Do-it-yourself kitchen installations are increasingly within everyone's reach. While you still need to work hard, perhaps with the help of a friend, here's how to get a great result without too much effort.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Preparation
Step 1. Prepare everything
Step 2. Measure the space well and plan it
If you are replacing existing furniture, you could use their arrangement as a reference point. Otherwise, create a new pattern that best fits your expectations.
- The company that will sell you the furniture will inform you about the available sizes. Find a meeting point according to your needs. Remember that standard sizes are cheaper than custom sizes.
- Also get an idea of the finishing options, style, materials and tools you will be using.
- Draw the arrangement of the furniture, even if architecture is not your forte: all this will help you to have a program to follow.
- Check the elevation of the furniture by thinking about your height and that of the ceiling. Many tall cabinets have a superior open space and standard height, while others touch the ceiling.
- If one of the pieces of furniture is going to be placed on the sink or oven, be sure to leave space underneath for kitchen work, for attaching the lights and for the extractor hood.
- Almost all systems have special furniture to be placed under the sink or in certain corners. Find out how they work and incorporate them into your planning.
- The upper cabinets will have to line up with the lower ones and adapt to the windows and other elements on the walls.
- Consider your use of the kitchen. Does this project make sense for your needs?
Step 3. Get everything you need
Make a list. Do not forget the screws and wedges for leveling the furniture.
- Remove the old furniture, from which you can make screws and nails.
- Completely empty the furniture first. This way, you will be able to move them more easily.
- Remove the doors and shelves before moving them. Most shelves simply need to be lifted up to be removed, while others need to be unscrewed.
- Be sure to support the lower cabinets as you remove the support screws. If it is a single piece, you will need to separate it to avoid damaging the adjacent walls.
Step 4. Paint the room and replace the flooring if necessary
Both steps can also be done with these elements present, however, better if the space is empty. Adjust the baseboards after installing the furniture. If you opt for a wooden or tiled floor, consider the thickness of the material on which the furniture will be placed.
Method 2 of 6: Hanging the Upper Furniture
Step 1. Start with the upper cabinets
Step 2. Assemble the furniture but not the doors
Most of them have instructions. Take your time for safe assembly.
Step 3. Use a riser detector to locate metal pipes, usually located approximately 40-60cm apart
Measure the walls from the ceiling to determine the height of the furniture.
Step 4. Start at one end or corner
Whichever part you choose, get help to lift the furniture and support it until it is fixed.
- While your helper holds the piece of furniture, make sure it is level. Drill the holes and fix everything. Use screws suitable for wood.
- Make sure everything is tightly screwed before filling the furniture.
Method 3 of 6: Installing the Lower Cabinets
Step 1. Start working on it after fixing the upper ones
Step 2. Locate the tallest cabinet and adjust the others to its elevation (easier than following the reverse procedure)
Step 3. Take a test to evaluate the accommodation
If the furniture has a back panel, make any necessary cuts for the electrical outlets and plumbing.
Step 4. Level both the top and bottom of the furniture
Remember that you will be installing a work surface, so the level must be uniform.
Step 5. Secure the furniture to the wall
Method 4 of 6: Work Shelf
Step 1. Fix it after you have finished installing the lower cabinets
Step 2. Measure to fit the sink opening and oven opening
If you leave some extra space, you can then seal the ends..
- If the shelf is a laminate-coated particleboard, cut it with a blade suitable for plywood instead of using a circular saw.
- Cutting the panel upside down will reduce chipping, but hold the piece until you're done.
- To cut the sink opening, turn the panel over and draw the outline of the outer edge and hem you will need to cut with a pencil. Attach some masking tape to the first outline and cut the part inside it with a jigsaw. If you can't saw, drill a small hole so you can insert the tool.
- Seal all cut surfaces before installing the shelf to successfully complete the next step.
- The most durable shelves can be made of synthetic marble, natural granite or other stone, concrete or plywood covered with ceramic.
Step 3. Install the shelf by screwing it in from below and making sure the screws are not long enough to penetrate it until they pop out
Method 5 of 6: Seal
Step 1. Start doing this when you have completed the previous steps
Step 2. Apply the sealant to the contour and edge of the sink
Step 3. Apply sealant around the edges of the countertop and between the panel and the wall
Method 6 of 6: To Conclude …
Step 1. Here are the final details
Step 2. Install the oven
Step 3. Insert the furniture doors and fix the hinges
Step 4. Put back all appliances removed during the remodeling project
Step 5. Reattach the baseboards if you removed them
Step 6. Finished
Advice
- Install the upper cabinets using a furniture lift. You won't hurt your back and get a perfect job.
- Check all the heights, both before and during installation, so you don't have to repeat certain steps or face the problems that will arise if you make mistakes. It is a good idea to check the floor level as well, especially for long furniture: if it is uneven, draw a straight horizontal line on the wall and stick to this reference point as you work.
- Secure the furniture both to the wall and to each other.
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If you like the current arrangement and just want to freshen up the kitchen, don't spend unnecessarily on changing everything. Make a few small changes to optimize space.
- Refinement means removing old elements, repainting if necessary and applying a new, clean coating.
- Redoing the facade means replacing the metal parts of the furniture (hinges and handles) and other details to refresh the look of the kitchen without distorting it.
- Many new modular furniture systems feature chipboard shelves to fit into them. If your old cabinets are solid wood and in good condition, keep the internal shelves.
- Measure the space more than once to make sure your design is correct. Otherwise, you may find yourself installing furniture that won't fit into your kitchen.
- Also measure the level of the furniture more than once.
- You may not have access to the kitchen during remodeling. You can cook on a camping stove and eat in the living room.
Warnings
- Use the right screws: those for furniture are stronger than those for drywall, which could break.
- Some riser detectors may detect electrical conduits and pipes behind walls. If this is a problem, get an electronic device that knows the difference between these elements.
- Secure the upper cabinets tightly, otherwise they may fall out when full.
- Lift furniture carefully and make sure it is supported as you work.
