How to Install Kitchen Cabinets
Thinking of installing your own kitchen cabinets? Here are a few well kept do-it-yourself secrets that will make it a snap. You will want to share these great "how to" tips with you friends.
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The thought of installing kitchen cabinets can make some weekend worriers nervous. After all, they are a high ticket item and the thought of dinging the new cabinet doors or drawers while installing kitchen cabinets is too much to bear. No problem!
Go ahead and remove the doors and drawers beforehand. This way you can be sure that they will look good as new when they go up. Just wrap them in blankets and store them in a safe place till you are ready for them.
You are probably thinking; "how the heck am I suppose to remember where each door and drawer goes? They all look the same!" Simple! Use masking tape to label and number each cabinet or pantry and drawer front. The corresponding number should be on the corresponding cabinet so you can quickly match them up later. Note: If you are working with unfinished kitchen cabinets, finish them before installation.
Finding the studs is often the most time consuming, and nerve wracking, part of the whole project. Since cabinets must be securely fastened to the wall framing it is also a key piece of the project. First lightly mark the positions of the wall studs before starting. Then measure where they fall along the back of the cabinets. Go ahead and transfer the measurements to the cabinet backs. Pre-drill holes at those points in the nailing strips before putting up the cabinets. This will guarantee secure cabinetry that goes up quickly.
If this is the first time you have installed kitchen cabinets:
You will probably instinctively put the bottom cabinets in first. Hold on! It is far more efficient to start installation with the upper wall cabinets. This is because the base cabinets will get in your way if they are already in.Now that you know to start with the wall cabinets, which cabinets go up first? This is actually very important. Always start with the corner units. Square them up then move toward the center of the wall where you have more leeway when it comes to making adjustments. This goes for base cabinet installation as well.
One final tip. This is a good one! Before starting the wall cabinets, screw a "ledger board" into the wall on the line representing where the bottom of the cabinets will fall. Then you can rest the cabinets on it to line them up and screw them in place.
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