| If you are thinking of replacing your upper kitchen | | | | where your level pencil line is for the bottom of the |
| cabinets, you might want to try doing it yourself. | | | | cabinets. This piece of wood will give you a little resting |
| Hanging cabinets is actually well within the skill set of | | | | point while you hang the cabinets and will make sure |
| the average homeowner. With a little planning and the | | | | they are level. Then remove all the doors from the |
| right tools, you can achieve a professional look with | | | | cabinets - this will make installation easier. |
| your cabinet installation. | | | | Install the corner cabinets first. Place the cabinet up |
| The easiest cabinets to install are the pre-assembled | | | | against the wall with the bottom ledge on the 2x4 and |
| and pre-finished cabinets that you can find in any large | | | | drill a screw into one of the studs. You must attach the |
| home improvement store. The benefit to these is that | | | | cabinets to the studs so they will support the weight of |
| they come in stock sizes and you can pick them up | | | | your dishes. Make sure you do not tighten the screws |
| when it is convenient for you. They are also much less | | | | too much, as you might need to shim the cabinets. |
| expensive than custom cabinets. You may also | | | | Check to make sure the sides are level and shim if |
| purchase them unfinished and paint or stain them to | | | | necessary. |
| really customize your kitchen. | | | | Now install the next cabinet. This is the trickiest part - |
| After removing the old cabinets, take careful | | | | to make sure the cabinet fronts are flush with each |
| measurements. Since cabinets come in a wide variety | | | | other. You will probably need to shim the second |
| of sizes, you can mix and match to fit your space. If | | | | cabinet, or adjust the shims in the corner cabinet to |
| you like the layout of your original cabinets, but just | | | | make them flush. Once they are flush, screw the |
| want new style, then purchase the same sizes as the | | | | second cabinet into the wall studs and then screw the |
| old ones. You will also want to purchase a stud finder, | | | | cabinets to each other with the long screws provided. |
| a level and a couple 2x4 pieces of wood. | | | | Clamp the cabinets together. |
| If you are doing both lower and upper cabinets, always | | | | Follow these steps for the subsequent cabinets. If |
| install the upper cabinets first, since this is easier to do | | | | there is extra space between cabinets, or at the end, |
| without the base cabinets in place! Use the stud finder | | | | you can purchase filler strips in the same material as |
| to locate the studs in the wall. Normally, studs are | | | | the cabinets to place in these gaps. Simply screw long |
| placed sixteen inches apart. Mark the location of each | | | | screws into the adjacent cabinet and clamp together. |
| stud with a pencil. Now you need to find a reference | | | | Once the cabinets are installed, tighten all the screws, |
| point for the cabinets. There is normally about twenty | | | | remove the clamps and attach the doors. Take care |
| inches of space between the countertop and the | | | | to make sure the doors are level with each other, |
| bottom of the upper cabinets. So measure that | | | | adjusting them as needed. Remove the 2x4 and patch |
| distance from the floor (or your countertop) and mark | | | | the screw holes. Now attach your hardware. |
| the wall. You now want to use your level and draw a | | | | Installing new upper cabinets can be done in a |
| line along the wall where the bottom of the cabinets | | | | weekend and will add value and beauty to your |
| will be. Attach the 2x4s to the wall with some | | | | kitchen. |
| temporary screws, with the top of the wood right | | | | |