How to recognise quality in these little details
The door hinges and the drawer runners may seem a little insignificant but there are variations in quality out there and it will help in your selection process if you know whit to look out for.
Door Hinges
look for hinges which are all metal construction. These days most hinges are, but try to avoid anything where there are plastic components on the hinge as these will not stand up to wear and tear as well as the all metal varieties.
There are two basic sections of a typical door hinge; the actual hinge which is attached to the door, and the hinge plate which is attached to the carcass. These two parts are designed to come apart so that the door can be removed if needed and refitted with ease. In some cases the hinge is fastened to the hinge plate with a screw but in most modern kitchens there is a simple clip mechanism which allows the door to come on and off without the need for any tools.
There will also be adjustment for the hinge to allow for aligning the kitchen doors and to ensure smooth opening and closing. Ideally there should be adjustment in three directions, allowing the door to move up and down, left and right, and in towards or out from the carcass edge.
Drawer Runners
Drawer Boxes
In the trade this is what we call the actual drawer assembly. There are different construction methods for these, with the top of the range featuring an all metal construction and showing considerable strength and durability. Some have a mixture of metal sides with a chipboard/melamine base, some have plastic sides, some are all chipboard/melamine and some are moulded plastic.
