Semi-Integrated vs. Fully Integrated Dishwasher: Which Is Better?

Website design By BotEap.comI 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.

Website design By BotEap.comI have renovated it several 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 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.

Website design By BotEap.comFully integrated dishwasher

Website design By BotEap.comAs its name suggests, a fully integrated dishwasher blends seamlessly with the surrounding kitchen cabinets. 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 easy opening and closing of the door, a handle can be attached to the front of the dishwasher or to the cabinet in which it is located. 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.

Website design By BotEap.comSemi integrated dishwasher

Website design By BotEap.comThe 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 access to the control panel and the open / close mechanism would not be possible. 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.

Website design By BotEap.comWhich Dishwasher Is Right For You?

Website design By BotEap.comFamilies with young children may prefer a fully integrated dishwasher, as the controls will be out of the reach of children.

Website design By BotEap.comThose 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.

Website design By BotEap.comCost wise, I found that the generally 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 washing machine can be cheaper than a semi integrated washing machine that has all the mod cons.