[Jimmydoodlebug]

To those who haven't yet chosen a house model, here's something I just discovered about my Lantana: it will not accept a full size refrigerator. The widest replacement we could find that would fit the opening is 33" and there are just four of those on the market that have ice and water through the door. Very slim pickings.

The opening is 35" and the water line and baseboard protrude into that space by about 3/4 inch. A standard refrigerator is 36" and larger.

We'd like a normal refrigerator so we might have to hire someone to take out the baseboard and tear open the pantry wall to expose the water supply line and move it. Even then we'd be limited to a 36" refrigerator but that gives us a lot of refrigerators to choose from and that 3" makes a big difference. A second refrigerator in the garage is out of the question.

If anyone else has had this problem, how did you deal with it? Maybe there's a simpler way.

Thanks

[villagetinker]

There was another thread about refrigerator sizes, but as I recall it was height related. I cannot believe that the house was constructed with a substandard opening for the refrigerator.
Hope you find a solution.

[Topspinmo]

We replaced our refrigerator. Done measurements, and 36 inch would just fit. Wrong the floor cabinet between the stove and the refrigerator was installed crooked or the wall was built crooked. The fridge would only slide in 3/4" of the way. Also, the top and side cabinets was less than 100 thousands clearance. Luckily for me I was able to replace the floor cabinet with smaller on, cut down the table top with 1 1/2" difference so the refrigerator would just slide in.

Word to the wise! Measure all angles before you decide on how big unit you can get in the space.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Jimmydoodlebug

To those who haven't yet chosen a house model, here's something I just discovered about my Lantana: it will not accept a full size refrigerator. The widest replacement we could find that would fit the opening is 33" and there are just four of those on the market that have ice and water through the door. Very slim pickings.

The opening is 35" and the water line and baseboard protrude into that space by about 3/4 inch. A standard refrigerator is 36" and larger.

We'd like a normal refrigerator so we might have to hire someone to take out the baseboard and tear open the pantry wall to expose the water supply line and move it. Even then we'd be limited to a 36" refrigerator but that gives us a lot of refrigerators to choose from and that 3" makes a big difference. A second refrigerator in the garage is out of the question.

If anyone else has had this problem, how did you deal with it? Maybe there's a simpler way.

Thanks

We don't have a Lantana but my friend Pooh, who posts on here recently got a big nice refrigerator for her Lantana...

I just measured my four year old full size 3 door refrigerator, water in the door, drawer bottom and it is 32" DEEP and protrudes out past the cabinet as it is meant to and 35.5" wide. Are you talking about removing the baseboard BEHIND the refrigerator and moving the water connection BEHIND the refrigerator?


What do you have on both sides of the refrigerator? On the one side I picture a wall to your pantry closet and on the other is a cabinet?


Before you start tearing up anything, call Warranty and ask them.

Here is a post I found in search with what sounds like the same problem. Maybe send him a PM?




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Old 09-13-2012, 05:17 PM



phil9200 phil9200 is offline

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Join Date: Sep 2009

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I need someone to take the wall down behind my Refrigerator to give me am additional 3 1/4 inches more space by taking down the 2x4s Inside that wall are electrical outlets and the water shut-off for the refrigerator. The shut-off and the electrical outlet will have to be moved to a cabinet next to the opening. The studs will have to be removed and re-framed to fit the refrigerator, the sheet-rock behind will remain the same. It sounds more difficult than it is, but how do I find someone to do it.

[dave from deland]

Originally Posted by Jimmydoodlebug

To those who haven't yet chosen a house model, here's something I just discovered about my Lantana: it will not accept a full size refrigerator. The widest replacement we could find that would fit the opening is 33" and there are just four of those on the market that have ice and water through the door. Very slim pickings.

The opening is 35" and the water line and baseboard protrude into that space by about 3/4 inch. A standard refrigerator is 36" and larger.

We'd like a normal refrigerator so we might have to hire someone to take out the baseboard and tear open the pantry wall to expose the water supply line and move it. Even then we'd be limited to a 36" refrigerator but that gives us a lot of refrigerators to choose from and that 3" makes a big difference. A second refrigerator in the garage is out of the question.

If anyone else has had this problem, how did you deal with it? Maybe there's a simpler way.

Thanks

We have a Lantana resale built in 2000. We just replaced the original refrigerator with a larger new one. I believe it has a little over 27 sq ft of space. It fit into the space fine. It is 36" wide, 33" deep and 70" high. It is about 1" away from the back wall. It extends 8" from the cabinets into the kitchen and 6" from the wall of the pantry into the kitchen. Space from the upper cabinets to the top of the refrigerator is about 3.5". It sounds like to me that your opening is not standard for the Lantana model but I am just relaying what our experience was in replacing our refrigerator.

[Jimmydoodlebug]

That's very interesting. It looks to me like the adjacent pantry and cabinets were standard installations, but apparently not. They might have deviated from the normal dimensions when they framed the pantry. I don't think we can do anything about that now, it's a done deal.

Graciegirl I'm going to try to contact the person who wanted to enlarge his space to the rear and see how that worked out. It sounds like he had a different setup with water to the rear, mine is on the side of the pantry for some reason, so it sticks into the already small space.

One thing, the builder knew about the size of the opening because the present refrigerator is small and it's the original.

Topspinmo, your situation was a nightmare! Thanks for the headsup, I'll carefully measure everything before I do anything else.

We've decided to cancel the order for a small refrigerator and try to find someone who can widen the opening for us.

Live and learn.

[Boomer]

Please allow me to offer a suggestion. The title of your thread "Annoying Factoid" might not get the attention of readers who might find themselves in the same predicament and could offer help. -- If I were you, I would give the thread a different title like "Refrigerator Opening Not Big Enough For Most Replacements." (You could shorten that after the word 'Enough' and it would still get your question out there in the title.)

If you decide to accept my somewhat bossy advice, I think you have to contact a moderator or administrator. While posters can edit their own post contents, for some reason thread title changes have to be requested -- or that is how it once was. -- Somebody here will know if posters can edit titles without asking.

The reason I am in this thread is that I know I would be so frustrated and I hope you can get some help. Something is not right. (We bought a pre-owned Gardenia and replaced the appliances with stainless and had no problems. The refrigerator is a French door.)

I have heard that the Lantana and the Gardenia are among the most popular models and have been around for a long time. I am not clear as to whether you have a brand new home. Also, if I am understanding correctly and that water line is coming in from the side and displacing refrigerator width allowance......well, that is just odd. A home buyer should be able to expect standard appliance openings. -- But now readers know to check. Thank you.

I realize I am writing a dissertation on this so I better wrap it up. Here is what I would do.......Call Warranty, especially if you are the first owner of your home. With the popularity of the Lantana, over so many years, I can't help but think that there might have been a goof made in your individual home. And, if so, Warranty should take care of it for you. You should not have to be sentenced to putting up with such limited choices for a new refrigerator because a builder missed an important standard kitchen measurement.

Good luck to you. I hope you will let us know if and/or how this is resolved.

Boomer

[kittygilchrist]

I am in a 3yo lantana with fridge on side wall, opening almost 39".

[JoMar]

Two year old Lantana, fridge on garage wall, 39" opening currently occupied by a 36" original fridge.

[Jimmydoodlebug]

Great replies, thanks.

It's apparent that my Lantana, 2005 model, was either built wrong or built to different specs. I'm the second owner so I don't expect the Warranty to cover the issue. My wife thinks that the opening is 36" and if we can reroute the plumbing and pull out the baseboards we can squeeze a full size refrigerator in there.

If you haven't looked for a new refrigerator lately it's amazing what a couple of more inches in width can get you. The original refrigerator is a side by side and the freezer side is only about 10" wide inside so lots of things won't fit and we want to get rid of it.

We've only been here a couple of weeks and remodeling the kitchen wasn't on our to-do list, but it's working its way to the top now!

I think my next post will be a request for a handyman recommendation.

[Carla B]

Friends bought a resale Gardenia model a few years ago and their fridge wouldn't fit width wise. It required trimming the stub wall, I think. Apparently, mistakes are made by the framing carpenters.

[redwitch]

Have seen this problem a couple of times. Even though you're out warranty, it won't hurt to call Home Warranty and get the exact specs to see if your home is in compliance. If it isn't, they might be able to help you. Who knows?

The company that Home Warranty uses for this issue is Timberwood (HWcan give you the number). They do a great job, not much mess and not too much disruption.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by Jimmydoodlebug

Great replies, thanks.

It's apparent that my Lantana, 2005 model, was either built wrong or built to different specs. I'm the second owner so I don't expect the Warranty to cover the issue. My wife thinks that the opening is 36" and if we can reroute the plumbing and pull out the baseboards we can squeeze a full size refrigerator in there.

If you haven't looked for a new refrigerator lately it's amazing what a couple of more inches in width can get you. The original refrigerator is a side by side and the freezer side is only about 10" wide inside so lots of things won't fit and we want to get rid of it.

We've only been here a couple of weeks and remodeling the kitchen wasn't on our to-do list, but it's working its way to the top now!

I think my next post will be a request for a handyman recommendation.

Hi again, Jimmydoodlebug,

Your house was built during the time when TV could not build houses fast enough. It sure sounds like something slipped through the cracks.

If I were you, I would call Warranty anyway. Not to screech at them -- I never screech at anybody -- but to get some information.

Warranty can tell you a lot about your house, like who did what. Warranty will know if this problem has shown up in other homes built at the time, and they might surprise you with some solutions.

(Yes. I know I sound ridiculously optimistic. But actually, I am just one of those "leave no stone unturned" people when it comes to trying to solve a problem......sometimes. -- But I also know when I need to stop turning over stones because I already know what's under them. -- I am not quite there yet with this one.)

Will Warranty take ownership of what is so clearly the builder's mistake? I don't know. But it can't hurt to ask some questions, if you want to.

And again, thank you for sharing the information. Who ever would have thought to check the size of appliance openings that should be standard. What happened should not have happened.

Oh dear......I am posting way too much these last couple of days, and for some reason, this appliance-opening mess-up by the builder is bringing out the advocate in me......Thank goodness we are invited out tonight so I can talk to people I can actually see.

Be back soon,
Boomer Rae

PS: I saw Redwitch's post above this one, after I hit 'submit.' Red really knows the territory and gives good advice and does not digress like I am wont to do.

[Jimmydoodlebug]

This site is such a pleasure to use!

It never occurred to me that the warranty department might be able to give some guidance and maybe point me in the direction of their service people. As said, it never hurts to try!

I will do just that tomorrow and see what happens.

[RVRoadie]

How did you buy this house? Realtors and homeowners have an obligation to disclose any known defects. It's probably a long shot, but after you get information from the warranty department, it may be worth checking out.

Something like this should have turned up in the inspection report at the end of the first year warranty, it the homeowner had one done.