The Kitchen Store

What is a toe kick and what is the point of having it? The Kitchen Store, a cabinet expert, will discuss the significance of cabinet toe kick in this post. 

What Is a Toe Kick?

A toe kick is a notch-shaped indentation in a base cabinet’s front. It has a foot recess so you can get close to the counter. This improves balance and decreases strain from reaching across a countertop. Without a toe kick, users are forced to stand back from a base cabinet, causing back, shoulder, and arm strain. This type of work is inconvenient and can cause chronic discomfort and posture concerns.

Toe kick molding gives the back of the toe kick region the same polished look like the rest of the cabinets. It also protects the cabinet bases from damage caused by dropped objects, spilled food and drinks, and, well, toe kicks.

Although not mandated by building codes, manufacturers and tradespeople use them as a design standard. As a result, toe kicks are standard on practically every factory-built cabinet, and custom kitchen cabinets makers always use conventional toe kick shapes and sizes.

Why Aren’t Cabinet Toe Kicks Built-In?

If they’re so important, why don’t cabinets come with a polished toe kick as standard? Not all floors are level, and not all cabinet bases are level as well. Shimming the cabinets to make sure they’re all level at the top is a vital step in base cabinet installation. This keeps things from rolling in one direction and gives the counter the most stable surface to rest on. However, because of the shims, there may be a gap between the cabinet’s bottom and the floor.

This is where toe kick molding comes in. Since it’s a separate piece, you may trim it to the exact form you need, ensuring that there are no gaps and that your cabinets appear to have been built into the house rather than just set on the floor like furniture.

As a dedicated homeowner, you have to make sure your kitchen, including your cabinets, looks good and functions well. For custom kitchen remodeling, call The Kitchen Store at (310) 400-3035 or fill out our contact form to set an appointment. We offer services in California including Beverly Hills, CA.