8dlr: Deal Expert; Sep 1, 2005; 19494 posts; 14491 upvotes; Markham

Jul 13th, 2021 11:29 am

No back panels in theory mean you gain 3/4 inch more space...normal or not, I don't really see the need for back panels other than it might keep the cabinet more square [structurally] over a long time. Eg even IKEA Billy bookshelves give you thin fibreboard to tack onto the back - without it, the shelf can go out of square.

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Jul 13th, 2021 11:32 am

Oni-kun: Deal Fanatic; Mar 17, 2004; 5491 posts; 955 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 13th, 2021 11:32 am

If it's under the sink where pipes are it's pro and cons. Cons is there is no backboard. Pro is if you have to work on plumbing, now you only have to go through drywall and not have to jiggsaw the backboard

Jul 13th, 2021 5:20 pm

Zamboni: Deal Fanatic; Oct 19, 2008; 7341 posts; 2930 upvotes; Whitby

Jul 13th, 2021 5:20 pm

Eklipse cabinets Lowes has started selling have a thin 1/8 cabinet back that slides into grooves on both sides. Flip base cabinet over to install legs and the cabinet back slides out...not even a dab of glue.

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