All About New Cabinets and Drawers
When remodeling a kitchen, one of the most important tasks is selecting and installing new cabinets and drawer hardware. Completing this kind of work can be a complicated task for many types of kitchen remodeling projects, which is why it’s always recommended to reach out to a licensed contractor for assistance. There are specific steps that should be taken when installing new cabinets or drawers in any type of kitchen remodeling project. In addition to standard tasks like measurements and design, one will also need to consider the structure’s total weight capacity and needs.
Keep reading below to learn all about installing new kitchen cabinets and drawers and the best practices to follow when completing this job.
Obtain Accurate Measurements
Accurate measurements are one of the most important steps when it comes to installing new cabinets. First, measure the full height of all of your cabinets and drawers, then use a pencil to mark corresponding measurements on the wall. Make sure that each cabinet or drawer is level with each other before marking on the wall. After you have measured all of the cabinets and drawers, use a measuring tape to measure the width of each one.
Once you have all measurements marked on the wall, it’s time to transfer them over to the new cabinets or drawer system that will be installed. However, it’s important not to simply take measurements from your old kitchen cabinets and match them over directly onto the new ones. Instead, use a level to measure at the middle of each cabinet or drawer and mark the measurements onto the base cabinets. If you find the thought of taking measurements stressful, reach out to the team at Home Remodeling San Diego for assistance.
Measure Your Wall Studs
In addition to measuring your entire kitchen space, all measurements should also be taken from inside of your wall studs to determine where you will need to place screws when installing new cabinets. To avoid drilling into the wrong area, it’s advisable to purchase a stud finder and use it each time you take measurements from inside of your walls. If you work with a team of professionals, they should have all the tools and supplies necessary to obtain accurate measurement and stud placement plans.
Install the Cabinets
At this point, you should have all measurements taken from the outside and inside of your wall space. Once you’ve determined where to place screws for each cabinet or drawer system, it’s time for the contractor to install them. For wall-mounted cabinets, they will use a drill or screwdriver to secure each one into the wood studs behind your walls. It’s crucial to make sure that all screws are tight and that no parts of the cabinet are loose before moving ahead to the next step in the installation process.
Once your contractor has installed each cabinet or drawer system, they will drill the holes for your new drawer and cabinet hardware. In most cases, you will need to install a series of ringed knobs on each cabinet door, and metal plate handles on all of your drawers. If there are any additional hardware parts needed for installation, make sure to attach them before inserting the drawers and doors into the cabinets.
Insert Drawer Slides and Doors
Before installing new drawer slides, it’s important to determine which parts are needed in order to complete this step in the process. First, check that all cabinet holes for your hardware have been drilled out, then install any relevant front guides onto both sides of each face frame. Afterward, the contractor should attach the drawer-side brackets to each cabinet frame, then set them into place. Once all pieces are in the correct position, take out your new drawer slides and attach them to the rear of the cabinets. In most cases, this will require a drill and small screws.
Insert Drawers and Doors
Once your contractor has installed all drawer slide hardware, it’s time to actually put the drawers in place. Keep in mind that any drawers without slides can be inserted by hand if necessary. However, there are some instances where you might need a drill for this step of the installation process. Once you have all cabinets and drawers in place, make sure to tighten any necessary hardware screws before moving on to finish work with your contractor.
Complete the Project
Finally, once you’ve completed all of these steps, it’s time to complete the rest of the planned work with your contractor. If you plan to stain or paint your new cabinets, this is the time to discuss color choices with your contractor. In other cases, you might simply need them to install additional lighting in darker areas of your kitchen. When it comes down to it, what matters most is that your new kitchen works well for years into the future.
If you are ready to transform your San Diego kitchen, contact us today for more information!