Are you concerned about your kitchen? You should be because it is the center of the home. The kitchen keeps the house running. We want our kitchen to be at its best. Hence we work so hard to maintain it. So, we try to get the best-looking kitchen cabinets there is in the market to make our kitchen appealing.
However, the cabinets we buy sometimes don’t match our kitchen well. Every kitchen has its own size and appearance. Sometimes the best-looking kitchen does not look so wonderful in our home kitchen area. This is because the cabinets don’t always merge with the surroundings and we don’t get the amazing kitchen that we dreamt off.
When there is a problem you need to find a solution. One way to deal with this problem is custom kitchen cabinets. Yes, there are manufacturers who problem cabinets in pieces. So, you can put the pieces together in the kitchen where the size and shapes of the cabinet won’t put off your kitchen appearance.
For you, we have brought a few steps to custom made kitchen cabinet installation. In this article, we will guide you to help you prepare your kitchen cabinets by yourself at home.
Things you need for the cabinets
Installing a kitchen cabinet is pretty easy, and you need some basic tools to complete the task. Here are some things you need;
- 4 feet level
- Driller with enough power to drill 2 inches deep
- Screws
- Screw clamp that opens a minimum 8 inches
- Get 1/8 inches drill countersink combination
- 1 lb box of 2-inch screws
- Shims
- Use a block plane or belt sander for a finishing touch
- 4 in 1 screwdriver
- Circular saw
- Stud finder
- Tape measure
Precautions for the installation
At first, you need to get a plan for your kitchen printed out to makes sure you understand how and where the kitchen cabinets will be placed. For this, you can contact your custom kitchen cabinets manufacturer. They will give you one, with which you can design your dream cabinet.
Make sure the drawing has all the details of your doors and windows. The door can swing inside your kitchen which needs relevant space for the movement.
When your kitchen cabinet part arrives, open them and check out each part immediately. There are times when you have received a damaged part or the dimensions of the kitchen part are not accurate. Check them thoroughly before getting to work.
Step 1 Mark the kitchen cabinets outline
The first thing is first, you need to find out all the humps there is on the kitchen wall where you will place your cabinets. You need to mark the humps vertically as well as horizontally to make sure it won’t affect your installation process.
You can do this by using the level to find out swells on the wall. There are stud finders available in the market, which makes it easier to mark uneven areas of the wall. A stud finder can make it easier to point out the walls.
After this, use the level to make a line of the kitchen cabinet height on the wall. Mark the entire wall where kitchen cabinets will be placed. Next, you can try placing the cabinets on the line to ensure they are a perfect match. Start from the corner and determine the position of the cabinet one by one. Mark them if you think they will help you out.
Step 2 Put the cabinets together
Putting the cabinet part together is very easy. You already have all the tools needed to connect them. Plus there is an instruction book provided from in the box.
Read the instructions carefully and put each piece together. Leave the doors for later and only use the cabinet box to continue the installation.
Step 3 Placing the cabinets right
If you think the arrangement of the kitchen cabinet is accurate, then you can start fixing them in its position. Place the cabinet 1/4 inches from the line. Use shims to place the cabinet box correctly. The top of the cabinets should be in line with the line drawn straight on the wall.
Remember to install the upper cabinet first before moving on to the base cabinets. The gap between the upper cabinets and the lower cabinets is 18 inches. Anyhow, with the modern kitchen cabinets 20 inches apart is also standard. A nice looking backsplash is used in this gap to enhance the looks of the entire kitchen.
When you are placing the cabinets make sure they are aligned vertically and horizontally. If there is a gap between the wall and the cabinet use shims to level them. Once it is in the position, use screws to attach them. Drive screws up to 1 inch so that they are fixed in the position you feel right.
Now place the next cabinet behind the fastened cabinet. Initially, use a clamp to hold them in the position you want. Run your hand on the top of the cabinets to see if they are aligned. Adjust the position for the cabinet and use the clamp to hold it in the right place. When you are satisfied with the positioning, fix them with screws at that point.
In this way, you can continue to place each cabinet at its rightful place. While you are working, sometimes you may have to return to the clamp and adjust it a bit to make sure that the cabinets are in one line.
Step 4 Use filler strips with cabinets
You might have already noticed that there is some gap between the wall and the cabinets. This gap is necessary to complete the function of each cabinet. The measurement of the gap needs to be right with each furniture in the kitchen. For example, dishwashers need a specific gap for its function. Leave the gap between the cabinets and the wall right.
Where it is necessary to use the filler strips to close the gap. When you buy custom made cabinets, they usually provide you with filler strips. You may get any three types of filler strips, 3, 6, 8 inches. Use these filler strips to cover the gap between the cabinets and other appliances.
Step 5 Make ways for electrical and plumbing line
After you are done with placing all the cabinets, you can move to the next step. Your kitchen needs electrical supply and plumbing lines. So, you will need to make the way for the lines through your cabinet.
Notice how the electrical supply and water supply line needs to pass through the cabinets and mark them. Take measurements and mark the area that needs to be drilled. Then drill holes into the cabinets to make the passage for the electrical and plumbing lines.
While you are working on this make sure the drilling is done from the inside to the outside. That way, splinters won’t pile up on the interior of the cabinet and it will be easier for you to clean them.
Step 6 Prepare the countertops
Take the countertop pieces. You may need to cut and trim them to place them on the cabinet. The countertop needs to be cut to place the stove, sink, etc.
For cutting the sink, place the sink upside down on the countertop material. Make a line where you need to cut out the board. Now remove the sink and draw another inner line 5/16 inches off from the outer line.
After this, you can start cutting the board with a jigsaw. If it is difficult to plunge with the jigsaw, you may switch to the inner line. Once you are done with cutting, seal the board surface so there is no water swelling from the material.
A suitable material for countertops is marble, stones, granite, plywood, ceramic, etc.
Now place the countertop of the top of the cabinets. Screw the countertop from the inside of the cabinet. While you are screwing make sure that the screws are short and they won’t drill out from the upper surface.
Step 7 Place the sink
The countertop is at its place so, now you need to put the sink and attach it to the counter. Use caulk around the cut out place on the countertop. Then place the sink and add more caulk around the corner to seal the sink.
Step 8 Final touch to the kitchen cabinets
After you are done with the sink, you can follow up by range or stoves, and whatever is left in the kitchen. You can also install the doors of the cabinet. Place the hinges and make sure if they are working properly.
Put effort for good workmanship
Now you have your dream kitchen cabinets installed in your kitchen. Maintain them properly to make sure they last long. The maintenance depends on the type of material of the cabinet.
You can try the installation process for both RTA cabinets and RTA wall cabinets. However, you need to be extra careful while you are installing the parts to make sure you have a good finishing. Only with good workmanship, you will have an appealing kitchen.
