Kitcen cabnit design in toronto

Whenever anyone is thinking of remodelling or building a kitchen, one of the most prominent features that comes to mind is cabinets. If a kitchen is remodeled beautifully otherwise, but kitchen cabinets have some kind of lacking, then it would affect the overall look of the kitchen. Installation of kitchen cabinet needs to be done properly to get the desired outcomes. In this blog, we have given a step by step analysis of installation of kitchen cabinets. 

Step 1: Choice of cabinets:

Choosing right kind of cabinets

The choice of an appropriate cabinet is the most important step in starting the installation process. You need to set your priorities right about the features you are looking in an ideal cabinet. What kind of qualities are necessary and what are the ones that you can let go.

For selecting the cabinet, you generally have three options to choose from:

Stock Kitchen Cabinets:

In stock kitchen cabinets, you have a wide variety of options to get the right match for your desired kitchen remodelling. The stock cabinets come in every size, shape and designs. You can get the most appropriate cabinet complementing your surroundings. The benefit with stock kitchen cabinet is that there is no risk involved and they are cost-efficient. 

Custom Kitchen Cabinets:

The other choice is custom- built kitchen cabinets which are exclusively designed by incorporating your desires. This option helps you get the perfect match for the feel and ambience of your kitchen. It gives you the option to get your ideal kitchen cabinet, but at the same time, it has some drawbacks. Custom-built cabinets are very expensive, and labour cost for their installation is also usually little high. Another drawback is that its installation is more time consuming as compared to stock cabinets.

Semi-custom Kitchen Cabinets:

Semi-custom-built kitchen cabinets are the hybrid between custom cabinets and stock cabinets. It has properties of both the types and with ease of installation and cost -efficiency of stock cabinets and the specification-oriented elements of customized cabinets.

You can order your kitchen through any local home center in your area but availing this option is also not risk-free. The delivery of the cabinet sometimes shocks the recipient because he did not get what he ordered. This usually happens when the employees at home center do not get your specifications right. In such case, you have to return the order, and it wastes time and is sheer nuisance.

Step 2: Set the Kitchen Cabinet base:

First of all mark the spots on the wall according to length and height of the cabinet. After doing that, spot the area on the kitchen floor which is elevated for setting up cabinets. Usually, there is no need to do that because most of the kitchen floors are flat and levelled.

To setting a base for kitchen cabinets, you have to improvise according to the requirements and type of the cabinet. Like for a lazy Susan which has frames on both ends to be joined together, you have to mark the corners of cabinets to allocate the positions of other things. There are other types of cabinets whose corners are not spread across too much and can be installed tightly.

In some cases, there is a need for filler strips to be incorporated, so in such a case, leave room to accommodate them. It is also important to measure the required clearance for doors and drawer opening. Take accurate measurements to ensure that there is no overlapping between all the units of cabinet and kitchen. All this can be done by gauging the already installed units or through measuring tape.

Then comes the measurement of the space for allocation of appliances from stove and cooking range to freezer. Do a horizontal levelling while doing measurements to avoid complications in future.

Step 3: Box setting and levelling for base cabinets:

Put the box on the designated area and level it horizontally and vertically to get the right settlement. Put in the screws from back wall accurately to get the right nailing. If there is a gap between the wall and back of the cabinet, try using shims to fix the issue.

Then align another cabinet next to first one attach screws and tighten them for attachment. This task seems easier than it is because while tightening the screws if the clamps or screws are misplaced it will ruin the whole setup. Make sure that the alignment is right by touching the joints and if they are not even, try moving cabinets in different directions until they are flushed completely. Repeat this process one by one for all cabinets to be installed to get the right layout.

You have to remain patient while doing this job because in certain cases, you may have to loosen the screws again all over again to get the right settlement if things don’t turn out according to plans. To get better outcomes make sure you are drilling in a straight line because minor displacement while drilling can yield serious consequences.

Step 4: Addition of filler strips for base cabinet:

First of all, you need to gauge the gap between end cabinets and wall. Taking appropriate measurements and mark a line for cutting on the flipside of filler strips. 

The next step is adding filler strips in the areas where there is distance shortage between walls and cabinets. You should leave the right gaps for installation of appliances because built-in appliances like dishwashers need accurate gaps and if not provided can cause a chain reaction to overall setup.

Usually, the manufactures of cabinets offer filler strips complementing the material used in their cabinets. These company manufactured filler strips generally offer width between 3 to 8 inches, but you must ensure that you do the cutting according to height of cabinet frame. Doing so will fill out the gap between walls and frame of end cabinet.

Make sure that you leave ample spaces for clearance of doors and drawers. You should also create gap between cabinets and appliances for convenience but ensure that are no unnecessary gaps left.

In case of misalignment between walls and cabinets, incorporate multiple filler strips to remove unevenness. The size of filler strips should be chosen according to requirement.

Step 5: Electrical and plumbing work:

Mark the openings on back of the cabinet for electrical and plumbing fittings. Carefully spot the markings for and dig holes using drilling machines.

 Drawing openings for drainage and water lines requires special care because a little lapse in concentration can have disastrous repercussions.

 Use 1 inch bit for starter holes and water lines openings. Make the drilling stop when the bit emerges from the back of the cabinet. Finish the holes from all ends to facilitate better penetration. Cut rectangle or square shaped openings with a jigsaw.

Step 6: Peninsula cabinet setting:

Place the first peninsula at proper position against the wall. Set it up parallel to the adjacent cabinet, fix the screws and tighten them.

Make use of filler strips to cover the gaps between adjoining cabinets. If the width of the first peninsula is around 2 feet, then fix the filler strips tightly against the frame. In this way, you will not only develop a solid connection but also leave enough gaps for clearance of drawers and doors of next cabinet.

Once the first peninsula cabinet has been accurately placed, place other ones and marking their outlines on the floor and adjust other cabinets similarly.

It is recommended to install all the upper cabinets before island for convenience in working.

Step 7: Upper cabinet installation:

Mark the positions adjacent to lower cabinets with pencil and place the upper cabinet properly in accordance to lower cabinet and wall.

Make use of patching for little hiccups and apply paint afterwards to the problematic area. After placement, adjust screws and tighten them.

Then start screwing all the cabinets one by one to the wall in right alignment. You can start from any of the corner cabinets and make sure that you get it right for the first cabinet because all the other ones will follow.

Start screwing and place other cabinets in right positions connecting all frames one by one and screw them to wall.

In case of misalignment, pull back the screws and after adjustment proceed further because little haste in this regard can set up a chain reaction.

Step 8: Finishing:

The final process in actual installation is finishing where all the last touches are given to the overall kitchen cabinet. From drawers to cabinet door, finish off all the details through nailing, cutting and fitting works.

Keep an eye on screws and bolts so that no one gets misplaced because it can cause a headache at the ending phase also choose the sizes of screws, nuts and bolts very carefully to ensure everything goes on the right place.

Adjust the hinges of doors carefully and check opening, closing and clearance of doors and drawers.

Other renovations:

Before replacing your kitchen, cabinet or installing a new one, consider doing other upgradations first to enhance the overall look of the kitchen. Following upgradations can be done:

1.   Paints: Whenever thinking to install a new cabinet, firstly paint the whole kitchen from drywall to ceiling to give an overall fresh appearance. There is no concern of overall drywall and ceiling with installation process so you should do it beforehand for convenience and if there is a need do the little touchups later.

2.   Install new finished flooring if you can. Most finished floor materials can be installed ahead of the cabinets. That’s much easier to do because you can project the flooring under the cabinets and avoid cutting around them later. Hardwood flooring, tile, most vinyl and some laminate floors can handle cabinets resting on them with no problem. But be careful. Perimeter-glued vinyl and floating wood laminate floors need to expand and contract freely. If you rest cabinets on them, you may have problems with buckling, splitting or cracking later.

3.   Electrical fixes: Any kitchen that needs renovation should have electrical upgrades because they are the utilities that are very important. From lights on the wall to undercabinet ones, try replacing most of them to illuminate the kitchen space nicely. It is not a very difficult task because the drywalls are easier to cut and the wiring connections can be made and because they are hidden, so no perfection is required. 

4.   Repairing of drywall: Examine the drywall for cuts and damages. Repair the affected areas through techniques like patching.

Tools required for installation of kitchen cabinets.

The choice of right tools is very important for any kind of operation because it can save time and inconvenience. Following are the tools that are necessary for installing kitchen cabinets:

·         Circular saw

·         Stud finder

·         A 4inch screwdriver

·         2.5 inch shims

·         Drill

·         Block plane

·         Belt sander

·         Jigsaw

·         Clamps

·         Countersink drill bit

·         Level

·         Drill bit set

·         Tape measure

·         2.5 inches screws

·         Filler Strips