| Whether you fantasize about a transformed kitchen | | | | so we could show you how |
| or a more efficient laundry room, | | | | €šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢s done. |
| ¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢ll like this reality | | | | ¢â€šÂ¬Ã…“Every kitchen has its own design |
| check: Cabinet installation | | | | that dictates the order in which we install |
| ‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã¯Â¿Â¾ a project that | | | | ƒâ€šÃ‚¿Ã‚¾ says Brian. Typically |
| dramatically influences the functionality and style of a | | | | the sink is centered under a window, which |
| room | | | | determines positioning of the units on either side. If a |
| ‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã¯Â¿Â¾ is not a daunting | | | | corner cabinet is in the plan, it too becomes a fixed |
| undertaking. | | | | starting place. |
| ¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢s a manageable job | | | | As far as which to install first, we recommend |
| that offers significant cash savings and requires only | | | | starting with the wall cabinets. That way, you |
| a few basic tools, minimal skill and the help of a willing | | | | ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢t have to reach |
| assistant. | | | | across the lower cabinets or risk damaging them. |
| Ready-made cabinets are easier to install and less | | | | Working with an assistant, fasten to the wall a |
| costly to buy than you may think. | | | | temporary ledger board on which to rest the back of |
| ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢re available to suit | | | | the cabinet, or use a jack system, such as the |
| all styles, budgets and space needs, so you can | | | | T-Jaks (model TJ-104) that Brian used (photo, |
| create a entirely new look and gain more useful | | | | bottom left, p. 31). If |
| storage | | | | ¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢re working alone, the |
| ‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã¯Â¿Â¾ without rearranging | | | | Gillift by Telpro (available at equipment-rental stores) |
| plumbing or rerouting wires.Homeowners who | | | | enables one person to maneuver, lift and support a |
| ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢t considering a | | | | cabinet for fastening. |
| kitchen remodel may find that adding cabinets to an | | | | On the other hand, if you begin with the base |
| unused wall would improve their organization, enhance | | | | cabinets, you can use them to support a shorter jack |
| storage and provide a place to work on projects. | | | | for hoisting the wall cabinets. But be sure to protect |
| Whether you reinstall hand-me-down cabinets in the | | | | the base units with heavy moving blankets or |
| garage or remodel an entire kitchen, the following | | | | padding while working above them. |
| lessons from the cabinet installers of M C Squared | | | | Installing To reduce weight and improve |
| from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, will help ensure your | | | | maneuverability, remove drawers and doors, labeling |
| success. | | | | the parts with |
| Planning Whatever the degree of complexity, your | | | | ¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s tape. If doors |
| project will require some shopping, planning, | | | | are too complicated to remove from the cases, tape |
| measuring and drawing. | | | | heavy cardboard over their faces to prevent marring. |
| Designing can be as simple as a scale drawing on | | | | For cabinets with glass-front doors, you may leave |
| graph paper or a more elaborate computer-aided | | | | the door frames in place and remove only the glass |
| design. Expert help is also available at home centers | | | | panels. |
| and cabinet supply stores. | | | | Rather than installing each unit independently, Brian |
| If you | | | | joins two or more components together before |
| ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢t been in the | | | | mounting them to the wall. With the wall units lying |
| market for cabinets lately, you may be surprised at | | | | on their backs on the floor or another level surface, |
| the range of styles and features | | | | he drives three screws through the adjacent face |
| ‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã¯Â¿Â¾ even in ready-made | | | | frames of neighboring cabinets. Base units are joined |
| units. The only element | | | | together while standing upright. |
| ¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢s standard is size: | | | | If your working surface is not perfectly even, |
| Base units are 34-1/2-in. tall, and wall units are | | | | support low spots with shims as you join two units |
| available in heights of 42, 30, 24, 18 and 15 in. Widths | | | | together, making sure the adjacent ends and faces |
| range from 9 in. to 48 in., in 3-in. increments. (For | | | | are flush with each other. |
| horizontal spaces that are not perfect multiples of 3 | | | | When possible, drive screws into the stile on the |
| in., filler strips can be trimmed to accommodate the | | | | hinge side of the cabinet, where the screw heads will |
| space.) With your storage needs and design goals in | | | | be less visible. Choose the appropriate screw length |
| mind, talk to a supplier about the many alternatives. | | | | for the size of each connection (stile widths may |
| (The cabinets for this project were made by Omega | | | | vary), making sure the screw is as long as possible |
| Cabinetry of Waterloo, Iowa, and purchased through | | | | but at least 1/4 in. shy of going through the stile |
| Expo Design Center, a division of The Home Depot, | | | | when countersunk. |
| see SOURCES.) Seize the opportunity to rethink how | | | | Wall units To hang a grouping of two or more |
| to organize your space. For example, a bank of | | | | components, provide additional stability by driving a |
| drawers may provide easier access to pots and pans | | | | screw through the top lips of both cases near the |
| than the shelving unit they currently occupy. | | | | backs of the units. This adds support for lifting and |
| Getting started If your old cabinets are going to a | | | | positioning multiple units. If you need to place |
| new home (a garage, laundry room, cabin or yard | | | | fasteners from the inside of cabinets that have glass |
| sale), be careful when removing them. Your ultimate | | | | fronts, be careful to place them so the screw heads |
| goal is to strip the room down to a blank shell. At this | | | | are as inconspicuous as possible. |
| point, | | | | Base units Floors and walls are rarely plumb and level, |
| €šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢s a good idea to set | | | | so expect to add shims to compensate for structural |
| out the new cabinets to verify the inventory and | | | | imperfections. |
| determine a plan of attack. | | | | Level base cabinets side-to-side and front-to-back by |
| The project will be more complicated if your plan | | | | inserting cedar shims under the frame of the unit, |
| involves relocating a sink or an appliance that relies on | | | | being sure to support spaces under joints where two |
| plumbing or utility hookups. If | | | | units come together. With base units that form a |
| ¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢re simply replacing a | | | | corner, |
| cabinet that houses a sink, just disconnect the | | | | €šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢s especially important |
| ¢â€šÂ¬Ã…¾Ã‚¢s plumbing and | | | | that the tops and fronts be level and flush to |
| remove the existing base unit. | | | | properly support the countertop. |
| When it comes to installation, even professionals | | | | You may need to use shims behind the cabinet units |
| agree that there is more than one correct approach. | | | | to ensure that the corners are square and that the |
| For some expert instruction, we spent a day with | | | | top surfaces are level. After installation, use a utility |
| installer Brian McNallan and the crew of M C Squared. | | | | knife to score the parts of shims that protrude |
| We watched them install cabinets in a remodeled | | | | beyond the cabinet and snap off the excess. |
| kitchen, asked questions and photographed the steps | | | | |