[Marie999]

I was sure that I'd already had all my kitchen remodeling questions answered by the previous threads on this forum (seriously, you folks are amazing), but I finally have one I can't find the answer to.

There are other threads on here about using an IKEA cabinet door as a custom panel for GE Dishwashers, and it seemed pretty straightforward, so that's what I set out to do. (Adel white)

Well, since they work perfectly well without the custom panel, my dishwasher has been in and working for a few weeks now when I finally set down to install the custom panel. And after a lot of cursing and scratching my head, I've discovered something:

The 18" dishwasher does NOT take a full-size cabinet door at all! When one is installed, the door will not open fully as it hits the bottom toe-kick area. The max. depth for this panel is supposed to be 27".

Leaving aside my ire towards GE for carefully concealing this fact in their photography (using a dark-colored cabinet as the model disguises the fact that there is an extra 3" of icky black toe-kick on view), what can I do?

The only solutions I can see are:

1- cut down a full size cabinet door to 27", leaving the bottom cabinet part just cut off and somewhat stupid looking

2- somehow locate a matching Adel door that is 27"

3- ? Other ideas?

I've attached an altered image showing how the bottom of the custom panel does not extend down to the line of the other cabinet bottoms.

Help!!

[xand83]

Hi Marie,

Can you not remove the GE toe kick panel and install a normal 30" tall door at that point? Or will it still not open because of wires/legs in the way?

You can see my blog posts on my dw custom panel debacle. I'll never go that route again because it took forever to figure out. But in your case, there might not be an easy answer. What color is the GE toe kick portion, black?

	DW definitions DW can mean Dear or Darling Wife (or substitute your expletive), or alternatively DishWasher. Take your clues from the context.

[Marie999]

Yep, that was my thought too, but the metal uprights that the toe-kick attaches to then become the thing it hits, so it doesn't really get me anything.

And yes, the toekick is very, very black.

[corrypaw]

I'm probably going to run into this problem as well...I purchased an 18" Bosch DW that takes a custom door panel, and I'm debating how best to go about attaching a matching door. This is turning out to be the most frustrating part of the whole kitchen install. Although yours is a GE, but Bosch does make an accessory part called a "retractable hinge adapter kit", which I've been told addresses this issue. You might find a way to rig something up if you take a look at what the Bosch accessory part does. You can google "Bosch custom dishwasher panel guide", and on page 9, you can see photos of how their 18" looks with and without the use of the accessory part with panel at the bottom. I also added a link below (to an online appliance dealer), and if you go to that page and click the pdf link on the lower left, you can see install instructions. You could check with GE also to see if they make something similar for your dw. I think the way this works is that they cut a 30" door horizontally at 27", and used the other 3" for the narrow panel, which is attached just below the door/hinge area, at the top of the toekick, thus eliminating the ugly "high toekick" look. DH and I may end up rigging something up similar to this, but with L brackets attached to the cabinet sides or something, as I'm not sure I want to spend yet more money on this dw. So far, this type of solution seems to be the only one I can figure out, but it's far from ideal, and definitely falls short of a "fully integrated, matching door" look. Whatever solution you come up with, please post it....I'll be taking pics of what we do so I can post eventually, too. Good luck!

SGZ3022 - Bosch Retractable Hinge Kit For 18" Dishwasher at Abt

	DH definition DH usually means Dear Husband (or, pick your own adjective starting with D).

	DW definitions DW can mean Dear or Darling Wife (or substitute your expletive), or alternatively DishWasher. Take your clues from the context.

[Marie999]

Funny you should mention the Bosch!

I was investigating this further, and am really quite pleased with how Bosch explains the different options with their 18" dishwashers (ADA install/ugly toekick/added hinge thingie), and even shows you how the different ones look in their PDF brochure.

At the suggestion of a friend, I decided to call Lowe's (where I bought it), and explained my unhappiness, and they are actually letting me return it! Well after their 30-day return limit too by the way. So I'm returning the bad one and going to get a Bosch!

I agree the Bosch custom panel solution is not totally perfect, but it looks like it will end up looking much sleeker than the GE, and besides the Bosch is such a better machine!

I shoulda just gone with the Bosch from the get go. Well, live and learn....

[corrypaw]

That's great! Lowe's does have a very customer-friendly policy on appliances...and you are wise to buy it brand-new, as opposed to the "floor-model-half-price" way I got mine. I ended up with no hardware, and it's taken me a month to finally round up everything I needed. Be forewarned, though - I don't know anything about the current 18" Bosch that's available, but the one I have (it was just discontinued) requires the junction box for the electric be installed in a cabinet NEXT to the dw , not right behind it, which my electrician thought was unusual. It was doable, but it's a bit crowded in my sink cabinet now, lol . You're right though - it's a very well-rated dishwasher, so hopefully you'll be happy with it. And let's hope we BOTH end up happy with how the custom door panel looks when we're done!

	DW definitions DW can mean Dear or Darling Wife (or substitute your expletive), or alternatively DishWasher. Take your clues from the context.

	LOL definition LOL means Laugh(ing) Out Loud

[Marie999]

Phew! I'm glad I had the electrician put the outlet in the sink cabinet, then! I honestly thought they all went there.

Lowe's has definitely earned some repeat business from me, so that's good. GE, not so much.

[personalshopper]

Lowes is getting some nice comments. I've had only good experiences with their appliance department....in fact, with every department.

Sorry everyone is struggling with the 18" DW ; they look nice, and they certainly solve a space problem in a lot of kitchens. I'll look forward to seeing pictures of happy endings to the stories.

	DW definitions DW can mean Dear or Darling Wife (or substitute your expletive), or alternatively DishWasher. Take your clues from the context.

[corrypaw]

Thanks, Personalshopper - I'm hoping to post progress pics on the dw , given that my "dalbrough blind corner" fell through (long story, but I won't bore you with it here, lol )...I'd like at least ONE aspect of my kitchen to work out the way I'd planned! And I agree about Lowe's - I once heard a contractor say "Home Depot is the Walmart of home improvement stores - but Lowe's is Target!".

	DW definitions DW can mean Dear or Darling Wife (or substitute your expletive), or alternatively DishWasher. Take your clues from the context.

	LOL definition LOL means Laugh(ing) Out Loud