Plumbing glossary

40 home plumbing terms in plain English. Every number links to its source.

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Adjustable leg: An adjustable leg is a screw-height foot under a cabinet that lets you level it on an uneven floor and lift the box off the ground.
Assembled cabinet: An assembled cabinet arrives already built, so it only needs to be set in place and fastened, which saves time and reduces assembly errors.

Base cabinet: A base cabinet sits on the floor and supports the countertop, and it holds the sink, drawers and most of the everyday storage in a kitchen.
Blind corner cabinet: A blind corner cabinet sits where two runs meet, and part of its inside is hidden behind the neighboring cabinet, so special hardware is needed to reach it.

Cabinet dealer: A cabinet dealer is an authorized business that buys from a manufacturer and sells cabinets to homeowners, designers and builders in its area.
Cabinet scribe: Scribing is trimming a cabinet edge or filler to match an uneven wall or floor, so the cabinet sits tight with no visible gap.
CARB2: CARB2 is the California rule on formaldehyde from composite wood such as plywood, MDF and particleboard, and federal law now carries a matching standard.
Crown molding: Crown molding is a decorative trim along the top of wall cabinets that bridges the gap to the ceiling and gives the run a finished edge.

Dovetail drawer: A dovetail drawer joins its corners with interlocking wedge-shaped cuts that lock together, which resists pulling apart under the weight of heavy drawer loads.
Drawer glide: A drawer glide is the metal slide that lets a drawer open and close smoothly, and its weight rating tells you how much the drawer can carry.

Edge banding: Edge banding is a thin strip applied to the raw edge of a panel to seal it from moisture and give the cut edge a finished look.

Face frame: A face frame is a wood frame fixed across the front of a cabinet box, and the doors and drawers attach to it instead of to the box sides.
Filler strip: A filler is a narrow strip that closes a small gap between a cabinet and a wall or between two cabinets, so the run fits the room exactly.
Flat panel door: A flat panel door, also called a slab door, is one flat piece with no raised or recessed detail, which gives the cleanest, most modern line.
Frameless cabinet: A frameless cabinet has no front face frame, so doors mount directly on the box sides and the whole opening stays usable, with more room for drawers and shelves.
Full access cabinet: A full access cabinet has no center stile or frame in front, so the whole interior is reachable the moment the doors open, with nothing blocking your hands.
Full overlay: A full overlay door covers almost the whole front of the cabinet box, leaving only a thin, even gap between doors and drawer fronts.

HDPE: HDPE, or high density polyethylene, is a durable plastic that outdoor cabinets use because it does not rot, swell or need paint.
Hinge adjustment: Hinge adjustment is turning small screws on a hinge to move a door up, down, in, out or sideways until the gaps are even.

Inset door: An inset door sits inside the cabinet opening so its face lies flush with the front frame, which creates a tailored look that needs precise fitting.

KCMA certification: KCMA certification means a cabinet design passed the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association lab tests for structure, doors, drawers and finish, and earned its quality seal.

Lazy Susan: A lazy Susan is a rotating shelf that spins items from the back of a corner cabinet to the front, so you can reach them without crawling inside.

Marine-grade polymer: Marine-grade polymer is a plastic cabinet material made to handle constant moisture, sun and salt without rotting, swelling or needing a new finish.
MDF: MDF, or medium density fiberboard, is a smooth panel made of fine wood fibers and resin, and it is a stable base for painted door centers.

Partial overlay: A partial overlay door covers part of the face frame and leaves a strip of the frame visible around each door, which gives a more traditional look.
Particleboard: Particleboard is a panel made of wood chips and resin pressed into a flat sheet, and it is smooth, affordable to make and common in cabinet boxes.
Plywood box: A plywood box is a cabinet body built from thin layers of wood veneer glued in alternating directions, which makes it strong, stable and good at holding screws.
Pull-out organizer: A pull-out organizer slides out of a cabinet on a track, so you can see and reach everything inside without bending or digging at the back.

Raised panel door: A raised panel door has a center panel shaped to stand out from the surrounding frame, which creates a traditional, detailed look.
Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinet: An RTA cabinet ships as flat parts that you or your installer put together on site, which makes it easier to move through tight spaces.

Shaker door: A shaker door has a flat center panel framed by four flat rails and stiles, which gives a simple, balanced look that suits both classic and modern rooms.
Slim shaker door: A slim shaker door is a shaker door with narrower frame rails, which gives a lighter, more modern look than the classic wide shaker frame.
Soft-close hinge: A soft-close hinge has a built-in damper that slows the door during the last part of its swing, so it shuts quietly and does not slam.
Stainless steel (304 vs 316): Stainless steel is a rust-resistant steel alloy, and the 316 grade resists salt and chlorides better than the common 304 grade.

Tall cabinet: A tall cabinet runs from the floor to a high point near the ceiling, and it is used for a pantry, an oven, a broom closet or garage storage.
Thermally fused laminate (TFL): Thermally fused laminate, or TFL, is a printed paper surface bonded to a panel with heat and pressure, which makes a hard, scratch-resistant finish.
Thermofoil: Thermofoil is a vinyl film heated and pressed onto a shaped door to make a smooth, one-piece finish that wipes clean easily.
Toe kick: A toe kick is the recessed base under a floor cabinet that gives your feet room to stand close to the counter without bumping the cabinet.

Wall cabinet: A wall cabinet hangs on the wall above the counter, and it gives closed storage at eye level without using floor space.
Warranty registration: Warranty registration is the step where you record your purchase with the maker so the company can verify your coverage if a problem comes up.

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