What Are Self-Edge Cabinets?

Self-Edge

• In its most basic definition, a self-edge occurs when the edging on a piece of wood or particleboard matches the material on the main surface of the wood or particleboard. However, edging only constitutes a self-edge when a builder uses a separate piece of material for edging, and when all edging and surface materials are attached. For instance, cabinets built of oak with no covering do not contain self-edges because they possess no additional edging covering or materials – everything is built from the same wood, and no edging exists.

What It Looks Like

• Self-edged surfaces consist of numerous pieces of identical material affixed to all exposed surfaces of a structure. For instance, assume you install self-edge cabinets. The inside and outside walls of each cabinet are covered with two separate pieces of material, such as plastic laminate. The edges, or narrow surfaces between the walls, also exhibit separate, individually manufactured strips of material. This type of edging appears most commonly on counters – builders cover the countertop with one large piece of material and cover the edges with individual pieces of the same material. If the edging material on your cabinets or counter matches the surface material and peels off in a single, long strip, it constitutes a self-edge.

Purchasing Self-Edge Cabinets

• You can hire a contractor or carpenter to install self-edge cabinets, or you can purchase edging material to convert existing surfaces. Only partake in the latter if you possess knowledge of carpentry or building. When you hire someone to install self-edged cabinets, the builder or installation company must specially order all pieces of edging to fit the dimensions of the cabinets it builds for you. Similarly, if you install your own cabinets or affix edging to existing surfaces, you must special order edging material to meet the dimensions of your project.

Other Types of Edging

• A handful of other edging techniques exist for cabinets and countertops. Cabinets built from a single material with no affixed surfaces possess no edging. Post-form edging, meanwhile, is one large, single piece of edging wrapped around a surface. For instance, plastic countertops are not enormous pieces of plastic; they are plastic coverings molded around a core of wood or other building material such as particleboard. Some stone cabinets actually are post-form cabinets with a stone covering. An applied edge is an ornate edge made of wood or metal. Applied edges often contain aesthetic designs.