Installation of Cabinets
Cabinet installation isn't merely a matter of setting the cabinets
against the wall and screwing them in place. They must be screwed
directly to studs, and they have to be plumb, meeting straight up and
down, even on the front face. This can be a challenge if the wall
itself slants inward or outward, which is common in older homes.
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Level
- Studfinder
- Cabinets
- Drill with pilot bit
- Screwdriver bit
- Mounting screws (with washers)
- Wood shims
Instructions
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1
Measure the dimensions of the back of the cabinet. Mark out the measurements on the wall with a level and pencil, making a square to show where the cabinet will make contact with the wall. Make sure the square is level, and straight up-and-down, and that the bottom horizontal span is about 20 inches above the countertop.
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2
Use a studfinder to pinpoint and mark each stud in the wall within the marked square.
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3
Measure from one edge of the marked area to each stud. Mark out those measurements to the back of the cabinet, making vertical lines showing where the studs will be behind the cabinet when the cabinet is within the square.
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4
Use your drill and pilot bit to drill two holes on each vertical line on the back of the cabinet. Position the top holes six inches from the top of the cabinet, and the bottom holes six inches from the bottom.
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5
Put a screwdriver bit in your drill. Lift and hold the cabinet to the wall, inside the marked-out square, and shoot mounting screws with washers through each of the holes so they grip the studs behind it.
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6
Hold your level vertically to the face of the cabinet to determine if the wall (and with it, the cabinet) leans forward or back. If it leans back, loosen the screws along the top or bottom as needed from inside, and slide shims behind it to bring the top or the bottom out to make it plumb. If the cabinet leans back, then the top has to come out; if it leansforward, then the bottom has to come out.
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7
Tighten the screws.
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