How To Install Kitchen Cabinets? Easy 6 Step Guide!
Installing kitchen cabinets requires skill and proper knowledge. You might have some idea of how to install kitchen cabinets, but it is easy to miss crucial steps. It’s vital to select the right materials and measurements while using proper techniques.
Installation experts rely on laser leveling for precision, scribing for custom-fitting to uneven walls, and ledger board mounting to ensure structural stability. Though these techniques sound difficult to beginners, you will find them easier than expected after a brief introduction.
In this guide, we’ll discover the best way to install kitchen cabinets in 6 easy steps.
Preparation Before Cabinet Installation
You cannot install cabinets right away; you need to prepare your space first. It ensures a
smooth installation with no obstacles. Here are the 4 things you need to do:
Take the Measurements: It is important to measure the area precisely to ensure a smooth installation. Even if you neglect 0.1mm differences, the whole layout might get disturbed, and you’ll end up living in an unorganized environment.
Check the Levels: After measuring the area, it's important to check the level, both for base and wall cabinets. If you notice uneven surfaces or corners, you should make necessary adjustments, i.e., use wooden shims to fill the gaps.
Find the Stud Positions: Utilize a stud finder to identify the vertical wooden framing behind the wall and label them clearly with vertical lines extending above and below the cabinet points.
Collect the Tools: You must have all the tools needed to install the cabinets, from the measuring tape to shims, stud finder, screws, and hardware.
Step-by-Step Guide To Installing Kitchen Cabinets
Here is a simple step-by-step guide to help you install kitchen cabinets:
Step 1: Install Uppers First (Start With Corners)
There's a heated debate: Uppers first or lowers first? It is smarter to install the upper cabinets first. Installing upper corner cabinets first is the industry standard because they serve as the anchor point for the rest of the layout.
If you put in your base cabinets first, you'll need to lean over them while lifting heavy uppers, which can damage your new lower cabinets.
Some of you might not know how to mount cabinets to the wall. Here is the simple and famous ledger board trick for you:
The Ledger Board Trick:
Don't attempt to support the cabinet with one hand while screwing with the other. Install a straight piece of lumber (a ledger board) into the studs along the bottom line of your layout.
You can then rest the upper cabinet upon the wooden board.
This keeps it perfectly level while you focus entirely on the screws.
Step 2: Place the Corner Base Cabinet
In the cabinetry business, everything radiates from the corners. If you start from the middle of the wall, there's an opportunity that your corner cabinet won't be able to fit before you can reach it.
Start with your High Spot: Find your floor's "high spot", and align it to your design lines.
Positioning: Move your corner cabinet into place. Because corners don't have the best angles, there could be gaps. Filler strips or shims can fix this.
The Anchor Cabinet: The corner cabinet serves to act as an "anchor" for the rest of the line. So make sure that it is set as per the plan of your flooring.
Step 3: Position, Shim, and Drill the Second Cabinet
After the corner anchor has been set, move the second cabinet to it. Adjust the face frames (the wood frames that are in front) to ensure they're completely aligned. Other than that, set the same level of 4 feet across both cabinets. They should be an even, flat plane.
Always drill before installing the studs and screw. Hardwoods like maple and oak may split quickly if you drill an unintentional screw into them.
The majority of floors have a slight slope. The shims are tapered and can be placed on the floor or into the space between backrails. If the cabinet is tilted backwards, put a shim on the bottom. If it is tilted forward, shim the top.
Step 4: Join Cabinets and Cut for Plumbing
Cabinets don't simply sit on the wall. They must be connected for a sleek, solid design. Here’s the simple process you can follow:
Frames join the two cabinets by using clamps for cabinets so that the fronts do not shift.
Drill pilot holes through the sides of one frame to the other.
Utilize a countersink so that the screw head is on the surface, allowing the hinges to be properly positioned later.
Once you've reached "sink base," you'll require accuracy.
Measure the distance from the corner point to the centre of the hot/cold lines as well as that of the drainage pipe.
Make sure to use a distance approximately 1/2 inch bigger than the pipe in order to allow for some movement when shredding.
Step 5: The Last Cabinet & Filler Strips
Once you have made all the adjustments for plumbing and wires, it's time to install the remaining cabinets. If you have appliances like dishwashers, machines, ovens, or other similar things, you should install cabinets accordingly.
Gaps in Appliances: It's important to maintain the correct width for appliances. Make sure that the space is even between the front and back with an edging block.
Connect Filler Strips to the Cabinet: Very rarely are cabinets wall-to-wall compatible. Make use of a filler strip to fill the gaps of 1-3 inches.
Scribing: If your surface is still not leveled, put the strip on the wall, and make use of a compass for marking the wall's outline on the wood. Cut the strip with a jigsaw to create an individual "built-in" look.
Step 6: Tighten Screws & Finishing Touches
After the entire cabinetry has been placed, leveled, and joined, you need to focus on the final touches. For example, handles, knobs, coatings, and screw tightening.
Lock the Wall Screws: Secure the back rails onto the wall studs. Don't over-tighten; otherwise, the cabinet's back will bow.
Fix the Frame Screws: Make sure the cabinets' connections are tight.
Cut the Shims: Utilize a sharp knife or a flush-cut saw to cut off the edges that protrude from these wood shims.
Doors & Hardware: Reattach the doors that are labeled. Set your hinges so that gaps remain level. You should use a drill for pulls and handles to make sure they're not crooked.
Toe Kicks: Apply a decorative stripping on the bottom to cover the shims as well as floor gaps.
Coating and Polishing (if you haven't already): You should get your favorite polish or finish to add a final shine to your cabinets. It will secure the original beauty of your cabinets and handles.
Problems to Avoid
There are two major problems that some beginners might face. These problems need to be avoided.
Notice the Gaps At The End: You should carefully measure the walls, check the levels, and then install the cabinets to avoid such gaps. However, if you notice the gaps even after such care, you can scribe molding to fill them.
Accidentally Hit A Pipe: If you don't know the exact stud position, there is a chance that you may accidentally hit a pipe. In case that happens, you have to take down the cabinet, re-route lines, and possibly alter the arrangement.
Final Words
Some beginners, both homeowners and fresh builders, wonder how to install kitchen cabinets perfectly. The process sounds simple, but it is not. You need patience, proper tools, and knowledge. During installation, you need to follow a step-by-step process while carefully executing every step. However, the result will be a space that operates exactly how you imagined it would. We have a complete guide ready for you to make you a cabinet installation expert. Begin by installing the upper corner cabinets and end with smooth finishing touch.
Need expert assistance or expert-made custom kitchen cabinets? Contact us now at Install Kitch to get started toward the cabinets you’ve always wanted!
