I don’t know about you, but a dishwasher is something I couldn’t live without. The main reason is that I just don’t like handling dirty and greasy dishes. I also like the convenience of being able to put dirty dishes directly into my dishwasher, out of sight, so that the kitchen looks tidy immediately after finishing a meal.
I have renovated multiple times over the years, but had never really thought about the various styles of dishwashers. I just bought what looked good and fit my budget. Recently, when I moved into an older home in need of a makeover, I realized that there are two main types of dishwashers, semi-built-in and fully-built. They both work in basically the same way, with the main difference between them in design detail. Aesthetics aside, there are a few other things to consider when deciding between the two.
Fully integrated dishwasher
As its name suggests, a fully integrated dishwasher blends seamlessly with the kitchen cabinets that surround it. The front of the dishwasher can be left exposed or it can be hidden behind a door to match the rest of the kitchen cabinets. The control panel, along with the opening, is usually at the top of the door, out of sight. For ease of use and to facilitate opening and closing the door, a handle can be attached to the front of the dishwasher or cabinet in which it is housed. Regardless of whether you choose to expose the front of the dishwasher or cover it, with its clean and elegant lines, a fully integrated model will enhance the appearance of any kitchen. In my opinion, it looks especially at home in a modern kitchen when using a colored or stainless steel fascia.
Semi-integrated dishwashers
The control panel for a semi-integrated dishwasher is located on the top front of the dishwasher. Because of this, this type of dishwasher can be partially, but not completely, hidden behind a cabinet door. Hiding it completely would mean that it would not be possible to access the control panel and the open / close mechanism. Some semi-built-in washers come with decorative panels that can be changed to give the kitchen a different look or customized to match existing cabinets. Price and ease of access to the control panel are things to consider when deciding which type of dishwasher will be right for you.
Which Dishwasher Is Right For You?
Families with young children may prefer a fully integrated dishwasher, as the controls will be out of the reach of children.
Those who like to know what part of the wash cycle the machine has reached may prefer a semi-integrated dishwasher as this information can be easily viewed without opening the dishwasher door.
Cost wise, I found that, in general, fully integrated models cost more than their semi-integrated counterparts. However, this varies by make and model, which means that a more standard fully-integrated washer can be cheaper than a semi-integrated washer that has all the bells and whistles.