Beginners Guide to Installing Cabinets

If your cabinets are not looking their best, you may decide to replace them. A cabinet installer will get you an expert look, but if you want to save money, you may choose to install your cabinets yourself. Read on for a step-by-step guide to installing cabinets in your home. 

Measure the Space

Measure your walls, cabinet doors and windows, and outside molding to determine how big your cabinets will need to be. 

Remove the Existing Cabinetry

To remove your existing cabinetry, you must turn off the electricity, gas, and plumbing lines to the area you’ll be working in. Remove the doors and drawers, molding, and toe kicks. Then back out the screws in the face frames and unscrew the backs from the wall to pull everything out. 

Prepare for the New Cabinetry

This will entail repairing any holes the old cabinetry left behind and adding a few coats of paint to the area. Then take measurements to determine your cabinet height. Mark the studs on the wall for upper cabinet installation. 

Install Upper Cabinets

1. Attach a wall ledger that will support the cabinets as you work. Use a level to ensure they are installed accurately. 
2. Drill holes through the cabinet backs at the top, middle and bottom rails. The holes should be about ¾” from the cabinet’s edge. 
3. Set the cabinet in place and drive the mounting screws into the wall. 
4. When installing the second cabinet, use clamps to hold the cabinets together. Then drive screws into the back. 
5. Connect the two with a twist drill bit. 
6. Fill the gaps with cabinet fill strips if necessary. 

Install Base Cabinets

1. Drill holes and set the corner cabinet in place. When everything aligns, drive the screws into the back, so they are just tight enough to hold the cabinet in place. 
2. Continue the process for the following cabinets. 
3. When you reach the sink, cut holes for the plumbing. 
4. You may find that you have space remaining when you reach the end. If this is the case, install a filler strip. 
5. Tighten the cabinet screws. 
6. Install toe kicks allowing your feet to rest comfortably under the cabinet. 

Adjust Cabinet Hinges

1. If the cabinet doors aren’t aligned on the bottom, loosen the vertical adjustment screw, and move the door up or down as needed. Then retighten the screw. 
2. The in-out screw, which is further from the cabinet door, will adjust the distance between the door and the face frame. 
3. The cabinet hinge spacing will need to be adjusted if there is too much space between the two cabinet doors. You can correct this by turning the side-to-side screws clockwise or counterclockwise as needed to close the gap. 

Installing cabinets yourself can save you money. But if you aren’t confident about what you’re doing, it could cause more harm than good. It could even cost you more in the long run. 

All Cabinets offers installation that’s reliable and affordable. We provide high-quality service that’s prompt and dependable. Contact us for all your installation needs.