Kitchen Base Cabinet Installation

Prefabricated Units Should be Level and Put in after the Wall Units

Sep 28, 2008

A kitchen remodel project requires juggling skills and lower kitchen cabinet installation requires a few carpentry skills and some basic tools. Prefab cabinets? Easy.

Planning is essential in kitchen design and layout. It's important to consider location of major appliances and plumbing fixtures. Electrical outlets need to be conveniently located or moved. Want to simplify kitchen design? Use home architectural software like Chief Architect, Punch Software, or Home Plan Pro.

The prior article covered wall cabinet installation. This article covers floor units (base cabinets).

Cabinet Installation Tool List

Once the design phase is done and the cabinets have been delivered from the home improvement store or the cabinet shop, be sure all the necessary tools are close at hand. These should include:

Establish the Cabinet Layout

The first thing to do is to find the high spot on the floor. This can be done with the 4 foot level or laser level. The cabinets will have to be shimmed up to this level in order to line up properly and have level countertops. Measure up the wall the height of the base cabinets, and establish a level control line. Use the chalk line for this.

Find all the studs with the stud finder and just make a pencil mark on the wall above the control line. These marks will be used to secure the units to the wall later.

Start with the Corner Base Cabinet Unit

The idea is to start with the corner cabinet. If the unit is a Lazy Susan cabinet model, install 1" X 4" cleats on the wall to support the contertop. Use the stud finder to locate wall studs and screw the cleats to it. Be careful to locate studs, not plumbing or electrical conduit.

Now set the unit in place. It will probably need some shimming to be level in both directions, front to back and side to side. The control line gives a reference for side to side, use the level for the front to back direction.

Once the corner unit is in place, set the next unit in place, shimming as needed.

Connect the Cabinets with Pony Cabinet Claws

The units need to be screwed together at the face frames using 2 1/2" cabinet mounting screws. Align them carefully and clamp them together. Using Jorgensen Pony Cabinet Claws is the best way to do this. Now just screw them together.

Now just repeat this process for the rest of the units. It may be necessary to stop and skip a space for an electric or gas stove or dishwasher. Dishwashers are usually 24" wide, but check to be sure. Just be sure to measure the opening carefully.

Finally, secure the cabinets to the wall studs, but don't overdo it. One screw per stud should be sufficient. The cabinets aren't likely to go anywhere, but shifting is always possible, especially in areas that are susceptible to earthquakes. Be sure to check on this with the local building code.

If the cabinetry is installed properly, the next time a kitchen face lift is due, cabinet refinishing is all that will be needed.

The copyright of the article Kitchen Base Cabinet Installation in Home Interiors is owned by Kelly Smith. Permission to republish Kitchen Base Cabinet Installation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.