Kitchen, Bathroom Vanity Cabinetry Help – Do it Yourself
Having owned a kitchen and bathroom vanity manufacturing businesses for the past sixteen years, I oftentimes offer help for customers who want to take the “do it yourself” approach when installing cabinetry. If you are considering installing your own cupboards, I suggest that you start with a very small bathroom first. This will allow you to get a good handle on a few of the tools that you may need and problems that may arise.
Every job is going to present its own set of challenges, but there are three basic things that you will be dealing with when you begin the cabinet installation, walls, floors and ceilings. You will have to make the cabinets fit all three of these elements within your kitchen, bathroom, laundry, office or any place the cabinetry will be installed.
The Biggest Challenges
o Locating The Studs – We always find our studs by drilling holes in the wall with a 3/16″ drill bit. First we knock on the wall and listen for a difference in sound, then we drill into the wall in the area that we think the stud might be. Once the structure is found behind the drywall, we then measure over sixteen inches and try to locate the next one in the same manner. This must be done within the area that the cabinets will cover over the holes once they are installed.
o Fitting Cabinets – The walls, ceilings and floors are not going to be straight, plumb, level or square, but the cabinets must be installed plumb, level and square. This means that you will have to cut cabinetry parts and cabinets to fit the surrounding areas. If you decide to use caulking in any voids we suggest that you do not caulk areas that are larger than one eight of an inch wide. In many cases this will not be acceptable.
Tools Needed for Do It Yourself Cabinet Installation
It would be nice if you could just get away with using a drill and a level to install your kitchen or bathroom vanity cabinets, but this is not going to be the case.
o Hand Tools – You’re going to need many hand tools such as a hammer, framers square, level, assortment of screw-drivers, putty knife, dikes and pliers. These are only a few of the items that you will need. Oh, a caulking guns will be need too.
o Power Tools – Every cabinet install is different. Here are a few of the basic power tools needed. You must have a jig saw, skill saw, small table saw, belt sander, electric or cordless drill. It’s possible that you will need a chop saw as well.
Miscellaneous Items Needed for Installing Cabinetry
o Ladders
o Assortment of drill bits and drivers
o Levels
o L-brackets in various sizes
o Screws in many different sizes
o Caulking
o Small and large clamps
o Shims
o Electrical cords
You can find a lot of articles and videos on the Internet that will help you with your kitchen, office, and laundry room or bathroom vanity cabinetry installation. If you can get someone that is knowledgeable at installing this will be your best source of help. Unless you have a good working knowledge in the construction industry and are good at basic carpentry skills, it’s kind of crazy in a way to try and do it yourself