Step-By-Step Cabinet Installation

If you are looking for the best way to hang upper and lower cabinets in your kitchen, well watch this.

Step 1. Determine upper cabinet placement.

Most upper cabinets start at 54 inches above finished floor at the base, this measurement is derive from the standard 36 inches height of the bottom cabinets and counter tops, plus a standard 18 inches backsplash equaling 54 inches.

Now mark a line at t hat height, running at the entire length of the upper cabinets. Then using a stud finder or appointed tool, probe the wall to locate the studs. Mark the center of each stud with a dash or a crow’s foot. This is where you will be attaching the cabinets to the walls studs.

Step 2. Prepare a level ledger.

A ledger is used to support the way of upper cabinets while you're securing them to the wall. Use long screws to affix a ledger, which can be any straight piece of wood, metal, or plastic to the studs just below but even with the line you previously marked on the wall.

Then when you lift the cabinets up to the wall, the bottom edge will rest on it until the cabinets are secured.

Step 3. Prepare the cabinets.

Position your cabinets to side-by-side on the floor in the order that they will appear on the wall. Then remove all the cabinet doors. This will ensure that there won’t be damage during the installation and do not forget to label with pages tape where each door came off.

A simple number or lettering system will suffice. Put one piece of tape on the door and the other in the cabinet itself.

Step 4. Connect the cabinets.

Using wood clamps or squeeze grips, join your cabinets cluster tightly together filling in any gaps towards the back of the cabinets with shims. Be sure to run your finger across the seam to detect misalignment.

Next, grab your drill bit with a bit long enough to match the length and gage of the screws you will be using to join the cabinets. The cabinet claw tool helps align and tightened the tool cabinets together plus guide a drill bit for the pile hole along the styles which are vertical faces of the cabinet.

Two to three hole per cabinet should do. Place one at the top close to the hinge and then one at the bottom. Just make sure to drill straight as do not pears the face. Cabinet styles are only about three quarters of an inch deep.

Now, drive the screws into the pilot holes and making sure that they are flushed with the cabinet and hidden from view when ever possible.

Step 5. From your start point, measure and transfer your center marks from the studs on the wall to the interiors of the cabinets. This is where you place the screws.

These marks will coincide with the center of the walls studs. Your start point can be another cabinet or wall or any marked starting point. Then, gather a friend or two to help you lift the cabinets up into place where you marked your center measurement. Use the ledger as a seat to hold the weight of the cabinets temporarily.

Now place washers on two to three inch wood screws and drill the screws to the back of the cabinets and into the studs. Make sure to only do this with the mounting strips in the upper and lower corner of the cabinets.

Step 6. Repeat the process for your base cabinets and making sure that they are perfectly level to accept your countertops.

Once your wall of cabinets is installed, reattach the cabinet doors and the hardware and your cabinets will be ready to accept everything from countertops to crown mold.