How tight should I pull kitchen cabinets to dishwasher

[branimal]

The instructions say minimum clearance is 23 7/8". I made the gap 24". That's leaving me with a ~1/4" gap on each side. Should I pull the cabinets to the right of the dishwasher in a little tighter? Leaving 1/8" on each side of the dishwasher.

And is that black rubber flange supposed to sit behind the cabinet face frame?

Thanks

 

[glentre]

The instructions say a MINIMUM opening of 23 7/8. You will be fine with a standard 24" opening which will give you an approximate 1/16" gap on each side, not 1/4". The actual gap depends on the true width of the dishwasher which will be slightly less than the recommended 23 7/8" opening.

Glen

 

[larry4406]

All of our new construction homes we set the dishwasher opening at 24” exactly.

Can’t help you on the black rubber piece. Read the manual?

 

[yeldogt]

24" it the normal spacing -- just split the difference on each side and make sure it all level and square -- the rubber should face the back so it does not stick out. The front of the case matches the cabinet face.

 

[Toolfool]

24" standard. You don't know the exact size of the next dishwasher that will go in there. The rubber gasket is to fill the gap against the face frames.

 

[rlitman]

The cabinet spacing should be 24" exactly between the face frames. The rubber gasket takes up the extra space, and should sit flush with the front of the face frames, leaving no open gaps at the sides.

If you're doing a stone top, you have several dishwasher attachment methods. Many allow you to put screws into the sides of the face frames to avoid drilling the countertop. That works, but I prefer the top screw plates, as they're both better hidden and stronger. On my last install, I used one of these:

Amazon.com

Before that, I drilled and tapped a 1/8" steel strip that I then painted and epoxied to my stone. The bracket is MUCH easier.

 

[Toolfool]

The cabinet spacing should be 24" exactly between the face frames. The rubber gasket takes up the extra space, and should sit flush with the front of the face frames, leaving no open gaps at the sides.

If you're doing a stone top, you have several dishwasher attachment methods. Many allow you to put screws into the sides of the face frames to avoid drilling the countertop. That works, but I prefer the top screw plates, as they're both better hidden and stronger. On my last install, I used one of these:

Amazon.com

Before that, I drilled and tapped a 1/8" steel strip that I then painted and epoxied to my stone. The bracket is MUCH easier.

Convinced my countertop guys to install the epoxied strips as standard procedure.

 

[nadogail]

If you follow the manufacturers instructions you will be covered if there is any question about why you did it the way you did.
If you deviate from the instructions, you are on your own when someone asks you "why?"