Your kitchen is made up of versatile materials and components including a space underneath your cabinets for your feet to slide in called the toe kick. So what is the toekick and how does it work?
what is a toekick
The toekick itself is only a wooden trim mold that goes attached to the bottom part of your kitchen cabinets. What is the purpose of the toekick and how does it make your life easier.
The Toekick Purpose
Have you every tried reaching over a large counter or surface and found that if only your feet could get a few inches closer then you could grab what you are reaching for a whole lot easier.
How about the time when you are trying to stand close to something while you are standing up straight and realize that you have to lean in awkwardly because your feet are in the way.
The toekick space will help you solve those problems, It allows your feet to slide in under cabinets so that you can gain some more reach and maintain your balance better as you reach for a high shelf.
Because you have that space for your feet then you can now stand up straight and at the same time maximize how close your hips can comfortably be to the countertop to help you finish what you are working on by being closer and reducing the mess.
The toekick area of a kitchen cabinet is also used as a structural advantage point that helps the way cabinets are built to give the them more structure ability and functionality at the same time. Some cabinets are literally being held together by toekick itself. If you were to remove the toekick area you would hinder the strength of the cabinet.
How deep is a kitchen toekick
If you are like me then you have wondered “How deep should a toekick be under cabinet” That answer is a universal 3.5 inches deep and 4 inches tall.
So Now you what is the inset for toekick on all kitchen cabinets, its only 3.5 inches deep by 4 inches tall so this means if your cabinet is 34.5 inches tall minus the 4 inch tall toekick then that leave your cabinet face frame to be exactly 30.5 inches.
A lot of people ask “what is standard toekick recess on kitchen cabinett” and the answer for a standard kitchen cabinet is 4″ tall and 3.5″ deep however if you are building a custom cabinet then you have total control of how tall is the toekick. As long you leave enough space for your kitchen cabinets to have the right height and functionality you will be on the right track.
How thick is that average kitchen cabinet toekick
The thickness of the toekick varies by what kind of material you are working with and if the cabinets are custom or standard.
For the Standard Cabinet: Builder Grade MDF Material
- 1/8th inch Thick Toekick
- 1/4 inch Thick Toekick
For Custom Cabinet: High End Hardwoods
- 1/2 inch Thick Toekick
- 3/4 inch Think Toekick
how to build kitchen island toekick
The toekick is built for cabinet support and homeowner functionality. You can build this out of 2×4 stock wood material of any kind by by joining 4 pieces into a square, just keep in mind you should make your cabinet a half inch taller because a 2×4 is only 3.5 inches tall and the standard is 4 inches tall. Always try to have a clearance of 34.5 inches tall to allow about a 1.5 inches thick.
Your toekick should always be inset about 3.5 inches to allow for your feet to fit under cabinet comfortably. It really is homeowner preference but make sure you do the same for all cabinet to make them match.
Level your toekick before mounting the cabinets this will help you later on in the process.
how to cover toekick of kitchen cabinet
There is trim board that is provided for your kitchen cabinet toekick, they are long about 8 feet and 4 inches tall. You cut it to the length you need and glue or nail it in place to make the bottom of your kitchen cabinets look seamless and uniform.
how to remove toekick
If you are replacing toekick you may be wanting to look at how to remove toekick youtube videos but the answer is simple.
Step 1
Remove Shoe Mold/ Quarter Round by prying it off with a small hand prybar and be careful not to damage it if you are reusing. To remove Nails simply twist back and forth to break on inside because if you clip off there will be a little stump left of material that will later on be in the way.
Step 2
Now you can start to pry off the the toekick keep in mind that it may be made up of several different pieces so if you start from a corner cabinet try not to damage corner of cabinet toekick area because it might still be visible when you add the new one. Simply start at one end and work your way across wedging it out a little at a time.
Step 3
Clean the cabinet toekick area by removing any excess caulk, glue or hammer in nail heads so they do not make your new toekick look wavy or crooked.
Step 4
Now you have a clear view of what your cabinets are made up underneath and you can do repairs, shim up level, or simply add new toekick in place now that its ready.
what do i buy for the toekick on cabinets
- Toekick Mold Trim
- Shoe Mold / Quarter Round Mold Trim
Finishing a kitchen remodel will get you to pay attention to details of your cabinet checklist. If you are finishing your toekick area on cabinets then you can easily buy stock material that is color matched for your cabinets and install it.
The Shoe Mold can go on now and you can cut it with some hand shoe mold clippers at 45 degrees on the corners and edges and simply nail it on in place above the toekick trim mold.
what does it it cost to have toekick installed
Prices may vary depending on location that you live in but overall expect to charged to in this format and just compare different quotes.
How Contractors Charge
- By the Piece Of 8 foot long Trim. $/full piece
- By the total feet coverage. $/feet of trim
- By the Hour or how long it takes. $/Hour
what nail should i use to install toekick
Please use an 18 gauge brad nail from 1 inch to 2 inch nails. And if you have a pin nail gun please use the 23 gauge nails which are the thinnest nails but can still use 1.5 inches long.
Pros and Cons of Nail Sizes
18 Gauge Brad Nail Gun
Pros
Some say the bigger the better when it comes to securing trim wood onto structural bases.
Cons
These Larger nails can help secure your toekick better but a lot of times it will crack your thing pieces of wood trim mold in half if you shoot it at a wrong angle of high pressure.
23 Gauge Pin Nail Gun
Pros
These work wonders for all the small trim pieces you do not have to worry about breaking anything you are nailing and you can simply nail multiple small pieces together in zig zag form or dove tail patterns to help secure it better.
Cons
Easy to remove with a prybar, some say this is a con but if you decide to make changes to your cabinets or flooring this means you will have to remove the entire shoe mold, but if you pin nailed it then this means you can reuse the entire trim on project.
what to do with toekick projection on side of base cabinets
The toekick projection should end flush with your cabinet and it should be colored in or filled with color matched putty so it blends in with the color of your cabinets. The shoe mold will cover the corners of the cabinets and will overlap the toekick by 3/4″ or 5/8th”.
If you are not happy with the standard look of the the finish, then go the extra mile and add a high end base board that is color matched for your kitchen, run it along the sides of your cabinets and end it flush with your toe kick so that the shoe mold can overlap it evenly with out any visible interruptions.
Conclusion
Thanks for stopping by and learning about the kitchen toekick, hope this information has helped you, remember every situation is different and you may have to improvise to make your kitchen keep looking good.
If you need help with learning how to install kitchen cabinets look us here or contact us if you want to some advice from a reputable kitchen cabinet specialist which we are proud to help the average the homeowner.
Cheers and Come Back Soon For Your Kitchen Needs In The Future!
