Installing Kitchen Cabinets

Even beginning do-it-yourself'ers will find that installing kitchen cabinets is do-it-yourself-able. With care, the results can be as fine as any professional job. Here are some tips to achieve that goal.

One thing professionals know that most others don't is what tool makes the job easier. With kitchen cabinets there are more choices than you'd suspect. Key to installing cabinets that are level and secure, with low hassle, is to use a support system of some kind.

Assuming you don't have two or three people who are willing to stand and hold the cabinet in place for an hour or more, you'll want a support or jack. The people take up more room anyway and would just get in the way.

Everything from a standard car jack to specially designed jacks have been used. A simple wooden T-shaped brace will do for some jobs. The tool is nothing more than a horizontal member firmly attached to a vertical one. The cabinet is placed on top and the support wedged firmly underneath.

However, they can be subject to slipping, especially on slick floors. Also, unless you use several, the cabinet may wobble or tumble off. But they're inexpensive to make, tall and useful if the base cabinets have not yet been installed.

If base cabinets are already in place, take advantage of them and use a couple of short jacks with wide resting areas to support the cabinet while you work. Even tall, metal stain buckets topped by a thick phone book can serve, if you can make the system stable enough.

With that problem solved, you'll next need to find studs (2 x 4 support beams) to screw the cabinets into. Never install cabinets into drywall or wood panels alone. Most homes are constructed with studs 16 inches apart. Use an inexpensive, commercial stud finder to locate the first one. Measure 16 inches down the wall and search for the other stud. Try to find the center of each stud for maximum benefit.

Mark the stud locations along a line on the wall with a pencil. For easier installation, it might be worthwhile to pre-drill support screw holes. Be sure to use a drill bit smaller than the diameter of the screw.

Pre-drill any holes needed in the bottom of cabinets before lifting into place. Those holes may be needed for wiring, under-cabinet lighting fixtures, microwave ovens, paper-towel racks, etc.

Make all the necessary measurements on both the wall and the cabinet and hoist the cabinet into place. Set it securely on the supports. You'll want at least 18 inches of clearance from the countertop.

Using 3 inch support screws fasten the cabinet onto the studs, through the trim or corners - not through the thin back wall, if you can avoid it. Depending on the size, type and location of the cabinet and studs that may not be possible.

For extra support, take a 1 inch thick x 2 inch tall strip of wood at least a few inches wide and place under the bottom at a stud position. Screw into place.

In theory, you could place the bottom strips first then set the cabinet on top, making support easier. The difficulty is, cabinet placement almost always requires fine adjustment after they're hoisted. Once you screw in the supports you're locked into position.

Install any needed door handle hardware last.

Congratulations! You just did it yourself.