When it comes to installation, kitchen cabinets don’t have to be the bane of your existence, in fact, we have a number of great tips to help the process go smoothly! And, there’s always the option of having our experienced technicians come by and complete the installation for you so that you don’t have to lift a finger!
Installation: Kitchen Cabinets Don’t Have to Be Difficult to Install!
We always recommend having a professional install your new kitchen cabinets for you simply because it’s a tedious and time-consuming job. If you do decide to try installing your own cabinets, however, there are a few things that you can practice to make the job a little easier on yourself.
Be Thorough When Removing Your Old Cabinets
When removing old kitchen cabinets most homeowners simply take the cabinets off the wall and get to work with installing the new cabinets without much thought. What most people don’t know, however, is just how important it is to thoroughly remove every piece of your old cabinetry – this means the screws and anchors as well!
When installing new cabinets, you always want to start with a clean surface where you don’t have to work around existing holes, screws, and anchors.
Don’t Install Everything At Once
No, we’re not talking about simultaneously installing your upper and lower cabinets (although you should always install your upper cabinets and then your lower cabinets), we’re talking about installing the framework of your new cabinets before anything else. Don’t try to install the full cabinet with doors and drawers an all! Doing this isn’t just going to make your job harder, but the drawers and doors can easily slide open and give you a pretty good hit in the head!
Remove drawers, doors, and everything else before you get to work, this way you aren’t going to be jumping between taking doors off cabinets and installing framework. Instead, remove all doors and drawers before you begin so you aren’t having to stop and start
Don’t Try To Do It Alone
Cabinet installation requires a minimum of two people and a cleat can make the process easier by supporting the weight of the cabinet during installation. Some people choose to install their cabinets on their own by just using a cleat, but we always recommend having someone on hand who can help you with the job. Having an extra pair of hands isn’t just helpful with lifting and installing, but it’s a must just in case something falls or you injure yourself.
Have a Plan!
There are various things in your kitchen that you are going to have to work around when installing your cabinetry. For example, you will need to work around outlets and pipes. Before you purchase new cabinets and definitely before you begin installation, have a plan mapped out so that you have a way to work around these obstacles. This will keep you from having to stop work and create workarounds when you realize you haven’t planned ahead!
Learn About Shims
Unfortunately, not everyone who wants to install their own kitchen cabinets has the necessary experience to get the job done. Before you even think about installing your cabinets, make sure that you know what you’re doing! Part of knowing what you are doing means learning about shims. Shims are used to make sure that your cabinetry runs in a straight line and that everything is level. You may notice that the walls or floors in your home are uneven or bowed. These changes are going to influence how your cabinetry hangs and sits so you need to create a level surface before installation – that’s what shims are for. Different sized shims allow you to even out surfaces to create a uniform look to your kitchen.
Know When to Say No
We all have problems admitting that we’re in over our heads once in a while, but it’s important to know when something is so far out of your depth that you’d only be creating problems by attempting it. If you have no idea how to install cabinetry and no experience with DIY, save yourself some time and call in the professionals!
Installation: Kitchen Cabinets With No Work!
If you want to have your kitchen cabinets installed by a professional so that you don’t have to do any of the work yourself, Gulf Coast Installations can help! If you live in Southwest Florida, just pick up the phone and give us a call today at (239)-682-1077 and we’ll arrange for one of our installers to be with you in no time at all!
