Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Dishwasher installation

Hi,

I am currently remodeling my kitchen. I have already finished the installation of the new upper cabinets, and I will be doing the lowers this weekend.

I have a dishwasher that is a free-standing unit which connects to the sink faucet. I am planning on installing it as a built-in unit, but I would like to know more before I do. Unfortunately, this seems to be a pretty rare situation, as I can't seem to find any how-to articles or anything relating to me. :wall:

I would like to get some good instructions on what I will need to convert and install the dishwasher. Has anyone here ever done this before? All of the articles that I have been able to find have covered replacing an old dishwasher, but I need to know about installing all the required hardware - not just putting back what was once there.

I live in a fairly rural area, so I am worried that I will need to run out and buy something that I am missing, and that is not easy where I am. I believe that I have everything that I need, but I want to be sure.

I also would like to know the standard opening for a dishwasher. I want to be sure that if I need to replace the unit in the future, that I am ready for any situation. :thinker:

Thank you for your help.

jptrsn, Welcome to the DIY Forums.
If I understand you correctly, you want to install a portable DW as a permanent unit.
You mentioned "future" replacement so thats where we will start. I assume your unit has a top on it like a cabinet. This is where the problem starts. Most built-in DW's have an opening in the cabinet of 34" high and 24" wide. There are adjustable legs for height differences. Will your current unit fit into this size space?
Water supply for a DW is 3/8" copper line tied into the hot water supply line of your sink water supply. You will have to adapt your current hose to accept this.
Power is 110 Volts. Some units are plug-in and others are hardwired. You will need an outlet or wired box under the cabinet you are installing the unit in.
Drain lines on built-in units are hose that ties into a DW tee installed into the drainline under the sink, before the trap, or into a disposer. You will need to check local code to see if you need an Air-gap installed in the countertop.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

Check with the manufacturer. Many of the front opening units with a butcherboard top are designed to be converted and there are conversion kits available.

The kits make it easier and contain helpful instructions that are particular to your model.

Dick