Measuring for Kitchen Cabinets: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Measuring for kitchen cabinets is a crucial part of any kitchen remodel. These measurements will help you decide the best placement of your new cabinets. The best way to do this is to record your measurements in the form of a drawing of your kitchen. Knowing which measurements to go by will keep you from purchasing cabinetry that doesn't fit. These steps are easily accomplished by anyone who knows how to read a tape measure.

Kitchen Cabinet Measuring Supplies
Tape Measure
Notebook
Graph Paper
Pencil
Colored Pencil

Beginning Measurements for Kitchen Cabinets
In your notebook make a two columned graph. The left side will be for your wall numbers. The right side will be for the dimensions of the corresponding wall. Record all measurements in inches.

The first set of measurements will be for the wall-to-wall size of the room. Measure each wall in three places; at the floor, halfway up (approximately four foot) and at the top of the wall. Write down the smallest measurement as your dimension. This is because a kitchen cabinet cannot be bigger than smallest measurement. Write down the variations in measurements

Make a Basic Kitchen Sketch
Sketch out the shape of your kitchen graph paper. Be sure to mark every wall, window and doorway. Include any odd nooks and crannies your kitchen may have. Try to draw to scale, having each box equal six or 12 inches.

Measure Wall Sections for Kitchen Cabinets
A wall section is the area of wall between a corner and doorway, corner and window, door to window or an expanse of wall with no corner-to-corner obstructions. Measure all wall sections and record onto your kitchen cabinet measurements drawing.

Measuring from outer casing edge to outer casing edge, measure your windows and doors. Record these measurements on your kitchen cabinet drawing. Note which way your door swings. Measure and record wall space above and below windows and doorways.

Check your kitchen wall section measurements by adding the sections of one wall. Check with the total wall measurement recorded on the chart earlier. If it doesn't match, measure again. Repeat this process for every wall in your kitchen.

Measure Wall/Ceiling Height for Kitchen Cabinets
Measure the height of your walls/ceiling from various points. Write the smallest measurement on your kitchen cabinet graph. For vaulted ceilings, mark and right down the measurement of the lowest and tallest points.

Measure Bulkheads for Kitchen Cabinets
If your kitchen has bulkheads and you plan to keep them, they will need to be measured. Measure the height and the depth. Draw the bulkheads in colored pencil, onto your kitchen cabinet plans. Use dotted lines or slashes, so you don't mix them up with walls.

Measure Location of Electrical Fixtures for Kitchen Cabinets
You will need to draw the location of every electrical outlet, light switch or light fixture on your kitchen cabinet plans. I do this using a star or lightening bolt, some use a $. Write down the height from the floor and the distance to the closest corner.

Label Location of Appliance on Kitchen Cabinet Plans
Locate your gas and water lines on your kitchen cabinet drawing and label them. If you know where your appliances are going to be placed, draw them onto your kitchen cabinet diagram, including appliance measurements. Appliances to include in the kitchen cabinet plan are stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, sink and microwave.

Remember to check all measurements for accuracy. It's tedious work, but cabinetry ordered in the wrong size can be expensive to replace.

When your measurements are complete on your kitchen cabinet graph, you can now begin to play with design. You will know exactly how much space you have to work with. This is the part where your careful measuring for kitchen cabinetry begins to pay off.

Source:
http://www.budgetkitchencabinets.com/planning/taking_measurements.html