A Homeowner's Guide To Your First DIY Kitchen Cabinet Install
Perhaps you are like many homeowners - embarrassed by a not-so-good-looking kitchen cabinets, but reluctant to get the necessary work done because of the cost. Perhaps you've though about doing the work yourself, but have shied away from doing it because you think it's too hard. We're here to tell you: It CAN be done - if you have the know-how. So, to help you, we've put together this homeowner's guide to doing your first DIY kitchen cabinet install. Some Preliminary Considerations Before you actually begin work on your DIY kitchen cabinet install, try to line up at least one other person to help you. Kitchen work of this type is rarely a job for just one person. You will need another person to help you lift and position the cabinets, so arrange for a partner. Also, before you begin your DIY kitchen cabinet install, you will need to take everything loose out of your kitchen - furniture, stuff hanging on the walls, food and supplies off of the shelves, etc. As well, you should make sure that you cover your kitchen floor before beginning work on your DIY kitchen cabinet install - it's best to use a good cloth sheeting - to protect your floors from dirt, scratches, paint spills and so on. Finally, make sure that you will have uninterrupted access to your kitchen. You will need a weekend, at least, to do your DIY kitchen cabinet install. So don't schedule a ton of holiday baking during this time! Your Choice Of Materials Since this is your first DIY kitchen cabinet install, we will tell you: For the most part, you have two popular choices of kitchen cabinet materials - wood or metal. Whatever you choose, when you begin work on your DIY kitchen cabinet install, stay AWAY from the cheaply made products that have flooded the kitchen remodeling world recently. The cheap stuff will simply not last! If you stop to think about it, your kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in your house - typically used several times a day, by several different people. That's a LOT of activity. And when you have not used the best-quality cabinet materials in your DIY kitchen cabinet install they will not endure this constant use. Ready-To-Install Or Custom-Made? Again, in doing your DIY kitchen cabinet install you will have two choices: You can either buy your kitchen cabinets 'off the rack,' so to speak, or pay the extra bucks for custom-made cabinets. If you want custom-made kitchen cabinets when you do your DIY kitchen cabinet install, be prepared to spend significantly more. If you have the means to pay, then fine, go ahead. And for some people with an odd-shaped, unusually-sized kitchen, the ready-to-install cabinets may not fit properly; in that case you will have to have something custom-made. In general though I would recommend that you buy the ready-to-install units when you do your DIY kitchen cabinet install, unless you can't use them, or you are status-conscious. They are available in a number of standard sizes, they coordinate well together throughout your whole kitchen, and you'll certainly spend less. Investigate Before You Buy My final recommendation is this: that you investigate BEFORE you buy. Don't buy into a salesman's pitch that only 'this' particular manufacturer product is right for you. One of the most common mistakes that many people make when doing their first DIY kitchen cabinet install is not checking around to get a good feel for what's available in your price range. Do a thorough search, consider all your options, then make the choice that's best for you. Here's to your success in your very first DIY kitchen cabinet install! |
