Do you Need Side Skins for Your RTA Cabinets?
At Lanae Cabinetryour RTA cabinets come in two parts: the carcass (the exterior box) and the fronts (the face frame and door/drawer fronts). Knowing how these two pieces work together will help you order everything you need the first time around.
How Our RTA Cabinet Colors Work
Most of our cabinet carcasses come in Pure White, with the exception being our glass door and spice rack cabinets. The fronts box, which includes the face frame and door and drawer fronts, is what comes in the color of your choice. This means that on any side of a cabinet that is exposed and visible in your finished space, you may be looking at a white carcass rather than your chosen color finish.
That is exactly what side skins are designed to solve.
Important
If purchasing a glass door cabinet, spice rack cabinet or cabinet in the Pure White color, these are the exception to the rule as these cabinets come with color matched sides.
When Do You Need Side Skins for Exposed Cabinet Sides?
If any side of your cabinet will be visible after installation and you have chosen a color other than Pure White Shaker, you need to order a side skin for that exposed side. A side skin is a color-matched panel that covers one side of the white carcass and gives your cabinet a clean, finished look that matches the rest of your design.
Choosing any color other than Pure White Shaker? Any exposed cabinet side needs a matching side skin.
Color-Matched Toe Kicks for Non-White Cabinets
Along with side skins, any cabinet order in a color other than Pure White will also require color-matched toe kicks. Toe kicks run along the base of your cabinets and are clearly visible from the front, so a white toe kick against a colored cabinet will stand out in a finished kitchen.
Even if you are sticking with Pure White cabinets, toe kicks are still recommended when lining up a row of cabinets. They help cover the seam between individual cabinets at the base, keeping the finished look clean and cohesive.
Decorative Panels Are Not a Replacement for Side Skins
This is one of the most common mix-ups we see. If you are purchasing a decorative panel, please know that it does not replace a side skin. Decorative panels do not fully cover the side of the cabinet, which means the white carcass will still be visible in areas the panel does not reach.
In any color other than Pure White, you still need to purchase a side skin alongside your decorative panel. Both are required for a fully finished look.
RTA Cabinets for Islands: Covering the Back
Islands are a unique situation because the back of the cabinet is often fully exposed. Since all of our carcasses are Pure White, an exposed island back will show that white finish regardless of what color you ordered for your fronts. A side skin is required to cover the back of any island cabinet that will be visible.
If the island is wide enough to require multiple side skins side by side, you will also need a batten scribe to cover the seam between them. This keeps the back of your island looking clean and intentional.
Any exposed back corner on an island should be finished with an outside corner moulding. This covers the raw edge where two sides of the cabinet meet and gives the island a truly built-in appearance.
Side Skin and Cabinet Finishing Checklist
- Before you submit your order, run through this quick checklist:
- Are any cabinet sides exposed? If yes, and your color is not Pure White Shaker, add a side skin for each exposed side.
- Did you order a color other than Pure White? If yes, add color-matched toe kicks.
- Are you doing a run of Pure White cabinets? Toe kicks are still recommended to cover the seams at the base.
- Did you add a decorative panel? You still need a side skin in any color other than Pure White.
- Is the back of your island exposed? Add side skins, a batten scribe if needed to cover panel seams, and outside corner moulding for any exposed back corners.
Order with Confidence: Let Lanae Cabinetry Help
Getting your cabinet order right the first time saves time, money, and the headache of waiting on additional parts to finish your install. Side skins, toe kicks, batten scribes, and corner moulding are small details that make a big difference in the final look of your kitchen or island. When in doubt, reach out to the Lanae Cabinetry team before you order by calling (877) 360-2323. We would rather help you get it right upfront than have you waiting on missing pieces after your cabinets have already arrived.