A simple trick from my plumber saved a whole set of maple face frames

I was installing a kitchen in a 1920s bungalow last Tuesday, and the old walls were way out of square. I had these perfect maple frames ready to go, but nothing was lining up. My plumber, Joe, saw me struggling and said, 'Why not scribe them to the wall like we do with trim?' I used my compass to trace the wall's contour onto the back of each frame, then trimmed to the line with my jigsaw. It worked perfectly, and the client loved the seamless fit. Has anyone else used a trim trick to solve a cabinet fitting problem?

2 comments

2 Comments

hernandez.morgan1mo ago

Actually, that scribing method can cause problems down the line. If the wall ever needs replastering or you run a new wire, you're stuck. It's better to shim the cabinets out to create a straight line, then use a filler strip cut to fit the gap. That way everything stays square and it's serviceable later.

hernandez.morgan1mo ago

That filler strip method can look pretty obvious in a lot of kitchens, though. A tight scribe just disappears into the wall and looks built-in. Most walls don't get replastered that often, and wiring can usually be fished through other spaces. The extra time to scribe it right is worth it for a clean finish that doesn't have a visible seam.