12 Preparation Tips for Kitchen Cabinet Installation

Your kitchen cabinet installation project will be easier and more successful if you prepare properly ahead of time. Here are 12 preparation tips for installing kitchen cabinets.

1. Have the right tools on hand for your kitchen cabinet installation project, including a variety of screw drivers and screws (in addition to those that come with the cabinets), drills and drill bits (including a drill for large holes such as those needed to accommodate plumbing pipes), a sander or sand paper, a putty knife, a level, a stud finder, a variety of saws, a sturdy step ladder, gloves, and safety goggles.

2. Move everything out of the kitchen before starting to install kitchen cabinets, including furniture and appliances. The exception to this suggestion is a gas stove, which can be dangerous to disconnect if you are not a pro. Leave your gas stove in place and cover it with a drop cloth.

3. Cover the floor and other surfaces with drop cloths to protect them from dirt, dust and falling materials.

4. Unpack the cabinets and be sure that all parts are present and accounted for. Be careful to keep parts for each cabinet separate and well marked to avoid mix-ups during the installation process.

5. If necessary, assemble the cabinets according to the manufacturer's instructions. Don't attach doors, install shelves or add drawers until the cabinets are installed. They will be easier to handle during installation without this extra weight.

6. Be sure that the walls where the kitchen cabinets will be installed are smooth and clean. If necessary, sand down any irregularities.

7. Locate and mark wall studs, which you will need to use when installing wall-mounted kitchen cabinets.

8. Measure and mark where each cabinet will go. Accurate measurements are critical, so measure at least twice (and even a third time if your first measurements vary). Draw a line where the lower edge of wall-mounted cabinets will be located.

9. Drill holes in the cabinets as necessary. For example, under-sink cabinets will need holes for plumbing pipes.

10. Be organized. Before you start your first kitchen cabinet installation, carefully read the manufacturer's installation instructions and have a step-by-step plan for how you will proceed, including the order in which you will install the cabinets. Have all parts, tools and detailed instructions at hand and easily accessible.

11. Be safe. Wear safety goggles especially when using a drill; put on protective gloves when you are hammering, drilling or sawing; when using a ladder, be sure that it is safely situated on a smooth, non-slip surface to avoid falls; mark where electrical wiring, gas lines and plumbing pipes are; and turn off the electricity when working in the vicinity of electrical wiring.

12. Realize that your kitchen cabinet installation project may take several days or more, so set up a mini kitchen with a microwave, toaster oven, and coffee maker in another room of the house where you can do basic cooking while your main kitchen is out of service.

Sources:

Don Vandervort, www.hometips.com, Home Tips: Preparing to Install New Kitchen Cabinets

fixmycabinet.com, Preparing to Install Kitchen Cubboards/Fix My Cabinet

articles.directorym.com, Cabinet Install - how to install cabinets, how to install kitchen cabinets