Your kitchen cabinets are one of the most utilized places in your house. Usually there are a number of small utility items that need to fit into your kitchen properly. The latest and modern models of the kitchen cabinets, available in the market also gives a trendy look to your kitchen. As these cabinets are one of the most important parts of your kitchen they need to be fitted into the required space appropriately. With a little patience and the use of correct instruments you can fit your kitchen cabinet yourself, without spending money on fixtures. It is neither very difficult nor time consuming. Just follow the following steps to install your kitchen cabinets perfectly.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time required: 1-2 hours per cabinet
Estimated cost: $10 – $20
Resources required:
1. Carpenters level
2. Chalk line reel
3. Drill-driver bit set
4. Power drill
5. Stud finder
6. Carpenters square
7. Curved claw hammer
8. Measuring Tape, 16-foot
9. Pry bar
10. Wood clamps
Instructions:
Wall cabinets
1. Remove the old cabinets and locate the studs: First remove the old cabinets and repair the holes, if any. With the help of a stud finder locate studs and then mark the edges or the center of the stud with a chalk by drawing vertical lines. Studs are usually placed at fixed distance between 16 and 24 inches. You can guess the location of the other studs once you locate the distance of one stud.
2. Measure the distance from the floor: 54” is the standard height of the kitchen cabinets from the floor, take the height accordingly and draw a horizontal line from both ends. Starting from the highest point nail a 1 x 3 temporary straight in order to match the vertical lines. Making sure of the level, place the cabinets on the temporary straight and drill 3/16 inch pilot holes driving in a 2½ inch round headed screws repeat this step to install the other cabinets.
3. Set the inside edge frames: Draw 2½ inch dry wall screws inside the edge of the cabinets and then clamp together the face frame of the adjacent cabinets. With a wall juncture fit a filler strip into the gaps. Remove the temporary strait and drill 3/16” pilot holes to attach shims using 2½” bottom round headed screws.
4. Give it the finishing touch: Cover the gap between the cabinet and the wall with the help of a stain or a paint matching the cabinet. Use a decorative paint to cover the gap between the cabinet and the utility sink.
Base cabinets
Repeat step one of the wall cabinet just make sure that you complete the flooring first.
1. Taking the measurements first: Use plywood that will serve as reference for measuring the height, keep in mind that the floor is not completely leveled. Take the highest point for reference.
2. Set cabinets in place: Set the cabinets in place and level them by taping them from the low points. Then drill pilot holes and insert the screws in the frame of the cabinet. The face frame of the adjacent cabinet needs to be clamped together and the counterbore screws should be drilled into the inside edge of the face frame. Repeat step one and two to fit in the rest of the cabinets. Give your cabinets a finishing touch by fitting in filler strips to cover any gaps between the counter and the cabinets.
Frequently asked questions:
Is it better to get the cabinets fitted by a professional?
Fitting a cabinet is not a very difficult task and doing it yourself can save money, however, the cabinets fitted by a professional will protect you from the hassle and it will give your expensive new cabinet bit more aesthetic look.
Quick tips:
1. Try to attach the cupboards first and then attach it to the wall in case of wall cabinets to ensure the level of the cupboards.
2. Removing the doors of the cupboards will make your work easy as the cupboards become lighter.
3. Installing the corner cabinets first is more useful.
4. By hanging the upper cabinets first, the lower ones will not obstruct you in installing the upper ones.
Things to watch out for:
While installing the base cabinets ensure that you check the height of each part as the floor is not leveled everywhere.
