Installation Tips Important Please Read Before Going Further! Installation of Kitchen Cabinets is NOT a Do-It-Yourself project for those without extensive experience in finish carpentry. If you are not a professional carpenter please seek help from a trained professional. This guide is meant to be used as a supplement to carpenters who are trained and familiar with cabinetry installa- tion techniques, it is not meant to be a stand alone installation guide. Version 1.0 - 2009 CABINET INSTALLATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Cabinet installation requires special skills and tools. If you are COMMON INSTALLATION TOOLS uncertain of any part of these basic instructions, terms or lack the minimum listed tools, consult with your cabinet supplier For professional results have the tools you need at hand and for recommended professional cabinet installation mechanics. ready. Here’s a tip: save changeover time by having two An error during installation can result in costly repairs and cordless screwguns – one with a drill bit for predrilling screw delays. holes and another with a screw tip. TERMS TO KNOW • Power Drill • Sand Paper • Drill Bits • Block Plane • Terms and Tools Level: A horizontal plane at right angles to the plumb. • Carpenter’s Levels (2’ & 4’) • Clamps • Carpenter’s Square • Caulking Plumb: A true vertical line. If something is “out of plumb” it •Tape Measure (1”x25’) • Chalk Line is not exactly straight up and down. • Step ladder • Mitre Box • Common Construction Details • Nail Set • Marking Tools Square: All lines parallel and at 90° to each other. • Extension Cord(s) • Stud Finder Rail: A horizontal framing member of a cabinet door. • Screwdrivers • Utility Knife (Regular & Phillips) • Pencils • Pre-Installation Stile: A vertical framing member of a cabinet door • Saws • Hammer (Hand, Power, Jig, Table & Miter) Stretcher: A horizontal member of a cabinet case used to • Common Layout Heights maintain square assembly. Also used to support and mount For a finished look and secure installation use joining and countertops on base cabinets. installation screws. Other options, such as drywall screws with a fierce thread pitch, may appear to be a quicker alternative Shim: A thin wedge of wood (usually a shingle) for driving but may result in screwheads not ending up flush with the • Installation Tips into crevices between cabinets and walls to plumb cabinets, material. Make sure screws adequately penetrate both parts and between cabinets and floor to level cabinets. when joining cabinetry together. Take precautions not to pierce exposed parts or adjacent cabinet interiors. Cabinet Strapping: Wood strips, normally 1”x3”x8’, used to support installation screws or similarly-sized screws should be used wall cabinets during installation or used to construct a soffit • Installation Steps to affix cabinets to the wall. Predrilling of any screw hole is above cabinets. essential for a finished, professional look. Finishing washers Scribe: Cutting or trimming a cabinet to follow the contours and/or cover caps should be used to complete the installation. • Molding Tips of adjacent floor or walls. Soffit: The closed space between the top of the wall cabinets and the ceiling. • Final Finishing Tips Joining Finishing 1 2 Screw 1” Stud: An upright framing member inside a wall or partition Washer 2⁄ ” spaced 16” or 24” apart, center-to-center. Cabinet Cabinet 1 • Hinge & Drawer Adjustments T-Brace: A temporary brace – constructed on site to be 54 /4” Installation Screw Connecting Bolt tall and 16” wide – used to wedge under wall cabinets to support them during installation. • Special Darlington Installation Instructions 1 CABINET INSTALLATION Cabinet installation requires special skills and tools. If you are COMMON INSTALLATION TOOLS uncertain of any part of these basic instructions, terms or lack the minimum listed tools, consult with your cabinet supplier For professional results have the tools you need at hand and for recommended professional cabinet installation mechanics. ready. Here’s a tip: save changeover time by having two An error during installation can result in costly repairs and cordless screwguns – one with a drill bit for predrilling screw delays. holes and another with a screw tip. TERMS TO KNOW • Power Drill • Sand Paper • Drill Bits • Block Plane Level: A horizontal plane at right angles to the plumb. • Carpenter’s Levels (2’ & 4’) • Clamps • Carpenter’s Square • Caulking Plumb: A true vertical line. If something is “out of plumb” it •Tape Measure (1”x25’) • Chalk Line is not exactly straight up and down. • Step ladder • Mitre Box • Nail Set • Marking Tools Square: All lines parallel and at 90° to each other. • Extension Cord(s) • Stud Finder Rail: A horizontal framing member of a cabinet door. • Screwdrivers • Utility Knife (Regular & Phillips) • Pencils Stile: A vertical framing member of a cabinet door • Saws • Hammer (Hand, Power, Jig, Table & Miter) Stretcher: A horizontal member of a cabinet case used to maintain square assembly. Also used to support and mount For a finished look and secure installation use joining and countertops on base cabinets. installation screws. Other options, such as drywall screws with a fierce thread pitch, may appear to be a quicker alternative Shim: A thin wedge of wood (usually a shingle) for driving but may result in screwheads not ending up flush with the into crevices between cabinets and walls to plumb cabinets, material. Make sure screws adequately penetrate both parts and between cabinets and floor to level cabinets. when joining cabinetry together. Take precautions not to pierce exposed parts or adjacent cabinet interiors. Cabinet Strapping: Wood strips, normally 1”x3”x8’, used to support installation screws or similarly-sized screws should be used wall cabinets during installation or used to construct a soffit to affix cabinets to the wall. Predrilling of any screw hole is above cabinets. essential for a finished, professional look. Finishing washers Scribe: Cutting or trimming a cabinet to follow the contours and/or cover caps should be used to complete the installation. of adjacent floor or walls. Soffit: The closed space between the top of the wall cabinets and the ceiling. Joining Finishing 1 2 Screw 1” Stud: An upright framing member inside a wall or partition Washer 2⁄ ” spaced 16” or 24” apart, center-to-center. Cabinet Cabinet 1 T-Brace: A temporary brace – constructed on site to be 54 /4” Installation Screw Connecting Bolt tall and 16” wide – used to wedge under wall cabinets to support them during installation. 1 CABINET & DRAWER CONSTRUCTION Medicine Wall Cabinet Cabinet Tall Cabinet 5 11 ⁄16” 1 15⁄8” 5 17 ⁄8” 1 7 1 11⁄4” Deep 21 ⁄16” 30⁄4” 1 1 30⁄4” Adjustable 24 36⁄2” 1 3 Shelves 1 1 9 36⁄2” 22 ⁄16” Deep 26⁄2” 4⁄16” Deep 41 ⁄16” 9 1 41 ⁄16” Adjustable 30⁄4” Adjustable 1 Shelves Shelves 36⁄2” 9 41 ⁄16” 1 Geneva 12⁄8” 5” Geneva 1 IMPORTANT! Read these actual5/8” heights! 2 ⁄2” Fixed Shelf Vanity 3 Base Cabinet Vanity Base Cabinet Wall Hung Cabinet 71 ⁄4” 3 79 ⁄4” 86” 3 11 3 11 91” 11 15 ⁄4”, 17 ⁄16” Deep 15 ⁄4”, 17 ⁄16” Deep 21 ⁄16” Deep Drawer Box Drawer Box Drawer Box 1 34⁄2” 3 4 15 27 ⁄ ” 16 1 23 ⁄ ” 30⁄4” 1 1 16⁄8”, 19⁄8” 76” 3 32” Deep 84” 22 ⁄16” Deep 1 1 1 30⁄4” 1 1 34⁄2” Adjustable 90⁄4” Adjustable 16⁄8”, 19⁄8” Shelves 1 Shelf Deep 95⁄4” Adjustable Shelf 1 9 8⁄16”, 10 ⁄16” Recommended Heights 1 1 4⁄4” 4⁄4” 1 4⁄4” 5 5 2 ⁄8” 8 3 3 3 2 ⁄ ” 8”minimum 8 5 21 ⁄ ” 15 ⁄8”, 18 ⁄8” 2 ⁄8” 3 3 3 9”, 15 ⁄8”, 18 ⁄8”,21 /8” 24” 18”, 21” 18”, 21” 12”, 18”, 21”, 24” Notes: Geneva Door Has 5/8” Overhang On Wall Cabinets. Geneva Door Style Requires End Panels (pages 121) And C-Channel (page 136). On tall cabinets install platform first- level plumb and square- then install cabinet on top of platform. Wall Hung Vanities Require Field Supplied Pedestal Base Support. For flush mount toe kick, pull platform from the wall and away from the side of the adjoining cabinet- block these voids. Melamine Drawer Wood Dovetail Drawer 3 3 20 ⁄8” Inside Depth 19 ⁄4” Inside Depth 3 1 3 ⁄4” Inside Height 3 ⁄4” Inside Height Dovetail Dowel & Glue Construction Front & Rear 5/8” Melamine All Four Sides 5/8” Solid Wood Dovetail All Four Sides 1/4” Fully Captured Bottom 1/4” Fully Captured Bottom 75# Side Mount Glides or 75# Undermount Glides or Optional 75# Full Extension Side Mount Glides Optional 75# Full Extension Undermount Glides Drawer Front Is Attached To Drawer Case With A 4mm Adjustment Drawer Front Is Attached To Drawer Case With A 4mm Adjustment 18 Check cabinets for damage and verify the cabinets are indeed the correct style and finish before installing. Do not install damaged cabinets without calling your designer. Check your designer’s plans for notes and the proper placement of cabinets. Verify all the cabinets and parts are there! If a stacked molding is shown- verify with the designer proper placement of moldings. Re-installing stacked moldings is very costly. Before installing any cabinets- check your plans for finished ends and identify where they are. Now is the time to verify your appliances- make sure they fit before installing cabinets! Wall cabinets can have odd heights- verify where the top of your installation chalk lines are! For example: a 36” high wall cabinet is 36-9/16” inches Designers in some cases order panels with only some of the edges finished. Be sure to verify which sides you need before cutting.