We get called to a lot of situations that were entirely avoidable: the range that is an inch too wide, the refrigerator that cannot make the turn at the top of the stairs, the hood with no route to outside air. Every one of them would have cost nothing to catch before the order went in.
Openings, in three places each
Cabinet openings are rarely perfectly square, and the number that matters is the smallest one. We measure width at the top, middle and bottom, height at both sides, and depth from the finished wall, then compare all of it against the manufacturer's rough-in drawing.
If the smallest measurement is under the required opening, the cabinet needs modifying. Told in advance, that is a small job for the cabinet maker. Told on delivery day, it becomes a delayed project, a storage fee and a very unhappy schedule.
The rough-ins behind the wall
Every appliance spec sheet has a diagram showing exactly where the gas, water and electrical should terminate, usually with a shaded zone. Landing outside that zone means the connection will not reach, or the appliance will not sit flush because a pipe is in the way.
We check each one: gas stub height and offset, water valve location, outlet or junction box position, and whether the circuit that feeds it is actually the right size for the load.
The path from the truck to the kitchen
This is the one people forget entirely. A 48-inch built-in refrigerator that fits its opening perfectly is useless if it cannot get through the front door.
The path check covers:
- Every doorway width, and whether doors can come off their hinges for extra clearance.
- Stair turns and landings, which are where large appliances most often get stuck.
- Elevator dimensions and building access rules for condos and high-rises.
- Floor protection needs and whether anything has to be removed to clear the route.
- Whether the appliance can be tipped at all, which some built-ins explicitly prohibit.
This is why our site inspection service walks the route as well as measuring the opening.
Ventilation routes, before the ceiling closes
Hood ducting is dramatically easier to plan while the ceiling is open. Once the drywall is up, a duct route that seemed obvious can turn out to run straight through a beam.
If a downdraft is planned, the duct usually has to leave through the island base and travel under the floor, which is essentially impossible to add later on a slab. These decisions belong at framing stage.
What you get from it
A written summary with measurements, photos and a clear list of anything that will not fit as specified, plus what needs to change. Designers, cabinet makers and general contractors all work from the same document, which removes a lot of the finger-pointing that happens when something does not fit.
It is one hour, early, and it is the highest-leverage thing you can do on an appliance project. Book a pre-measurement visit before your order goes in.
