Articles | Cabinet Installation

When you are remodeling your kitchen, one of the most important aspects of the overall appearance will be the kitchen cabinets. That means that cabinet installation needs to be done right. If you have decided to do the project right, make sure you know everything you need to know before beginning the job. Even if you hire someone to do your cabinet installation, it is a good idea to know how the process works so you can oversee the job.

If you decide not to hire a professional, make sure you understand how to do cabinet installation before you commit because it does take quite a few skills and many basic tools. You will need to be very precise in order to ensure that the cabinets will work well for years to come.

The first wall and the base cabinets are key to the rest of the installation. If those first items are installed level from both side to side and front to back, the other cabinets will fall into line much more easily. If you have the option, start with the wall-mounted cabinets so the base cabinets are not in the way.

If you are replacing old cabinets, you will want to remove the old products carefully. Do not just go crazy and yank them all down. If you remove them carefully, you will not damage the wall behind them. Any wall damage can prevent you from taking the needed measurements for the new cabinets. The best way to remove the cabinets is to take off all of the doors, pull out all of the drawers, and remove any shelves. Then, you will need to remove the cabinet frame from the wall. Most frames are mounted in the back with screws or nails which you can pull out. If you have upper cabinets, make sure someone is helping you. One person will need to hold the cabinet while the other pulls out the screws one by one.

Once the old cabinets have been removed, you can do any measuring and fix any walls that need it. You will need to have a level and pencil available at all times and stud locaters also come in handy. You will also need a cordless drill, drill bits, wood or cabinet screws, a cordless screwdriver, a measuring tape, shims and plenty of time and patience.

If things are not going your way, you can always run over to your local home improvement store to ask questions. The staff members on site should be able to give you enough directions to finish the job. You can also always hire a professional if you find that cabinet installation is above your level of home improvement skills/