Kitchen remodelers glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a kitchen remodeler provider in Connecticut.

What are countertop edge profiles?: Countertop edge profiles are the shaped edges that finish the front and sides of a kitchen counter, including styles like eased, bullnose, ogee, and waterfall.
What are countertop seams?: Countertop seams are the joints where two slab pieces meet, joined during fabrication or installation to span larger surface areas that exceed single slab dimensions.
What are face-frame vs frameless cabinets?: Face-frame cabinets have a wooden frame attached to the front of the box, while frameless (European-style) cabinets mount hinges directly to the sides of the box itself.
What are soft-close hinges?: Soft-close hinges are hydraulic or pneumatic hinges that slow and cushion the closing motion of cabinet doors and drawers, preventing them from slamming shut.
What is a backsplash?: A backsplash is a protective wall covering installed behind a kitchen sink or cooking surface to prevent water, grease, and food splatter from damaging the wall.
What is a butcher block countertop?: A butcher block countertop is a food-preparation surface made from strips of wood glued together in edge-grain or end-grain orientation and sealed to resist moisture and staining.
What is a cabinet box (carcass)?: A cabinet box (or carcass) is the rigid structural framework and side walls of a cabinet, made from plywood or particleboard, that holds shelves and supports doors and hardware.
What is a cabinet overlay (full vs partial)?: Cabinet overlay describes the amount a cabinet door extends over and conceals the wooden face frame. Full overlay doors cover the frame completely, while partial overlay doors leave a visible border of the frame exposed.
What is a galley kitchen layout?: A galley kitchen has two parallel runs of counters and cabinets separated by a narrow work aisle, with appliances and work surfaces positioned opposite each other on facing walls.
What is a GFCI outlet?: A GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlet is a special receptacle that cuts power instantly if it detects an electrical imbalance, protecting users from shock near water sources like kitchen sinks and countertops.
What is a kitchen island?: A kitchen island is a freestanding or built-in counter structure positioned in the center of a kitchen that serves as a work surface, dining spot, and storage location.
What is a kitchen peninsula?: A kitchen peninsula is a counter or cabinetry extension that projects from one wall, connected on at least one end, providing workspace and seating without the full floor space of a freestanding island.
What is a kitchen permit?: A kitchen permit is a municipal building approval issued by Connecticut towns when kitchen remodeling work involves electrical upgrades, plumbing modifications, or structural changes.
What is a kitchen work triangle?: The work triangle is a kitchen layout concept that positions the sink, stove, and refrigerator to form a triangle, minimizing the distance a cook must travel between these three primary work stations.
What is a load-bearing wall?: A load-bearing wall is an interior or exterior wall that carries the structural weight of the roof, upper floors, and contents above it. It differs from a non-load-bearing wall, which serves only to divide space.
What is a waterfall edge countertop?: A waterfall edge is a countertop design where the material continues vertically down the side of an island or cabinet leg, creating an uninterrupted flow from the horizontal surface to the floor.
What is an L-shaped vs U-shaped kitchen layout?: An L-shaped kitchen has counters running along two perpendicular walls, while a U-shaped kitchen has counters on three walls forming a work triangle with more counter and storage space.
What is cabinet refacing?: Cabinet refacing replaces cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and veneer on the cabinet boxes while retaining the original frames and structure underneath.
What is countertop template and fabrication?: Countertop template and fabrication is the process where a remodeler takes exact measurements and creates a physical or digital pattern of your kitchen layout before cutting and finishing the actual countertop material.
What is engineered stone?: Engineered stone is a composite countertop material made by combining crushed natural stone (quartz, granite, or marble chips) with polyester or epoxy resin binder.
What is range hood CFM?: CFM (cubic feet per minute) is the standard measurement of how much air a range hood can move per minute, indicating its ventilation strength and ability to clear cooking byproducts from your kitchen.
What is recessed lighting?: Recessed lighting consists of light fixtures mounted flush inside ceiling cavities, with trim rings visible at the surface, commonly used for ambient and task lighting in kitchens.
What is the difference between quartz and quartzite?: Quartz is an engineered stone made from crushed quartz mixed with resins, while quartzite is a natural metamorphic rock formed under heat and pressure in the earth.
What is under-cabinet lighting?: Lighting fixtures mounted on the underside of wall cabinets that shine down onto countertops to provide task lighting and ambient illumination in kitchens.