DIY: Fitting Kitchen Handles

Handles or pulls are typically installed with screws on the face of the cabinet or drawer.

Replacing cabinetry handles or pulls to restore or update the look of your kitchen is a simple job that requires no special tools or advanced knowledge of cabinet construction. Most drawer or cupboard handles are attached and removed in minutes, using only a screwdriver. When originally installed, typically one or two holes were drilled in the face of the of the cabinet to affix the handle or pull. Knob-type pulls require one screw for installation; handles typically require two.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil and paper
• Replacement handle kit(s) including installation screws
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Measure and note the distance between the screw holes drilled in your cabinet or drawer. Replacement handles are typically sorted, not only by style and finish, but also by the distances between their installation screw holes. To avoid having to drill new holes in your cabinets, select replacement handles with screw holes that are spaced the same distance apart as the holes in your cabinetry.

2. Open the cabinet or drawer. Insert the threaded shanks of the handle-kit screws into the back of the face of the cabinet or drawer so the tips of the screws protrude through the front. Position the handle on the face of the cabinet so the tips of the screws are inside the screw holes of the handle.

3. Hold the handle steady with one hand. With the other hand, use a screwdriver to tighten the screws from the inside of the cabinet.

Tips & Warnings

• Home-improvement stores often carry a wide variety of replacement cabinet handles with standard distances between installation holes. If you are trying to replace or match antique hardware, online home-renovation stores may carry replicated handles or pulls to match those you already have.

References

• Ask the Builder: Cabinet Knobs
• Creative Homeowner: Projects Online: Installing Kitchen Cabinet Hinges, Knobs, and Pulls