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Kitchen Demolition, Pt. 2: Installing Cabinets A kitchen overhaul that includes new hardwood flooring, cabinets and backsplash. Check out more home value-enhancing projects from Sweat Equity. From "Sweat Equity" episode DSEQ-206

	Before
	After

Having shot their budget on the appliances Chad and Heather need to start saving some serious dough. An easy way to cut out a few thousand dollars is to install the cabinets themselves.

Below is a summary of the basic steps as seen in this Sweat Equity project, as well as a list of materials and tools used and some installation tips.

Materials and tools:

2x4 plywood
framing nailer
miter saw
tape measure
speed square
cabinets
level
screwdriver (w/drill bit and phillips head)
or
power drill
screws
shims
carpenter's pencil
clamps
eye protection

Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection and follow proper safety precautions when working with power tools or pneumatic tools.

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Installing Cabinets

Tips:

• On base cabinets, installing your corner cabinet first is the best way to stay level through the rest of the installation.

• Hang your upper cabinets first so the lower ones won't be in the way during installation.

• It's a good idea to work in pairs with this project, as cabinets can be heavy.

• Use a ledger board to hang help hang the upper cabinets and keep them strait.

• Mark your studs before you get started.

	Figure A
	Figure A
	Figure C
	Figure D

Steps:

• Inventory your cabinets and mark and remove drawers and cabinet doors (figure A). This will make the cabinets easier to work with.

• Set the cabinets into place and set the faces of adjoining cabinets flush (figure B) using a level and shims.

• Clamp the cabinets into place and pre-drill a pilot hole though the side (figure C). Sink a screw to secure the cabinets together.

• Tip: Pre-drilling pilot holes will save the cabinets from splintering or marring.

• Locate your studs using a stud finder. Secure your cabinets to the wall by drilling screws through the cabinets to the studs (figure D).

• When all the cabinets are in place attach the doors and install drawers using hardware provided.