How to Raise Wall Mounted Kitchen Cabinets

If you have a gap above your wall mounted kitchen cabinets, and not a lot of space between the counter tops and the bottom of the cabinets, consider raising them. You'll get rid of the space above your kitchen cabinets, which is often a magnet for dust and clutter, and expand the space below them- allowing you to add a wall mounted knife block, towel holders, or larger appliances.

Step 1: Remove the cabinet doors. Label the hinges that belong to each door, and store each hinge and the related screws together for easy installation.

Step 2: Remove the strews from the mounting strips that hold the kitchen cabinets into place. Have a helper hold the cabinets as you remove the screws, then carefully lift the wall mounted cabinets down from the wall and set them aside.

TIP: If you would like to refinish or paint your kitchen cabinets, now is the time to do any alterations to the finish. Once they have had a chance to dry, you can install them on the wall.

Step 3: Determine where you would like the bottom of the cabinets to end on the wall. Snap a chalkline to mark that location.

Step 4: Install a 1x3 piece of lumber so the top of the board is flush with the chalk line. Use screws installed into the studs to hold it into place. Start with installing only two screws, then make sure the board is perfectly level. Then add a few more to add extra strength. This will be your ledger board.

Step 5: Lift the cabinets into place, using the ledger board to bare the majority of the weight of the cabinets.

Step 6: Screw through the existing holes in the mounting strips and into the studs underneath the drywall.

TIP: Because you are simply moving the kitchen cabinets up, the studs should be in the same location in relation to the mounting strip. If you are also changing the horizontal location of the cabinets, you should mark the location of the new studs.

Step 7: Remove the screws that are holding the ledger board into place. Discard the ledger board.

Step 8: Reattach the kitchen cabinet doors.

Step 9: Patch and repair the screw holes in the kitchen backsplash area.