DIY Network

Upgrading a Family Room: Installing Corner Cabinet From "Weekend Remodeling" episode WKR-104

Install corner cabinet and give it a custom-built look.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the hardest, this project is a 3.

Part 1 took 18 hours over a period of two and a half days.

Prep and paint the old paneling = 4 hours
Remove spindle, etc. = 5 hours
Install corner cabinet = 4 hours
Install new mantel and fireplace door = 5 hours

We spent approximately $2,000 on supplies. If you were to hire a contractor to do this job, you would probably spend around $3,500. (Instructions continued below)

advertisement

Materials:

paint
paint rollers
paint pans
4-inch paintbrush
2-inch paintbrush
drop cloths
paint for panels
painter's tape
paddles for stirring paint
primer
light fixtures
sandpaper
fireplace doors
wool soap
sand block
sand poles
sandpaper for poles
2 x 4 x 8 studs
drywall finishing tools
drywall mud
joint compound
screw gun
screws
nail gun/nails
baseboard molding
crown molding

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G

1. Remove the baseboard with a hammer and pry bar (figure A) where the cabinets will be placed.

2. If you are going to place the cabinet where an electrical outlet is, you will need to cut out holes in the back of the cabinet (figure B) so the cabinet will fit over the outlet. This will allow you to get power behind the center unit. You can use a jigsaw to cut out the holes.

3. Set the corner base cabinets in position and make any final adjustments to their position.

4. Use wood blocks that you cut from scrap plywood to place between the cabinets and attach them using 1-1/2" wood screws (figure C).

5. Use 2 braces per cabinet -- one at the top and one at the bottom for stability (figure D).

   Expert Tip: When you have several cabinets that are joined side-by-side using a single countertop, tying them together and creating a single unit (figure E) will stabilize and strengthen the base and will allow any weight added to the top to be displaced throughout the entire unit.

6. To make sure to identify where the studs are located, use 2-1/2" wood screws to secure your now single base cabinets to the wall. Attaching the cabinets to each other and to the wall will give you a sturdy foundation for the upper cabinets and their contents.

7. Sand the countertop that you had made. Place the countertop on top of the bottom cabinets and then attach it with 1-1/4 inch wood screws through from underneath (figure F). Measure the base cabinets and countertop thickness to make sure the screws will go deep enough, but not come through the top.

8. With the countertop securely fastened, place the upper cabinets on top. Since you had the one-piece countertop made, the upper cabinets do not have to sit exactly on top of the lower ones. This will give you a little play to work with when trying to line them up.

9. When you are satisfied with the position of the cabinets on top, attach them to each other just like you did on the base cabinets. First, predrill the holes, making sure to stay in the thickest part of the edge trim. Tighten them together with 2-1/2" wood screws all the way down both sides of the center unit (figure G).

RESOURCES :
Grand Finishes for Carpentry: A Step-by-Step Guide Through Molding Installation Projects
ISBN: 0312263317
Author: Matthew Nikitas
Order this title from Amazon. Griffin Trade Paperback

Paint (Pittsburgh Coatings and Supply Co.)
Pittsburgh Coatings and Supply Co
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: 865-525-2222

Fireplace Doors (Hearth and Patio)
Hearth and Patio
Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: 865-693-0770

Light Fixtures (American Lighting)
American Lighting
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-694-0028

Cabinets and Upper Units (Encompass Cabinetry Coordinators)
Encompass Cabinetry Coordinators
Knoxville, TN Phone: 865-389-0542

Vinyl Flooring (Broadway Carpets)
Broadway Carpets
Knoxville, TN 37917
Phone: 865-525-5511

Couch Slipcovers (Waverly Fabrics)
Waverly Fabrics
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-213-7900
Fax: 212-213-7682
Email: waverly@fsco.com
Website: www.waverly.com

Building Fireplace Mantels: Distinctive Projects for Any Style Home
ISBN: 1561583855
Author: Mario Rodriguez
Order this title from Amazon.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com

Fireplace: Decorating and Planning Ideas (Better Homes and Gardens)
ISBN: 0696211025
Author: Judith P. Knuth, Editor
Order this title from Amazon.
Meredith Books Corp.
Website: www.meredith.com

Start-to-Finish Cabinets and Countertops
ISBN: 0897214765
Author: Ortho Books Editor
Order this title from Amazon, click here.
Ortho Books
Columbus, OH 43216