kitchen remodel - DIY cabinet install

[masraum]

Folks, we are getting ready to purchase a home. There are some things that we are going to want to change. We'll probably start as soon as (or before) we move in. One of the things that we want to do is a redesign of the kitchen, probably including new cabinets (at least, that's what the missus wants). She's done some reading that said that a lot of the cost of cabinets is installation because it's involved. I don't want to minimize what those folks do, but I am wondering, "is it so hard that I can't do it?" and I think the answer has got to be "no."

So, Have you done cabinet installs, how hard is it, and what are the gotchas? And is it even possible to install custom stuff yourself or are they going to make it next to impossible to do.

The missus was even asking about me doing the custom builds, but I don't think she wants that if for no other reason than because of how long it would take, and, I suspect it's just not worth it, at least, for a whole kitchen.

[Sooner or later]

I did it. It is really pretty easy. Just make sure you get your measurements correct. Find the highest spot of the floor where a cabinet will set. Use a long level to find that spot. Measure up 34 1/2 up from that high spot. Mark it and use a laser level to mark the entire wall from that point. Find the studs and screw away!

Make sure your cabinet measurements are exact.

One more thing. Make sure your cabinet measurements are exact.

[David]

I remodeled my kitchen myself with cabinets I built myself and later remodeled a bathroom with cabinets I had made offsite. You’re welcome to come by and have a look.

After hurricane Harvey, a friend remodeled his whole Friendswood house after flooding with Amish made cabinets shipped down to Texas and installed by Amish workers for a fraction of the local cost. So there are a few different options.

[Bill Douglas]

I've put in a dozen or more kitchens. Flat pack type cabinets and pre-made cabinets. Easy enough. Purchase one of those very long spirit levels and spend A LOT of time getting it all within a mm of perfectly level and aligned with the wall/counter top. Please note the wall may not be perfectly straight and 90 degrees at the corner.

Then spend some money on a nice counter top and it will look like a million bucks

[VincentVega]

Its not hard to do but one of those things that takes time to get perfect, or close. Be careful of wiring/plumbing in the walls. Same for out of square walls, I struggled a bit with the later. No reason you cant install RTA or custom cabinets if you are patient, measure and measure.

[t-tom]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

I did it. It is really pretty easy. Just make sure you get your measurements correct. Find the highest spot of the floor where a cabinet will set. Use a long level to find that spot. Measure up 34 1/2 up from that high spot. Mark it and use a laser level to mark the entire wall from that point. Find the studs and screw away!

Make sure your cabinet measurements are exact.

One more thing. Make sure your cabinet measurements are exact.

What he said but I'd add Make sure your measurements are correct. Home depot wanted 200.00 A cabinet for install. We ended up have custom cabinets made by a cabinet shop and they are installing them for 650.00

[masraum]

OK, measure, measure, measure. I can do that.

Measure some more.

David, super interesting that you built your own, and the Amish thing is interesting too.

Thanks everyone.

[look 171]

Steve, send me the dimension of your kitchen and I will design it for you. Do it soon because I am leaving for that long driver up to Calgary the week after next if not, I can do it for you after that. Will be gone for 2.5 weeks.

Tell me what you and wife think you guys would like ( the must haves) so I am able to help you with a better design. No, don't worry, no charge to do this, but you get to buy me a cup of coffee if I ever get to visit TX.

I do this all day long

[look 171]

Install isn't hard, but there are few things to watch out for like out of square walls and the small hump on the floor will ruin your day if you aren't careful or experience. I am more them happy to talk you through it. this is only cause' you are a Cayman and an ex-Miata owner

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

Steve, send me the dimension of your kitchen and I will design it for you. Do it soon because I am leaving for that long driver up to Calgary the week after next if not, I can do it for you after that. Will be gone for 2.5 weeks.

Tell me what you and wife think you guys would like ( the must haves) so I am able to help you with a better design. No, don't worry, no charge to do this, but you get to buy me a cup of coffee if I ever get to visit TX.

I do this all day long

Wow, thanks! That's super generous. I don't think the missus has any must haves yet. She's still in the brain storming stage. So I'll wait to get with you when you get back.

I think she's leaning towards a built in oven and separate cooktop, the theory being that it's hard to keep stuff from falling down the crack between a regular stove/oven and the cabinets. Also, you don't have to bend as far over to get stuff out of an oven that's higher.

Another thing that we're wondering about is what to use for the counters. We'd like something durable and attractive and we are open to unusual. I feel like granite is probably the most durable (if you get the right granite), but the missus feels like it's almost too common.

I do have some measurements, but since I don't have any requirements for you, I don't know that they are that useful, and since they were done quickly during the home inspection, I don't know if they are good enough for you.

From the edge of the existing cabinets on the north wall (top, w/sink) to the east wall (right) is 112". From the pantry to the north wall is 128". I have no idea how wide that window is, but I do know that the cabinets on the north wall were 24" (left) and 36" (right) and then the east wall had a 32" cabinet, then the stove (30") then a 15" cabinet and then a 39" opening for the fridge.


This is the current layout.

[look 171]

What's going on with that left wall on the drawing? No cabinets or small table, just an open area?

Dont know how much you want to remove, but the stove area looks to be a little narrow with little counter for pots and pans when real cooking is in progress. Again, I don't know how to cook, just know how to eat. My suggestion it to remove the pantry and stuff the ref. in there, extend both upper and lower cabinets to create more counter space around the cooktop. Where the ref is now, an wall oven can go there. Its only 30" and you will gain 6' of counter because the ref. is 36". Two 3' wide floor to ceiling pantry can go to the opposite wall with counter running toward the window along with lower cabinets, no upper for a clear and open feel unless there's a table there.

Granite is a beautiful material and it works if the right one is selected and blend in with cabinets or design very well. Most people go to home centers and buy the very common cheap granite pieces so they all look the same. Stay away from those color or spices. Quartz is a great countertop material. Color is very and quality is very consistent. Inexpensive compare to other higher end granite pieces. Some of the Chinese imports are damn good stuff. I have tested them against the big US and Canadian mfg. I have granite in my own house, but if I were to do it again, I use these quality Chinese import quartz without thinking about it. they are that good, 20-30% cheaper. with the new tariff going on, I am not sure anymore but will call and fine out for you come next week. I have to call them for a client anyway.

[look 171]

I like to see a wider island (maybe longer?)so it makes a more powerful statement and user friendly, a place to hang out and snack.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by masraum

Wow, thanks! That's super generous. .


This is the current layout.

Nahhh, instead of farting around getting suck in this vortex getting beat up by this bunch in the evening, that's when I do this or other design work for people. You need some help on this to dial it all in.

[dad911]

Is that a pantry right of the range? Willing to lose it?

Ceiling height?

[billybek]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I can't even begin to type out instructions for all the tips and tricks.

I have to say that I laughed out loud when I read this because it is so true!

A friend of mine did my basement cabinetry and storage. He had a look at the space and told me what he was going to do. Experience and vision go a long way to a finished product that you are happy with.
I just smiled and nodded and handed him a cheque. Nice to be able to trust the tradesman working in your home. Also nice to have someone to expand on how I envisioned the space to be when completed.
He built the boxes but had ordered all the maple doors and gable ends from an outfit in Quebec. Very pleased with the result.

[HardDrive]

I always measure where the bottom of the wall cabinets will be, then screw in a temporary 1*2 along that line. As you put them up, there is no fiddling around with vertical placement. Easy.

As stated above, mark off where your studs are before you start.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

What's going on with that left wall on the drawing? No cabinets or small table, just an open area?

I don't have any furniture in the drawing. I think that's supposed to be the dining room. The current owner's got it set up as a seating area with a sectional couch.
The missus was thinking that I might do some built-in shelves or something over there. I assume we'll have some sort of table in there or at least have the ability to have a table in there.

Dont know how much you want to remove, but the stove area looks to be a little narrow with little counter for pots and pans when real cooking is in progress. Again, I don't know how to cook, just know how to eat. My suggestion it to remove the pantry and stuff the ref. in there, extend both upper and lower cabinets to create more counter space around the cooktop. Where the ref is now, an wall oven can go there. Its only 30" and you will gain 6' of counter because the ref. is 36". Two 3' wide floor to ceiling pantry can go to the opposite wall with counter running toward the window along with lower cabinets, no upper for a clear and open feel unless there's a table there.

I'm not sure that I understand where you're saying to put the 2 pantries, but if the missus likes it, I do like moving the fridge over to where the pantry is to give more space (9" for the wall and 6" since the wall oven will be more narrow than the fridge). The seller is supposed to leave the fridge, but I don't think the missus like's the fridge, so it may get moved to the garage. We've then discussed if that happens, then we can get a slightly smaller more narrow fridge (since there would be a second for overflow).
Is this what you mean?

Granite is a beautiful material and it works if the right one is selected and blend in with cabinets or design very well. Most people go to home centers and buy the very common cheap granite pieces so they all look the same. Stay away from those color or spices. Quartz is a great countertop material. Color is very and quality is very consistent. Inexpensive compare to other higher end granite pieces. Some of the Chinese imports are damn good stuff. I have tested them against the big US and Canadian mfg. I have granite in my own house, but if I were to do it again, I use these quality Chinese import quartz without thinking about it. they are that good, 20-30% cheaper. with the new tariff going on, I am not sure anymore but will call and fine out for you come next week. I have to call them for a client anyway.

Good to know!

Interesting. Our current apt has quartz, and I've heard good stuff about it. What we have seems pretty good, but the 90* edges can chip. I assume if rounded edges were done, that would help that a lot.

Originally Posted by look 171

I like to see a wider island (maybe longer?)so it makes a more powerful statement and user friendly, a place to hang out and snack.

The missus will probably want an island, maybe fixed (I think mobile would be better)

Originally Posted by dad911

Is that a pantry right of the range? Willing to lose it?

Ceiling height?

yes
pantry, fridge, range.
I'm pretty sure they are 8' standard ceilings.

This is the view out of the back as it currently sits with the current owner's stuff.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I don't know, I install cabinets and I think there is a lot to it. Maybe some of you get lucky. You have to start in a corner after finding the elevation you will use to snap a line along the walls or where your laser line will be. If the room doesn't have a perfect 90º corner where you plan to start, you must keep that in mind for the entire length of any run of cabinets in both directions.

I can't even begin to type out instructions for all the tips and tricks.

That's what I was afraid of.

[MBAtarga]

This company Fastcap manufactures several different "3rd Hand" type products that assist in cabinet installation. For a DIY job - I'd consider using their supports. They've got some that are used before base cabinet install and others for after.

https://www.fastcap.com/product/3rd-hand-little-hand-xl

[look 171]

Originally Posted by masraum

I don't have any furniture in the drawing. I think that's supposed to be the dining room. The current owner's got it set up as a seating area with a sectional couch.
The missus was thinking that I might do some built-in shelves or something over there. I assume we'll have some sort of table in there or at least have the ability to have a table in there.


I'm not sure that I understand where you're saying to put the 2 pantries, but if the missus likes it, I do like moving the fridge over to where the pantry is to give more space (9" for the wall and 6" since the wall oven will be more narrow than the fridge). The seller is supposed to leave the fridge, but I don't think the missus like's the fridge, so it may get moved to the garage. We've then discussed if that happens, then we can get a slightly smaller more narrow fridge (since there would be a second for overflow).
Is this what you mean?




Good to know!

Interesting. Our current apt has quartz, and I've heard good stuff about it. What we have seems pretty good, but the 90* edges can chip. I assume if rounded edges were done, that would help that a lot.



The missus will probably want an island, maybe fixed (I think mobile would be better)

yes
pantry, fridge, range.
I'm pretty sure they are 8' standard ceilings.

This is the view out of the back as it currently sits with the current owner's stuff.

If your dimensions are correct, then this photo is playing tricks to my eyes. Your dimension says its much wider then the photo. the distance between the door and the stairscase.

That wall right next to the window right of the door. From this drawing, it looks like there are cabinets there. If not, a 6' or two 3" pantry can go there. There are lots of options in terms of space planning for this kitchen.

Don't do a rolling island, why? How often will you roll that thing in a large kitchen like that?