How To Install Cabinet Knobs

Cabinet knobs are a vital part of every cabinet ensemble, drawers, or kitchen cupboards. Knobs are there to enable people to open doors, drawers, and cabinets, while other knobs are made to decorative purposes only. While knobs have a simple function, manufacturers go to lengths to provide decorative appeal to these devices, oftentimes merging them with the interior design and colors of a room.

Knob Basics. Doors are often the recipients of having knobs. Most knobs are built for industrial strength and come with locking mechanisms. Most knobs are place alongside the left side of the door, while others are installed at the very center of the door, depending on local customs. The types of household knobs include entrance knobs, privacy knobs, used in bathrooms or bedrooms; passage knobs, which are without locks; and dummy knobs, used for only for decorative purposes.

The only drawback of knobs is that it can be difficult for young or old people to operate. Since they usually don't have the strength to twist a knob, levers are used instead. The lever is easier to manipulate -- just by using an old man's hand wait for example, to press down on the lever; the locking mechanism is released thereby opening the door. By function, knobs don't act that way.

Knob Finishing. The type of finishing applied to knobs is very important, as knobs are usually the harborers of germs and microbes. Everyday they are touched by people, whose hands have been through... anywhere. Therefore, some metal finishings are used to kill the bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms, without any need of a disinfectant. Of course, these knobs will find great use in places where potential infections must be kept to a minimum, like hospitals. Metals such as copper, brass, and silver have disinfectant properties, and can kill microbes within a period of eight hours. Materials that do not have these properties include glass, aluminum, or stainless steel.

Installing Knobs Tips. Cabinet knobs are quite simple in their function and are the most likely to receive artistic attention from designers. They either catch the guest's eye, or can be subdued, depending on the interior designs. In order to install knobs on cabinets, firstly, you need to consider the designs of your cabinets -- the color, texture, and theme -- and buy those that either complement or contrast the door panels and still achieve the great aesthetic effect. Next, remember to count how many you need on every cabinet door. Keep in mind the exact number so you won't come up short of knobs after your trip to the local do-it-yourself store.

Measure the potential holes' distance and size on every cabinet panel. It needs to be enough to accommodate the size of the knob and look well-balanced. Bigger knobs on smaller panels tend to be more cartoonist, and tiny knobs on huge, matronly cabinets look downright silly. Be sure that, by now, you have figured out the style of the cabinet knobs.