Assembling Kitchen Cabinets

Source: BBC Homes, Lifestyle

Skill Level: Advanced

Duration: A weekend

Tools you will need:

carpenter's level

drill

framing square

pencil

spirit level

stud finder or small drill

 Label the components
Before installing cabinets, take out all doors and drawers. Label them so that they can be quickly reassembled.

 Start high up
Install the upper cabinets first. Base and hanging cabinets must be anchored to the studs in a partitioned kitchen wall. Use a stud finder or a small drill bit to find the studs and make sure you mark both edges.

 Level off the floor
Measure the height of the base cabinets, taking into account the thickness of the work surface. If the floor is uneven, shim up the cabinet sections to the same level. Using a level, draw a horizontal line along the wall.

 Measure the base units
Measure up from the line to where the base of the wall cabinet will rest. Mark this point and using a carpenter’s level, create a level parallel line along the wall.

 Install the first unit
Install the first cabinet section in a corner. Temporary jacks can be made from wide blocks of wood nailed to both ends of a 2x4. Using a level, make sure that the top of the cabinet is level.

 Attach to the wall
Drill starter holes into the studs and then screw 6.5cm (3 inch) flathead wood screws through the cleat at the back of the cabinet into the wall studs (usually two at the top and two at the bottom).

 Ensure the units are square
For lower cabinets with freestanding bases, set the base in position and level. Use a framing square to square the base units where they meet in a corner.

Continue round the wall
Install the next wall cabinet in the same manner, ensuring a flush fit. Use clamps to pull the cabinets together and secure with screws as recommended by the manufacturer. Recheck the level.

 Secure to the floor
Fix the base units to the floor as recommended by the manufacturer and place the cabinet units on top. Cabinets without freestanding bases need to be levelled and secured as a single unit.

Keep checking your measurements
Check the position of the base units against the line previously drawn, to ensure that the top is below the line by the measured thickness of the work surface.

 Keep the faces flush
Follow the manufacturer’s guide to attach the base units together, so that the faces are flush. Check levels continually down the length of the cabinets and from front to back on the top.

Screw to wall studs
Attach the base cabinets to the wall studs using 5cm - 6.5cm (2 inch - 3 inch) screws. To avoid pulling the cabinets out of position, shim any gaps at the fastening point before screwing the cabinet into place.

Neaten up
Cover up any gaps between the cabinets and the floor with a thin piece of decorative moulding.