Preparing for & Installing New Kitchen Cabinets

Doing your own repair in the home, particularly in the kitchen can be cheaper than you might think. If you are planning on installing kitchen cabinets and are willing to do it yourself, then you can save literally thousands of dollars. If you have any skills in house repairs then the money you could save could be well worth the time and the work that you put into it.

For kitchen cabinets, each one comes with a guide to walk you through each step one at a time until the entire job is complete. If you follow the directions in the guide very carefully and not try and do it without reading it first, you are very likely to have a successful finish to your project.

When you first bring your cabinets home, the first thing to do is to closely inspect them to be sure that all parts are present. Then you need to do a quick check to make sure that you have all of the necessary tools that you will need to perform the installation. If you don't have everything then do not try to wing it! Go to your local hardware store and get anything you may need before you begin the installation. This will save you a lot of frustration later on.

The tools that you will need are a drill with drill bits, a hammer, a carpenter's level and square, a tape measure, a chalk line, a straight edge, a power screw driver (note: avoid the battery operated version as they are not as strong as you will need, and will require recharging after a very short time), A jigsaw, a Utility knife, some masking tape, a step ladder, a circuit tester, furniture clamps, a bit sander and shims. You should keep in mind to never attempt the installation alone, as you could not only damage the cabinets but seriously injure yourself as well. Be sure that the shoes that you wear are safety shoes!

Now it is time to unplug all of your appliances and turn off the electric power in the kitchen as well as the water and the breaker for the oven and or stove.

If you are going to install all of the new cabinets and the sink as well as the appliances in the same place that they were originally, it will save you a lot of time and work, so keep this in mind when planning your installation. Making changes will also require moving utility outlets, water and gas lines, and that can be a huge job that is really best done by a professional for safety purposes.

Next it is time to remove your old cabinets. First be sure that they are completely empty. Next, cover the floor to avoid any damage that might occur if you were to drop or scrape something on it. Be sure to use something rather thick, keeping in mind that cabinets are quite heavy and have sharp edges, thus, can easily cause damage.

It is best to remove the cabinets on top first and then work your way down to the ones on the floor, being sure to remove all of the molding. If there are any holes in any of the walls or any other damages, repair these things before proceeding with installing the cabinets.

Once this is done, it is time to carefully install your cabinets. Be very cautious to follow the directions very closely, as this is not a time to try and "wing it". Most manufacturers have 1-800 phone numbers to call for support if you get stuck with anything during the installation. They are usually very happy to help out.

Once you are finished, enjoy your new cabinets. The knowledge that you installed them yourself and the money that you saved will give you great satisfaction.